There are obviously no shortages of amateur automotive videos on the internet, however most of them are pretty tough to watch. Sometimes though you happen upon a true diamond in the rough, a video that’s so well done that you’d swear it was professionally made. This was the case with the short film you’re about to see on an unsuspecting 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS. I believe it was shot in Poland, but regardless, the combination of quality editing, music, driving and overall look and feel was simply spot on. Click through and enjoy.

Source: Vimeo

The 2013 Camaro ZL1, in topless flavor. Image: GM Corp.

If you thought that the announcement of the 650-horsepower 2013 Shelby GT 500 meant the end of the pony car wars, you’d be wrong. Al Oppenheiser, the chief engineer on the Camaro ZL 1 program, was his normal outspoken self in a a letter to the faithful on the Camaro5 website.

As quoted on Left Lane News, Oppenheiser wrote, “For Mustang fans. you’re welcome. Clearly the Camaro has encouraged Ford to throw everything they can at us. The days of ‘no replacement for displacement’ are over, and it’s not enough to be fast in a straight line. With the Camaro ZL1, we set out to deliver integrated performance, and be equally good at acceleration, braking, grip and turning. As you will soon see, that’s why the Camaro ZL1 will set the performance benchmark for the segment.”

That’s a line in the sand if we’ve ever seen one…

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1. Image: GM Corp.

Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but Chevy opted to release pricing on the 2012 Camaro ZL1 on the very same day that Ford announced its new, 650 horsepower 2013 Shelby GT500. If you’re a bowtie fan, $54,995 (including destination charge) will buy you a car that runs from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, runs the quarter-mile in 12 seconds flat at 119 mph and tops out at 184 mph. It’s all but guaranteed to win you tickets and points on your driver’s license, so if you planning to buy one, now is the time to dig up dirt on your insurance agent.

Those wanting to row their own gears will be disappointed to learn that slushbox-equipped ZL1s are quicker to 60 mph (3.9 seconds versus 4.0 seconds), quicker through the quarter-mile (12.0 seconds versus 12.1) and have a higher top speed (184 mph versus 180 mph). On the other hand, spending the $1,185 for the six-speed automatic can help you convince your significant other that the ZL1 is a practical commuter car, too, which may help you win the argument about buying one.

The Camaro ZL1 will hit Chevy dealers in the spring, and (until the 2013 Shelby GT500 comes along) there’s really nothing else with comparable performance in the same price range. Your options are to buy one now, or wait for the masses of used ZL1s to hit the market when Ford’s new Shelby GT500 hits Ford dealers.

If you’re a former aerospace engineer looking to buy a 2012 Camaro ZL-1, prepare to salivate at the video below. Narrated by Tom Frohling, the lead development engineer for the aerodynamics on the Camaro ZL-1, the You Tube video below is chock full o’ terms like “zero neutral lift,” “negative lift,” “chassis dynamics,” and “computational fluid dynamics.”

Here’s what you really need to know: unlike every GM sports car before it (including the Corvette), the ZL1 is designed to not create lift (which makes the car lighter and slower through corners), but to generate some minimal degree of downforce. Every aero bit on the car was designed to be functional; the hood extractor, for example, generates negative lift (downforce) while providing additional engine cooling. The front wheel extension reduces lift and helps with brake cooling and even the rocker panels reduce drag and prevent lift.

Camaros have never been known for being cutting-edge in terms of performance or technology, but the 2012 ZL-1 is likely to change that. We know enough to know this: there’s some serious rocket science behind it.

The 2012 Trans Am. Image: Trans America Muscle

If you’ve worn black in mourning every day since the demise of Pontiac, and you wish that someone would build a decent Trans Am replica from the new Camaro, here’s some good news for you. Trans America Muscle builds new Trans Am, and I’ve got to say the cars look fantastic. They’re not inexpensive, and the car shown in the Street Fire video below would sticker out at $59,500. Assuming that includes the price of a 2012 Camaro SS, that’s a reasonable price to ask.

The conversion is more than just a few decals and a set of wheels. The base package includes the shaker hood, a custom front bumper, LED turn signals with “angel eye” headlights, a custom rear bumper with LED taillights, side exhausts with MagnaFlow mufflers, custom graphics, 22-inch custom wheels, fiberglass fender air extractors, custom rear spoiler and an interior package.

If you want to go faster than that, TAM offers up a wide range of accessories, including a coil-over suspension, a Magnuson supercharger, chassis bracing and single or twin turbos. Cars can also be ordered in unique body colors, although we’re completely happy with the gold-on-black color scheme. Want more info? Hit the TAM website.

Image: © GM Corp.

The upcoming 2012 Camaro ZL-1 isn’t just the fastest Camaro ever built, it may also be the fastest car you can buy for less than $75,000. Unlike a lot of cars that are built to go fast, the ZL-1 is built to go fast on a racetrack. It’s various modes of traction and stability control cover every scenario from drag strip launches through track day fun and even commuting to work in the rain. The Camaro ZL-1 may well be the very best “Swiss Army Knife” enthusiast car ever built by a major automaker.

