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2017 Camaro ZL1 Hits Over 200 MPH in Germany
Chevy just tested the max velocity of its 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe with 10-speed automatic at the High Speed Oval at Germany’s Automotive Testing Papenburg GmBH proving ground, and the pony car galloped to a top steed of 198 mph (or 318 km/h, as they say over there in Papenburg).
The top speed is actually the average from driving the muscle car in both directions of the 7.6-mile (12.3 km) loop. The fastest Camaro ever made, the new ZL1 managed 193.3 mph in one direction, and a whopping 202.3 mph in the other.
“This test caps an impressive list of performance stats for the Camaro ZL1, which was designed to excel at everything,” said Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser,“It’s the most capable—and fastest—Camaro ever.”
The Camaro was tested on the ZL1’s production Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires with pressure set at 44 psi, with the car’s only deviations from stock equipment being mandatory safety equipment and data logging equipment.
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“The ZL1 was developed with high-speed performance in mind, incorporating a balanced aerodynamic package that reduces lift without significantly affecting drag,” Oppenheiser said. “After testing the car in standard settings, which produced the 198-mph average, we set the front and rear camber adjustments to 0 degrees and the tire pressures to the maximum allowable sidewall pressure, and saw the ZL1 average over 200 mph.”
Special aero features include a stanchion rear spoiler that Chevy says offers a more advantageous lift/drag ratio than a blade-style rear spoiler can provide, and a patent-pending auxiliary transmission oil cooler cover that decreases front-end lift with no drag penalty.
Additional performance stats of the ZL1 Coupe tested include a 3.5-second 0-60 mph time, a quarter mile time of 11.4 seconds at 127 mph, 1.02g max cornering, and 60-0 mph braking in 107 feet (35 meters).
The Camaro’s 650-horsepower, supercharged LT4 engine comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Match, while the coupe tested in Germany featured an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. Additional features include Magnetic Ride Control, electronic limited-slip differential (coupe model only), 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 summer-only tires measuring 285/30ZR20 in front and 305/30ZR20 in the rear*, and Brembo brakes with six-piston Monobloc front calipers and two-piece rotors.
The 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe with manual transmission starts at $63,435 for a coupe with the manual transmission (price includes $995 destination fee and $1,300 gas guzzler tax), and begins at $65,830 for a coupe with the 10-speed automatic (price includes $995 destination and $2,100 gas guzzler tax).
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