The Camaro Transformed

It’s amazing how 580 horsepower and Magnetic Ride Control can turn a good car into a stunning one.
By Bill Heald

The rebirth of the Chevrolet Camaro in 2009 as a 2010 model was a very ambitious project for General Motors, especially considering the rocky economic conditions at the time. But the designers and engineers created something that the public really liked, blending some traditional Camaro styling (going back to the original machine of the sixties) with very contemporary, aggressive visual themes to produce a striking muscle car that gets attention wherever it rolls. A convertible version soon followed, but as sharp and entertaining as these Camaros were, there was still a nagging feeling that the white-hot sports car the appearance promised had yet to be truly uncorked.

Thankfully, for lovers of true performance driving, the Camaro team hasn’t taken its foot off the gas since production of the new pony car started. As a result, we now have the ZL1: a Camaro that proves the driving dynamics of this sexy two-door can be even more impressive than its brilliant styling. It starts with a truly delicious 6.2-liter V-8 with a Roots-style supercharger, which boosts output to a thunderous 580 horsepower. Surprisingly, the keyword to describe such a seriously potent engine is not domination, but integration. Yes, the intake/supercharger/exhaust symphony will definitely put some lead in your pencil and pin the throttle, and you’ll get sucked into the deepest recesses of the sport seats. But the thrill for those who like to take such hardware down curvy blacktop (instead of just annihilating the rear tires in a straight line) is how easy it is to put this staggering thrust to work launching the ZL1 from apex to apex. The supercharger engages seamlessly, almost as if you’ve just added more pistons to the engine when you need to build power like a locomotive. With precise throttle response and a sixspeed manual with ideal ratios and light, quick throws (and a clutch that is likewise light and easy to modulate), everything just works together like the perfect partner. A state-of-the art, six-speed automatic gearbox is also available.

A huge part of this balance and control (where the 4,120-pound car acts like something much lighter) is GM’s third-generation Magnetic Ride system. This uses magic dust (sorry, I meant magnetorheological fluid technology) to vary suspension response to the road and the type of driving the chassis experiences. There are Sport and Tour settings, although the Tour mode is certainly not too soft for aggressive driving and Sport does not punish you over rough pavement. Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser explains further: “Traditional suspension systems at some point compromise ride quality for road-holding grip and body control. With Magnetic Ride Control, we can offer customers the best of both worlds: a comfortable ride that makes the ZL1 appropriate as a daily driver, and the incredibly precise body control that makes the ZL1 so enjoyable at the track.”

Sport mode also adds more feel to the electronic power steering, giving you even more precious feedback at the limit. Also onboard is Performance Traction Management, which incorporates things like stability control, launch control, traction control, and more, all to help you maintain your control of the nearly 600-horsepower cruise missile at all times. The cozy interior of the Camaro is much like the earlier versions, except for the unique excellence of leather sport seats with microfiber inserts, and the glorious drive of the nine-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system. There’s also a handy backup camera that’s displayed in the rearview mirror, a very welcome addition, since looking out the back of the car is much like peering into a cave.

The ZL1 is a rip-roaring, Cobra challenging supercoupe, and a convertible version will be along soon. And power aside, the real jewel in this crown is how the Camaro’s chassis both handles all the thrust and is such a perfectly balanced package. The mechanical internals are now as hot as the body that surrounds them, and that’s the start of a beautiful relationship.