Camaro ZL1 runs the ring in 7:41.27

[HBspeed]

"Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America flew from sunny and warm Detroit to rainy and chilly Los Angeles to address media members on Wednesday. Once he arrived, the climate change was evident in the room close to Los Angeles International Airport; this man's enthusiasm for automobiles, motorsports and General Motors is evident by his demeanor and excitement for the future.

The first item Reuss addressed was the vehicle on display outside the hotel where the meeting was held - Chevrolet's Camaro ZL1. The street and circuit-worthy Camaro wasn't terribly pretty but it looked, at first glance, that it was worthy of great performance.

Reuss stated as much - from personal experience - as he was one of the drivers to conduct performance validation on this machine on the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit of 14.173 miles in Germany, where the LSR-powered V8 muscle car turned an incredible 7 minutes, 41.27 seconds in a single lap, he said. Can anyone remember a GM president that was enough of an enthusiast to take part in a session of this type? Didn't think so.

The ZL1 was "forgiving and neutral," Reuss, a Grand-Am-licensed competitor said. "I was able to drive deeper than I ever have." He especially enjoyed passing the Porsche GT3's that were lapping concurrently, before the car was boxed and returned from Germany to the GM proving grounds and then brought to Los Angeles for this morning appearance. The street car will have its debut during the mid-November Los Angeles International Auto Show."

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...-future-lineup

[erio]

Wow...if that time is accurate they have put together something amazing. I assume that was using the production tires. Ford better have stepped it up with the 2013 GT500.

[bobbyd1961]

Originally Posted by erio

Wow...if that time is accurate they have put together something amazing. I assume that was using the production tires. Ford better have stepped it up with the 2013 GT500.

this is why bmw must step up the next M3 to mid 3s and a 739 nurburgring.
do you hear me in Garcon

[Moo]

Well well well, muscle cars that can actually go around corners.

Competition is good for the consumer

I wonder if the next M3 can beat this 'ring time...

[bobbyd1961]

Originally Posted by Moo

Well well well, muscle cars that can actually go around corners.

Competition is good for the consumer

I wonder if the next M3 can beat this 'ring time...

the answer is no it cant beat that time. but it must.

[Moo]

Originally Posted by bobbyd1961

the answer is no it cant beat that time. but it must.

Yea, even the mighty M3 GTS is slower around the ring

[erio]

Originally Posted by Moo

Yea, even the mighty M3 GTS is slower around the ring

Yes that is seriously fast...much faster than most expected. Just a quick look a chart with the latest ring times shows some serious domination.

[Onurleft]

Originally Posted by erio

Wow...if that time is accurate they have put together something amazing. I assume that was using the production tires. Ford better have stepped it up with the 2013 GT500.

They've been developing it there, so my fingers are crossed. Currently the 5.0 w/ the track pack is a much better handling car than the Camaro SS.

[THE TECH]

For a heavy car, that's impressive.

[erio]

Originally Posted by stingray23

For ANY car, thats impressive

+1. Starting with the Z06, CTS-V and then Boss 302, American manufactures began engineering very well balanced track worthy cars that were previously mainly found in the European brands. I see a trend with the Ring as the new playground for American muscle. It's a competitive market.

[JonnyM3]

That's incredible.

[GOLFFRR]

wow

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by bobbyd1961

this is why bmw must step up the next M3 to mid 3s and a 739 nurburgring.
do you hear me in Garcon

Won't happen. Maybe not in the next generation, but generation after that, M3 will only be a status car. It is already loosing 50% of its core, the engine. Soon, it will be slower around the corner than American muscle (which is already happening), and then the question is: why would I buy an M3? The answer will be: "better interior" or "because it is a BMW"...

[Mookster]

Is this the Camero that has 550+ HP?

[Echo M3]

Jeez. Great to see the return of American sports cars - with the improved handling, they are quickly turning into very real alternatives to the classic German and Japanese marques.

[Powerslide]

Keep in mind that if the 4200 lb. F10 M5 did it in 755 - the f3x (or f8x) should definitely be under 755 - especially if it weighs less than the current generation e9x... Only question is by how much will it beat 755...

[w00tw00t]

however how believable is this laptime? Manufacturers have been known to "manufacture" inflated hp figures... so why not laptimes?

[scheherazade]

Originally Posted by w00tw00t

however how believable is this laptime? Manufacturers have been known to "manufacture" inflated hp figures... so why not laptimes?

It's probably true.

That ZL1 has plenty of power for the straights, and a skilled driver for the curves.

Plus good tyres are 90% of the hardware you need to throw down a good time.

-scheherazade

[Moo]

The new Corvette will have to perform better than a Camaro, right?

Looking forward to that new monster!

[Twinbo]

The ZL1 also benefits from the magna.... whatever suspension which does wonders in the CTS-V and is tuned more aggressively in the Camaro. I am not that surpised given what the ZR1 and CTS-V accomplish.
I am all for fast cars from all companies!

[Moo]

Originally Posted by shift@red

While the time generally speaking is impressive, given the fact that the Ring is all about power to weight over everything else, seeing as this car has almost 600 hp it really isnt very impressive.

At a weight of 3750 with 580 hp, thats a P/W of 6.46.

Just for reference, and you know whats coming, the new 911 with an expected weight of 3200 and 400 hp (P/W of 8) is still faster (7:40).


And for those who asked if the M3 with be around this time, dont hold your breath. Next M3 will likely be around what the GTS is, which also isnt a very impressive time.

I thought the ZL1 is much heavier, somewhere around 4200 lbs...

[ham96]

Great job Chevy! The more competition the better.