When you’re Jay Leno, manufacturers bring you toys to play with before they’re even fully developed. In this case, Chevy’s North American president, Mark Reuss, brought the ZL-1 used in Nürbirgring testing to Jay Leno’s Garage for a show and tell session. Unlike most corporate types, Reuss is a gear head and driver, with a significant amount of ‘Ring experience under his belt. He’s not the driver who set the 7:41 lap time, but we’re still happy to see a car guy in charge of a car company.

Enjoy Jay Leno’s tour of the ZL1 in the video below, and we promise to bring you a full report on the car as soon as we have a chance to drive it.

The 2012 Camaro ZL1 show car. Image: © GM Corp.

Yes, we know you’re tired of hearing what each and every car with sporting intentions can do on Germany’s Green Hell, the Nürburgring circuit. Until someone comes up with a better benchmark, however, the ‘Ring is the best metric we have to compare one car against another in terms of performance. Perhaps better than any other racetrack in the world, the Nürburgring blends elevation changes, camber changes and corner types to create nearly 13 miles of supremely challenging racetrack. It’s as good a benchmark as the performance world has today.

Just a few weeks back, we reported that a 2010 Dodge Viper ACR had lapped the ‘Ring in 7:12.13, so use that as your reference standard. According to Camaro5, GM North America president Mark Reuss has confirmed a lap time of 7:41.27 for the upcoming 2012 Camaro ZL1. Lapping a 2012 Camaro ZL1 in 7:41.27 may not sound impressive (since it’s over 29 seconds slower), but consider the company that puts the ZL1 in. An SLS AMG Mercedes did it in 7:40, and a Ford GT took 7:40.6. A Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera lapped in 7:40.76, while a 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S took 7:41.23 to run from bridge to gantry.

Wrap your mind around that for a second. For all practical purposes, that makes the 2012 Camaro ZL1 as fast as a current Porsche 911 Turbo S, for about a third of the price. Yes, I know this is an apples to 2x4s comparison, but you get my point – the new Camaro isn’t just fast, it’s world-class fast.

If you’ve ever drag raced then you know that you’re always walking the ragged edge between success and failure. Sometimes things go off without a hitch. You stage, watch the lights on the Christmas tree, and then launch yourself down the 1,320 at wide open throttle. Every run is an exhilarating thrill ride, however there are those times when one should call it quits, put the car back in the trailer and go home. The owner of this late 1960′s Chevrolet Camaro should’ve done just this after his first launch. Out of the box the Camaro showed severe signs of being completely out of alignment, which in turn causes it to kiss the wall on its initial launch. This should’ve been the owners first clue to pack it in. As for his second run, well, that’s another story entirely. Just an FYI; the end of this video is painful to watch. Click through to see what I’m talking about.

The first 2012 Camaro ZL sells for $250k. Image: © GM Corp.

NASCAR team owner and businessman Rick Hendrick has purchased the first 2012 Camaro ZL1, and when the hammer dropped at Saturday’s Barrett-Jackson auction, the selling price had hit $250,000. All proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the YMCA of Southern Nevada, the charity of choice for Fairway Chevrolet Buick GMC, the dealer offering up the car.

Hendrick’s car may be the first one delivered, but it won’t be the first one built: instead, it will be car number 69, in reference to the 1969 Camaro that originated the ZL1 option code. Back then, the code denoted a 427 cubic inch, big block aluminum V-8, conservatively rated at 430 horsepower (but actually producing better than 500 hp). Today, the ZL1 refers to the ultimate in street legal Camaros, packing a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8, good for 580 horsepower, backed up by track-ready brakes and suspension.

Hendrick’s car will be the only 2012 Camaro ZL1 offered in Carbon Flash Metallic paint, and the price was a relative bargain for one-of-a-kind muscle cars. Earlier this year, a 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 in Grabber Blue sold for $450,000, also at a Barret-Jackson auction.

Source: Chevrolet

NO JOKE! That’s the first thing that comes to mind after watching this video of the new 580hp Camaro ZL1 going through testing at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds. This is not some hopped up dealer special, but a factory developed street/track weapon that has Ford’s Mustang Boss 302 dead in its sights. Now while not a true 24 hour endurance test (4 hours per day, for 6 days, in 40 minute sessions) it still pretty impressive to see how the engineers have tuned this new beast. Chevrolet’s new Traction Management system is the most impressive feature and allows the driver to opt for no-less then 5 different suspension settings. Everything from “Wet” mode to full-on “Race” mode is available and should keep the drivers well in the bounds of their ability. What’s going to be really interesting though is seeing how it stacks up against the soon-to-be replaced Corvette Z06. Right now though we’re just looking forward to the first tests and some hardcore numbers.

Source: Youtube.com