How Fast is the New 2017 Camaro ZL1? It's the Fastest Yet

Engineers at Chevrolet have a reputation for taking the Corvette's most powerful engine and stuffing it into a Camaro. The Camaro ZL1 is just such a machine, packing the 650 hp and 650 lb-ft supercharged LT4 from the Z06. Top Speed and Camaro are not normally heard in the same paragraph, but inquiring minds have been wondering how fast the supercar ZL1 really is. The location of the test was the 7.6-mile oval track in Papenburg, Germany. No changes were made to body or drivetrain and the first run was 202.3 mph. Equipped with the new 10-speed automatic transmission, the factory Goodyear Supercar 3 tires were pumped up to 44 psi to cope with the 49-degree banking of the track. After running both directions around the track the top speed was certified at 198 mph.

Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser said “It’s the most capable — and fastest —Camaro ever.” Other noteworthy accomplishments are a 0-60 run of 3.5 seconds and 1.02g of cornering grip. Camber was zeroed out to replicate a daily driven alignment, so the car is capable of more if given a few degrees. Having 10 gears in the transmission allows for agility out of the hole also, with quarter-mile times in the low 11s. It is nice to see Camaro receive such attention from GM, and we wonder how the aftermarket will respond to this factory built powerhouse. If it's not up to your standards, Hennessey Performance will bump it up to 800 hp. The sixth generation of Camaro is proving to be an incredible machine, and it gives the Super Troopers something new to focus on instead of my 2002 SS.