Video: Camaro ZL1 Runs VIR in 2:52:38. Faster than Z06, GT-R, GT3 RS!

[adamgl]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

I'm just thiking that the auto can't possibly know what gear the driver wants 100% of the time. I don't buy that it can do that.

If it were a auto with dual clutches and manual control I'd certainly be impressed, but the ZL1 has a hydraulic auto.

Ya, but that's why it has tap shift available.

[Ezzy]

The Camaro smoked the Nissan GTR. I find that a bit hard to believe.

[TLSTWIN]

Originally Posted by Ezzy

The Camaro smoked the Nissan GTR. I find that a bit hard to believe.

Ya, it is all smoke and mirrors now that the government owns part of GM it is a conspiracy to take over the auto industry and show the GTR is a crappy car

[Crowley]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

The astounding thing that is as true as the above statement -- is how EASY it is to drive. Just remarkable...

I'm so glad I had a chance to fly around VIR in the ZL1...it just confirms everything we're being told. It IS a supercar, there's no two ways about it!

They Chevy team was very, very, VERY proud of the figures the car produced around the track - and it sure seemed like a celebration that night over dinner.

I'll have a full (and real long) re-cap posted tomorrow evening...and lots more pictures (including the undercarraige! ) to go with it. You guys who've ordered one are just going to be thrilled as ever when you get it!


EDIT: OH...and fwiw...the GT500 doesn't stand a chance. Chevy's taken this car to a whole new plane, where Ford can't follow. At least not in this generation. It may be faster in the quarter -- and there's NO doubt that it'll be a blast to drive with all that power...but the ZL1 is just better in nearly every other way.

I'm almost to the point of not comparing them anymore. Mustang has continued down the same path as they've ever been on - improving what they do real well. Chevy took the Camaro in a new direction, and turned it into a superior GT car...it's a ridiculously impressive package.

I bet you had a blast ..look forward to your post and pictures

Crowley

[Shurenuff]

Originally Posted by Crowley

I bet you had a blast ..look forward to your post and pictures

Crowley

What an experience Joe. I'm really glad for and envious of you.

[kbui]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

The astounding thing that is as true as the above statement -- is how EASY it is to drive. Just remarkable...

I'm so glad I had a chance to fly around VIR in the ZL1...it just confirms everything we're being told. It IS a supercar, there's no two ways about it!

They Chevy team was very, very, VERY proud of the figures the car produced around the track - and it sure seemed like a celebration that night over dinner.

I'll have a full (and real long) re-cap posted tomorrow evening...and lots more pictures (including the undercarraige! ) to go with it. You guys who've ordered one are just going to be thrilled as ever when you get it!


EDIT: OH...and fwiw...the GT500 doesn't stand a chance. Chevy's taken this car to a whole new plane, where Ford can't follow. At least not in this generation. It may be faster in the quarter -- and there's NO doubt that it'll be a blast to drive with all that power...but the ZL1 is just better in nearly every other way.

I'm almost to the point of not comparing them anymore. Mustang has continued down the same path as they've ever been on - improving what they do real well. Chevy took the Camaro in a new direction, and turned it into a superior GT car...it's a ridiculously impressive package.

All I want to know is, was you hooked up for blood pressure and pulse rate monitoring??? A few of those curve transitions must have had your heart thumping. Hope you have a video of the drive?

[assasinator]

The ZL1 is superior in nearly every way. hands down. WAY faster.


this reminds me of the 2011GT introduction a little. Ford boys on the back burner since 98, get a car to compete. Ford fans got revenge for being slow for a decade. and shoved it in F-body boys face.


Now chevy fans get their due. and i forsee GT500 fans getting it handed to them. No more listening to the GT500 "nuclear option" in every conversation about who is badder.


the ZL1 might be the best GT car ever. i dont know if it has the 'soul' of 60's muscle cars, but its numbers cant be ignored.

[Rock36]

I have two thoughts for those doubting what a ZL1 can or can't beat:

1) The ZL1 ran any awesome time by anyone's standards, it put down a 2:52 and a lot of other great cars haven't. Maybe those other cars could in theory run a 2:52 also, but they simply haven't yet.

2) If you are in disbelief about the ZL1 beating any particular car (e.g. GTR, Z06, whatever) at VIR, just remember those other laps were done on different days with different drivers.

But at the end of the day ZL1 still ran a 2:52, and until someone proves that this ZL1 was a ringer or on race tires, the ZL1 is simply in exceptional company even if another car like the GTR is "better" or beats it on another track somewhere else.

[MauriSSio]

Originally Posted by assasinator

The ZL1 is superior in nearly every way. hands down. WAY faster.


this reminds me of the 2011GT introduction a little. Ford boys on the back burner since 98, get a car to compete. Ford fans got revenge for being slow for a decade. and shoved it in F-body boys face.


