Ridelust Review: 2013 BMW X6 M
The 2012 Camaro ZL1. Image: © GM Corp.
It’s official: Chevy isn’t just looking to kick sand in the face of the Shelby GT500, it’s looking to bury the car halfway to China. Chevy has released the specs on the 2012 lord-god-king Camaro, and they are impressive, indeed. Want power? How does 580 horsepower and 556 ft-lb of torque sound? Not only is that 24 more horsepower than the Cadillac CTS-V gets from the same LSA motor, it’s 30 more horsepower and 46 more ft-lb of torque than the Shelby GT500 produces.
The ZL1 comes track ready, too, with a host of features designed to make the car not only faster, but safer and more durable at speed. There are five different modes for the traction and stability control, ranging from wet weather driving to full-on track duty with no electro-nannies. There are oil coolers for the transmission, differential (and probably engine oil, too), and the intercooler is larger than the one used in the Cadillac CTS-V. Buyers can opt for a six speed manual or automatic transmission, and both gearboxes are up to the task of regular track beatings.
The ZL1 isn’t all brute force, either, since the car gets GM’s amazingly good Magnetic Ride Control 3.0 suspension, which can adjust damping up to 1,000 times per second. Unlike conventional dampers, which use valves to control the flow of oil, GM’s system uses a fluid that reacts to a magnetic charge; the higher the charge, the higher the damping force. Electromagnets are used to make near-instantaneous changes to the fluid in the shocks. Not only does GM use the system in the Cadillac CTS-V and Corvette ZR1, but Ferrari also licenses the system for use in the 458 Italia.
Look for pricing to be released before the end of the year, with deliveries to key dealers beginning by April of 2012.
Source: Chevrolet
Yeah, that’s a lot of horsepower but I’m sure you know the next gt500 is reported to have 600+.
BTW, have fun in San Fran. I’m sure there’s plenty of great driving roads and destinations.
@Kevin, that just means that the next ZL1 will have 610 horsepower (or 10 more than the next GT500 produces).
Thanks for the good wishes, but Mike moved to San Fran, not me. I’m still in the swamps of Northeast Florida, glad that summer is drawing to a close.
@Kurt,
Yeah, I shoulda made sure of who actually wrote the article before putting in my .02.
What part of NE Florida are you in? I’m in Clay County and really glad we’re getting some cooler weather.
@Kevin, I’m over in Jacksonville (Mandarin to be specific). Do you ever make it to Cars & Coffee in Jacksonville? It’s the second Saturday of the month, from 9:00 to 11:00, at Wild Wings Cafe on Southside (by Tinseltown).
Cars are becoming not? fuel efficient and now they come up with a new school Camaro 600HP. That’s the bomb!