2017 Chevrolet Camaro

If you’re in the market for a new high performance vehicle that won’t break the bank then the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 may be right up your alley. The very quick car gets dangerously close to the Corvette Z06 in specs, but it offer a bit of practicality with its rear seats (although they are only really suitable for younger children).

The 650 horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 powered pony car is just a few tenths of a second slower than the new Z06 to 60 mph. Thanks to its lower weight it is also quicker than the 707 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.

0-60 mph comes in just 3.5 seconds and it can run the quarter mile in only 11.4 seconds reaching a speed of 127 mph, when equipped with the optional 10-speed automatic transmission. Of course the world isn’t flat and unlike Camaros of a few generations ago the sixth-generation can handle the corners pretty well. The ZL1 is capable of 1.02g of max lateral movement. It can also stop pretty quickly going from 60mph-0 in 107 feet. Most impressive is that all of these stats are using the standard tires and on a non-prepared surface.

The Chevy Camaro ZL1 starts at $62,135 (including the destination fee) for the coupe and the convertible brings that up to $69,135. For that kind of performance the Camaro is a real bargain; able to keep up with much more expensive cars from the likes of Porsche and Mercedes. While the interior and build quality is not quite up to the more expensive European competition, from a strict performance stand point it will hold its own.

“The Camaro ZL1 offers supercar performance with daily-driver refinement, a combination that stacks up against any other sports coupe – at any price – around the world,” said Steve Majoros, director, Chevrolet marketing.

Can’t quite afford the ZL1? Well then add the 1LE package to V6 Camaro LT or a V8 SS and you still get pretty good performance. If you go for the V6 the 1LE option will add $4,500 to the sticker price. For that you get a car that can go from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds (remember when that was an amazing time), can come to a complete stop from 60mph in 112 feet and can get around a turn with a maximum lateral cornering force of 0.97g.

The Chevrolet Camaro SS with the 1LE package takes the performance up another notch. It is able to launch from 0-60 mph in just 4.2 seconds and then can stop from 60mph-0 in just 107 feet – the same as the ZL1. Around the corners it offers a max of 1.02g of lateral cornering force. The 1LE package adds $6,500 to the price of the SS. It is well worth the added cost if you want the most out of your Camaro, but can’t afford the higher priced ZL1.