Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 2019 Review

The combination of a cold, wet race track with arguably the worst surface and drainage in Australia, and a rear-wheel-drive American muscle car with a manual transmission that's more powerful than a McLaren F1 must seem like sheer madness to most of us.

But in an era when enthusiasts lament the loss of analog performance and the growing role of fancy transmissions, all-wheel drive systems and driver aids that increase speed but reduce driver engagement, the Camaro ZL1 may be the best antidote. It's like using EpiPens for acupuncture.

It also promises to complete the HSV's incredible return to form, just two years after we celebrated the brand's clear swan song with the release of the Aussie Commodore - farewell to the GTSR W1. And get it, the ZL1 even manages to raise its stratospheric power by 3kW and 66Nm.

Yes, ZL1 performance is everything Chevrolet does, but it took HSV to bring it to our shores, with a complete reengineering to put the steering wheel on the right side with full manufacturer support.

Just eight months after the MY18 Camaro 2SS first broke surface tension, the ZL1 hit HSV showrooms alongside the facelifted MY19 2SS.

Despite the apparent horror scenario of its launch in the Australian media last week, I survived to tell the story. Here's how:

Chevrolet Camaro 2019: ZL1
Safety Rating	-
engine's type	6.2L
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	15.6l / 100km
Landing	4 Places
Price from	$121,500

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

The monstrous ZL1 engine may be its centerpiece, but the days of twitchy muscle cars that lacked overall design synergy are long gone.

In other words, the ZL1 package includes a comprehensive visual and technical update that allows you to get the most out of its capabilities.

Body modifications have been subjected to over 100 hours of wind tunnel testing to improve aerodynamics and cooling for track use.

The ZL1 has been wind tunnel tested to improve its body for track use.

This includes a protruding front splitter, inflated front guards, huge bumper vents, a unique carbon fiber scoop hood, sharp side skirts and a gloss black lower bumper that wraps around the four tailpipes.

Unique 20-inch, 10-twin-spoke forged wheels protrude from every corner, and Goodyear Eagle F1 American semi-slicks have been swapped out for Contental Sport Contact 5 to suit a wider range of road conditions.

If you think these Chevrolet bow tie badges look a little funny, it's because they're a new kind of black-centered "floating tie" that all Camaros from 1SS are scoring more points in 2019.

The ZL1 gets its own set of 20-inch alloy wheels.

The interior features Alcantara and leather-trimmed Recaro front seats, as well as a flat-bottomed steering wheel and Alcantara-trimmed shift lever.

The process of reengineering the HSV to move the driver's controls to the right side is well documented, but the addition of a manual mode moved (unintentionally pun) things up a notch in 2019.

A unique molding had to be created for the clutch pedal, as well as inserting an insert for the left side of the footwell to leave enough room for the inactive clutch foot and ensure there was no ergonomic compromise for a three-pedal setup.

Other changes include the installation of European-style front and rear lights with yellow indicators.

A new front anti-roll bar also needed to be made to clean up the RHD electric power steering system.

The ZL1's bimodal exhaust was also too loud for ADR, so it was quieter to meet the 74db (automatic) and 75db (manual) requirements with the addition of two 12" rear intermediate mufflers to the car plus two additional 8" mufflers. inch front intermediate mufflers for manual transmission. HSV claims that exhaust changes do not affect power output.

Other detail changes required for ADR compliance include a headlight self-levelling system, the removal of DRLs on the bumper, and the addition of mudguards on the rear wheels to meet body-to-wheel clearance requirements.

One feature that wasn't fully ready for the MY18 version but has now been adapted for 2019 was the driver's head-up display, but the daunting task of converting the system's internals for right-handed use without the need for a dedicated windshield appears to have been the result of sheer persistence tireless engineer.

Instead of just taking an Argentine spec model and converting it to fit a 2018 Camaros model, the 2019 version starts life as US spec and the result is more suited to Australia.

This Camaro started life as a US car and was converted by HSV for the Australian market.

