[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Imp

I love you, man.

--kC

Thanks?

I wish it was that easy with the girls!

[OldJedi]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

Thanks?

I wish it was that easy with the girls!

Joe, thanks for the verification of the 1LE debut. You brought out a lot of good points about how good the new 1LE can be IF Chevy uses the same game plan as the 5th Gen 1LE. Knowing how much you enjoyed your 1LE definitely made me look a little harder at it. I am hoping that they offer Mag Ride as an option on the 1LE as they do on the SS for that smoother ride on non track days. We will see in a couple of weeks. Stay warm up there. Steve

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

Folks: I am happy to report - this is 100% True. Chevy is set to unveil the 1LE performance package at Chicago. So if you're in the area - Chicago will be a good place to be in February.

More in the news: Two of your site moderators will be attending an early-bird sneak-peek of the car before the show opens to the public. We'll have all the details ready for you as soon as the presentations are over, so stay tuned.

If you would like to know anything in particular, let me know - I'll make sure to include it in my questions if I haven't already!





Interesting perspectives. I actually enjoyed the 1LE so much that I traded my ZL1 in for one.

The most important upgrades were suspension tuning developed during ZL1 engineering - and applied to the lighter, naturally-aspirated SS. It transformed the car into a track animal that could hang with the best in its class at SCCA tournaments. And that deserves a pause, too, Magnetic ride control is NOT legal in many racing circuits...the 1LE's mono-tube dampers were.

It destroyed a then-gen Mustang Boss 302, and handily beat the same Laguna Seca edition - which was (like the current GT350) supposed to be Ford's track-focused offering. All for $3500. The wheels alone, retailed for $4000. It was, and is a bargain.

The car essentially performed like a "Z/28 lite". It had the same transmission and differential gear ratios, the same square wheel/tire setup...the same balanced handling, and a similar weight. It's a wonderfully composed and responsive car to drive on a track.

If you don't track your car, though...then it probably was not a worthwhile option set. Because for $3500, all that really changed in appearance was the wheels, brake calipers, and the hood.









I think you guys are looking at it a little differently than I.

The fact that the standard SS model can do what it does...with so little in the way of performance equipment, speaks mountains about what a 1LE COULD do.

Let's assume that they take the same approach this generation that they did last: touch everything but the engine...

Think about it: The current SS can pull .97 G's. The 5th gen 1LE could pull 1.01. The current SS does it with not especially aggressive Goodyear Eagle Asymmetric tires, using 245 up front and 275 in the rear. What might happen if Camaro team equipped it with a square and wider setup using a stickier compound? I expect it could reach 5th-gen Z/28 levels of grip. Yes...I said it.

But this isn't all about numbers. The 1LE FELT great to drive.

The '16 SS still suffers from minor understeer at the limit. This is a good thing, and the limit is much, much higher than the 5th gen. But what if that was tuned out? I think the neutral balance they could achieve at this weight level would be astounding.

How might the car accelerate with a taller differential gearing?

What if they incorporated a cold-air intake and adjusted the engine tuning...465hp 480??

What if they used bigger brakes, like the 6-pot accessory upgrade? Could it stop later and become a track warrior?

Look at what's currently available as accessory parts for the car - what if they include the lowering kit as part of the package? What are the spring-rates like? Would the 1" lower CoG significantly improve weight transfer while cornering?

What if they adjusted the aerodynamics just enough to increase downforce and provide some more stability at high speed? Would it be able to corner at higher speeds?

What if they swapped out some components with HD units to ensure it would pass a 24-hour track test at Milford...like they did with the Gen 5 version?

I'm certainly not in charge, but if they did this right...I think they could make a Camaro that performed nearly as well as a 5th gen Z/28...for 4,000 - 5,000 dollars over the price of a standard SS. They'd be able to beat a GT350, make a GT350r sweat...and steal all of the thunder because it's so cheap...again.

Then consider - the ZL1 or Z/28 or whatever it is they're working on....would be even FASTER.

I don't know about you all....but I'm ridiculously excited for this!!





I think the gearing and rubber made it just a tenth or two faster. Nothing radically different.



You might be on to something. If you watch the 1LE spy videos...you'll notice the car wears the same spoiler and splitter as this show car does....


I agree. The '14's offered an easy brake-duct upgrade, which I did. I also swapped out the brake fluid for some of the best stuff there is...Prior to this, the four-pots just couldn't keep up with the rest of the car without additional cooling capability.

The 6th-gen SS does feature standard brake cooling ducts, thankfully.







You've got good points. And I tend to agree.

But unfortunately, one of the biggest factors in this decision is going to be factory cost limitations. If you offer it with both transmissions, you need to accommodate (in pricing) for double the possible build variations.

They might do it, for all the reasons you stated above. I believe the Z06 Vette is available as an automatic (but it also likes to overheat, so I've heard)

Then again, they may not...because most people buying the package will want a stick, anyways. Maybe...

So you're coming to Chicago

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by Denis

I guess im kind of torn on the need for a 1LE right now. the previous one was released to address all of the trackability issues the SS has (understeer etc.). The current car has yet to really show any of these issues. So unless the new 1LE is released to really be more of a Track Pack type thing im not really sure what changes they could make. the car hasn't been out long enough for improvements to really make sense...or they would have just been implemented in the standard car.

I don't think so - you don't want to show everything you've got at the very beginning and leave yourself no way to respond in a timely manner to something unexpected showing up from the competition. Never mind that at some point the solutions become too extreme for too many people.