Now chevy fans get their due. and i forsee GT500 fans getting it handed to them. No more listening to the GT500 "nuclear option" in every conversation about who is badder.


the ZL1 might be the best GT car ever. i dont know if it has the 'soul' of 60's muscle cars, but its numbers cant be ignored.

LOL someones forgetting about the TERMINATOR. Lets not get ahead of ourselves.The ZL1 is finally the first GM car in the segment faster than the 03' cobra (which was built and released in 02')
the zl1 is an awesome car and the numbers show it despite being down on HP to the competition. 2:52.xx is an incredible time. im doubtful the 2012 will be able to match the ZL1 now. The 2013? i have no idea, might be closer (on a road course, definately not straight line) but still doubtful now.

[69NMYSS]

Originally Posted by Shurenuff

I hope they release a track edition ZL1 in the future with the Sport Cup tires to really see where this car stands against the Z06/ZR1. Obviously it won't beat them, but it would close the gap.

The ZL1 already beat the Z06 with the Z07 package

7. Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera 2:51.80 '10 570 / 1430
8. KTM X-Bow 2:52.30 '08 241 / 871
[2:52.38 2012 Camaro ZL1]
9. Nissan GT-R 2:53.20 '11 530 / 1736
10. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 2:53.50 '11 512 / 1394

[radz28]

Originally Posted by 69NMYSS

The ZL1 already beat the Z06 with the Z07 package

7. Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera 2:51.80 '10 570 / 1430
8. KTM X-Bow 2:52.30 '08 241 / 871
[2:52.38 2012 Camaro ZL1]
9. Nissan GT-R 2:53.20 '11 530 / 1736
10. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 2:53.50 '11 512 / 1394

I'd like to see a same day, same driver rematch. I said, many months ago, that I would venture to say ZL1 might, and should be targeted for Z06 (more to be most assured the GT500 will be outmatched), but I wasn't really sure it was possible without the stickiest rubber. I'm going to still try to be vocal about a Track Pack, and I firmly believe that ZL1 would still be nipping on Z06/7's heels on the same track, under the same conditions, with the same driver. I'm still not completely buying the current Z06/7 time as the best it could achieve, but I'm also not taking anything away from ZL1.

[IOMZL1]

Originally Posted by ParisTNDude

With a good driver this GT500 would have gone much faster. He continually misjudged the need to down shift and hit the rev limiter 10 or more times (it looks like it was rev limited to no more than 6200...I thought the GT500 had more). The car didn't look as settled as the ZL1, but we expected that. This is a good video...who was driving? For a while, I was dreading the thought that the ZL1 might get beat by a GT500, but after watching this video, I would whole heartedly give credit to the GT500 if it won. This competition is absolutely awesome!!!

This car was driven by Vehicle Dynamics engineer Gene Martindale, the SVT equivalent to Aaron Link. This was a Ford conducted test. I think they probably got all they could out of the car given the track and ambient conditions.

[Shurenuff]

Originally Posted by 69NMYSS

The ZL1 already beat the Z06 with the Z07 package

7. Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera 2:51.80 '10 570 / 1430
8. KTM X-Bow 2:52.30 '08 241 / 871
[2:52.38 2012 Camaro ZL1]
9. Nissan GT-R 2:53.20 '11 530 / 1736
10. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 2:53.50 '11 512 / 1394

Different driver and conditions. On the same day with a hotshoe driver, I'd put money on the Z06/Z07 every time, especially with the Sport Cup tires. Look at the Ring times GM released, not even close.

[ffrcobra_65]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

The astounding thing that is as true as the above statement -- is how EASY it is to drive. Just remarkable...

I'm so glad I had a chance to fly around VIR in the ZL1...it just confirms everything we're being told. It IS a supercar, there's no two ways about it!

They Chevy team was very, very, VERY proud of the figures the car produced around the track - and it sure seemed like a celebration that night over dinner.

I'll have a full (and real long) re-cap posted tomorrow evening...and lots more pictures (including the undercarraige! ) to go with it. You guys who've ordered one are just going to be thrilled as ever when you get it!


EDIT: OH...and fwiw...the GT500 doesn't stand a chance. Chevy's taken this car to a whole new plane, where Ford can't follow. At least not in this generation. It may be faster in the quarter -- and there's NO doubt that it'll be a blast to drive with all that power...but the ZL1 is just better in nearly every other way.

I'm almost to the point of not comparing them anymore. Mustang has continued down the same path as they've ever been on - improving what they do real well. Chevy took the Camaro in a new direction, and turned it into a superior GT car...it's a ridiculously impressive package.

so Joe, you saying like the ZL1? you lucky dawg! You got to drive it around VIR in that thing? How many "oh $hit" moments did you have?