Other changes include the installation of European-style front and rear lights with amber indicators and seat belts, but the larger side mirrors are still Argentine standard.

Due to the unique front end design and mechanicals, the ZL1 also needed to be crash tested to achieve ADR certification.

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

Not a very simple answer, and it's hard to imagine that many Camaro buyers would notice. It's a two-door coupe, after all, but at least the basic principles were taken into account.

There are two cup holders on the front, but your bottles would like to be shaped like little umbrellas to fit in door pockets.

You can hardly buy a Camaro because it is practical.

There's about as much passenger room in the back as a Mustang or Toyota 86, which isn't much, but there are two ISOFIX child seat points and a top tether that might be more useful than you'd expect.

The trunk holds just 257 liters despite the lack of a spare tire in favor of a compact inflation kit.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

At the heart of the ZL1 conversion is the LT4 engine upgrade. With the same 6.2 liters, direct injection and variable valve timing as the OHV LT1 spec Gen V small block in the Camaro 2SS.

The huge GM V8 engine develops 477 kW/881 Nm of power.

Not to be confused with the previous generation LS9 engine used in the W1, the LT4 develops 3kW and 66Nm more for a total of 477kW and 881Nm, and the LT4 is also used in the current Corvette Z06 and Cadillac CTS-V.

GM's new 10-speed torque converter vehicle is expected to account for over 60% of ZL1 sales in Australia. Its performance potential is backed up by the fact that it has been calibrated for left-foot braking and includes launch control and a line-lock feature for easy burnout.

We'd forgive the HSV if it decided to focus on an automatic version for Australia, but manual-drivers and thrill-seekers will be thrilled to see a six-speed conventional manual on the list.

How much fuel does it consume? 6/10

You may want to steer the other bill payer away from this section, as it will never be impressive.

The automatic ZL1 has an official total figure of 15.3L/100km, another 2.3L higher than the automatic 2SS, but the manual ZL1 tops out at 15.6L/100km.

If it helps your cause, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will top it with 16.8L/100km, and the Camaro's 72L tank should last at least 461km between fill-ups.

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Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

On a kilowatt-per-dollar basis, the ZL1 is second only to the $522 134,900kW Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in Australia, if not the world.

Starting at a list price of $159,990 for the manual transmission version, the ZL1 dances in the same circle as the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S, BMW M3/4 and Audi RS4/5, but it's never mistaken for them.

The automatic version will cost you another $2200, while the metallic paint will cost you another $850.

Standard features include Alcantara and leather trim, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, an 8-inch media screen with third-generation Chevrolet infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a 9-speaker Bose audio system , 24 - Colored ambient lighting, wireless phone charging and a rearview mirror in addition to a rearview camera.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is available on every ZL1.

HSV is also working on an option package to allow owners to use American Eagle F1 tires as a second set of wheels for track use, which is expected to cost around $1000 for the tires alone, compared to $2500 at the store.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10

The big payoff from the Camaro's right-hand drive HSV engineering efforts is the peace of mind it should provide in the long run.

On top of that comes a three-year 100,000 km warranty, which is below the five-year status quo these days, but also brings the convenience of HSV's nationwide dealer network.

Service intervals are also relatively short at 9 months/12,000km, but that's understandable given the jittery nature of the ZL1. HSV does not offer a fixed price service.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / 100,000 km


guarantee

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

Standard protective equipment includes two-stage front, side thorax, knee and curtain airbags that also cover the rear seat.

Unfortunately there's no AEB on the spec sheet, but it does come with forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and parking sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The Chevrolet Camaro has yet to receive an ANCAP or EuroNCAP rating, but the NHTSA in the US has awarded the 2019 SS the highest overall rating of five stars. The ZL1 did not receive an overall rating, but received the same four stars for frontal impact and five stars for rollover as the SS.

What is it like to drive? 9/10

There are all sorts of underground entertainments for those who enjoy the pain and feeling close to death. Japanese game shows, erotic suffocation and the Porsche 911 GT2 have become stereotypes, but driving a ZL1 on the cold and wet Sundown track presents a similar situation.

