msn autos
May 16, 2016
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: Answering the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350?
What It Is: The Camaro that hopes to humiliate the Mustang GT350. The next ZL1 will have a big power increase and will get a version of the recently introduced 1LE’s chassis.
Why It Matters: Here’s a Camaro with more horsepower and improved handling to body-slam a product from Ford. It’s 19-freakin’-69 all over again.
Platform: As with lesser Camaros, the ZL1 will be built on the Alpha platform, the rear-drive hardware shared with the Cadillac ATS-V, among others. Stiff and light, Alpha should have no problem coping with more than 600 horsepower.
Powertrain: A supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 small-block with 640 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the GT350, the ZL1 will offer an automatic option, GM’s impressive new 10-speed. Of course, the six-speed manual is still preferred.
Copyright Car and Driver
Competition: BMW M4, Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Ford Mustang Shelby GT350/GT350R, a trip to the Barrett-Jackson auction to buy one of the 50-year-old originators of this feud.
What Might Go Wrong: Nothing. Bring it.
Estimated Arrival and Price: The ZL1 will arrive later this year at a price north of $60,000.
Above 9 pictures courtesy of General Motors