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

But this isn't all about numbers. The 1LE FELT great to drive.

This ↑↑↑ . . . and you don't have to be driving all the way out there at 0.9g or so to appreciate this once you have felt the difference.


One thing about running an AT on a road course for 20+ minutes at a time is you have to dispose of all the extra heat that the AT and its converter generate - and do so without overloading the engine coolant system, or trying to buy another lap by turning up the cabin heat on a hot summer day to dump some that way.


If the number of early 5th gen 1LE resales actually amounted to much, it might be useful to know what those buyers went to, particularly with respect to transmission choice. I'm going to guess that AT-oriented buyers who saw the 3.91 axle ratio and the graphics would have been less likely to really understand what the 1LE actually was, and I doubt that's changed much since.


On edit and FWIW, shocks and struts that are mechanically adjustable on just the rebound side can provide a range all the way from a reasonably good ride on the street to composed on the track.


Norm

[BradfordCamaro]

Sorry if I missed it.
But you probably wont be able to order it until late summer?

[toehead93]

Originally Posted by mcsoul

I'm sorry, but if these are the new zl1/1le wheels, I love them!
I would definitely regret not waiting.

Sorry to bring you down but those are the ZL1/1LE wheels for the gen5.

[90503]

....Just a tid-bit FWIW....The 1LE would be coming out for this Gen6 before the ZL-1...

5th Gen had the ZL-1 before the 1LE option was available....any significance???....probably not....or are we in for a real surprise with the ZL-1 coming out much sooner as well??

[bybcous]

Originally Posted by toehead93

Sorry to bring you down but those are the ZL1/1LE wheels for the gen5.

They are not and do you guys think a new tire will be developed for this model as in a new goodyear design?

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by OldJedi

Joe, thanks for the verification of the 1LE debut. You brought out a lot of good points about how good the new 1LE can be IF Chevy uses the same game plan as the 5th Gen 1LE. Knowing how much you enjoyed your 1LE definitely made me look a little harder at it. I am hoping that they offer Mag Ride as an option on the 1LE as they do on the SS for that smoother ride on non track days. We will see in a couple of weeks. Stay warm up there. Steve

Thanks Steve, we'll talk soon!

Originally Posted by Number 3

So you're coming to Chicago

Unfortunately, no...the preview is not in Chicago.

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

This ↑↑↑ . . . and you don't have to be driving all the way out there at 0.9g or so to appreciate this once you have felt the difference.

Norm

True!

Originally Posted by BradfordCamaro

Sorry if I missed it.
But you probably wont be able to order it until late summer?

I'll ask!

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by 90503

....Just a tid-bit FWIW....The 1LE would be coming out for this Gen6 before the ZL-1...

5th Gen had the ZL-1 before the 1LE option was available....any significance???....probably not....or are we in for a real surprise with the ZL-1 coming out much sooner as well??

In the Gen 5, the 1LE package was never officially planned until halfway through the ZL1 project. It may have taken a bit longer to approve things in that case.

I would imagine they'd planned a 1LE the whole time for this new generation.

Originally Posted by bybcous

They are not and do you guys think a new tire will be developed for this model as in a new goodyear design?

I can't place the tread pattern in the spy shots. It's either a Pilot Super Sport, or something related to the Goodyear Eagle G2s...Very wide outboard tread pattern.

And no, those are not the gen 5 wheels...look closer, the spokes are much closer together. Very cool design, though!

[bybcous]

Mr. Windham, how do you get to know all this info early and know more then the rest of us? Do you work for gm?

[WHAMMO]

Originally Posted by newmoon

This is great news. I will say buyer beware though. Has anyone other than me noticed how quickly the 13-15 1LEs were put up for sale soon after purchase. Although these cars are a very small percentage of the overall Camaro build the For Sale section in this forum is dominated by them. I looked into a 15 very hard but after driving the car on the street I thought the ride was a very harsh, something that would quickly become an aggrevation. I suspect this is the reason so many quickly are put on the market.

Hopefully the 16 model will do a better job of balancing suspension performance without sacrificing normal driving as much as the 5th gen. Maybe a more adjustable mag ride will be offered.

Seriously think this is not harsh at all. I've been into 'track capable' cars and let me tell you riding in a GTR is a fukin brick and PITA, worlds apart from a 1LE. My old 1998 SS with 18'' wheels and bilstein shock and lowered 1.6'' was a brick too compared to my 1LE!!

It all comes down to how much comfortable you want your ride. Some dont wanna sacrifice any comfort for performance.

For 2016, the SS in stock trim is already badass, which makes the 1LE even more for the hardcore track guys. Still, I'd be willing to drive one since the handling is unbelievable in mine.

Lot of complaints in 5th gen because the stock SS was suffering heavy body roll and unlimited oversteer (from journalist over the world). Suspension was revised in 2012, but they were not any other real test about stock SS, just 1LE and ZL1 then...

The best part about the 1LE was the price too. Hell of a bargain!!

[Gen_Nick3.8]

I don't mind if GM priced the 1LE at $5k once they include 6pot upgraded red calipers & cold air intake from factory. As well as the suspension and aesthetics.

Do you guys think that the 1LE could be a standalone model replacing the Z/28.

[Gen_Nick3.8]

I think a 50k-55k fully loaded 1LE isn't a bad deal. Recaro's, Magnetic Ride, NPP, Plus whatever the 1LE pack brings