Luckily, the HSV also had an automatic version, which, along with the persistence of our maintainers, left some degree of stability control, which meant we could focus on throttle, steering, and stopping with some electronic safety system, without the added dimension of choice. transmission. and clutch control.

We've also warmed up with the updated 2SS, and although it's 138kW and 264Nm behind the ZL1, 339kW and 617Nm are still trying to do their job with the two rear tires. This may sound silly and a little hyper-analytical, but today it is not true, trust me.

As far as headlines go, the ZL1 lends some real meaning to the Camaro's high waistline, seating position in a letterbox side window as if you're looking out from inside a trench, ready to fire some serious weapons.

What the ZL1 gives up in direct engagement, it makes up for in sheer thrill.

Gently pushing the gas out of the pits, there's still a lot going on underneath us and we still need a lot of brakes to get through the first corner.

That it stomps decently out of Turn 4 into the back straight highlights what the ZL1 is all about. The responsiveness of the powerful supercharged V8 is second only to the electric motor, and the oily surface puts you in direct contact with the limits of traction, even as defined by massive XNUMXmm wide rear tires and a fancy electric LSD.

It's a great lesson in why the M5 and E63 with similar power went all-wheel drive, but what the ZL1 forgoes a direct clutch, it makes up for in sheer thrill. If HSV had stuck to the semi-slicks of the American version, this buzz would have been more like outright masochism.

The sensitivity of the high-performance supercharged V8 is second only to the electric motor, and the oily surface puts you just outside the limits of traction.

Regardless of the terrain compromise, it kicks off with an extreme straight-up push and forces you to decide very quickly how to maneuver around a bend. I opted for a gentle climb instead of a guaranteed shame, but I was still more nervous than ever approaching the ridge that blocks your view of turn six.

Added to those nerves was the rising tone of the supercharger in unison with the roar of those huge exhausts, combined by the speed at which the speedometer was still climbing as I hit the ridge, making the claimed top speed of 325 km/h seem quite achievable on the right road.

If you're considering an automatic, the 10-speed doesn't seem particularly smart when slowing down, but it's surprisingly quick when upshifting at full throttle.

The six-piston Brembo ZL1s thankfully seem like a big upgrade over the four-point 2SS jobs as you get closer to the tricky sequence of 6,7,8, 9, XNUMX, and XNUMX turns.

By this point, it's pretty clear that the Z71 isn't trying to mimic the finesse of a Porsche or any other German car of similar size and performance.

For a manual transmission designed to handle so much torque, the selector travel is surprisingly short and light, but there is an overpowered feel to all the other controls.

By this point, it's pretty clear that the Z71 isn't trying to imitate Porsche finesse.

Also helping to reduce the risk of reversing off the track is the manual's rev-matching system, which almost smoothly aligns the revs with the selected gear ratio when downshifting. Luckily, this can be simply turned on and off using the paddles on the steering wheel.

If you're considering an automatic, the 10-speed doesn't seem particularly smart when slowing down, but it's surprisingly quick when upshifting at full throttle.

For a manual transmission designed to handle so much torque, the selector travel is surprisingly short and light, but there is an overpowered feel to all the other controls.

As attractive as the Alcantara on the steering wheel and shifter is, I would have preferred the more grippy leather, at least with bare hands.

At 1795kg, the car itself feels big, and the beefed-up tracks make it almost as wide as it is long, all of which give the ZL1 a unique, rugged character.

Verdict

In a world without Monaros or rear-wheel drive Commodores, the new Camaro is a happy replacement. In ZL1 guise, it delivers more thrill, brutal performance or menacing road presence than any Australian lion. And it's only auto, with manual control making the driver more complicit in the experience, and the fact that it exists among a 2019-level civilization comes close to a miracle. Indeed, acupuncture with EpiPens.

Is the ZL1 your best muscle car? Tell us what you think in the comments below.