Can the 2017 Camaro ZL1 Hit 200 MPH?

[Gorehamj]

John Goreham
Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com
2-20-2017

The answer is "YES!", when the wind is at its back. GM recently took the new ultimate Camaro to the High Speed Oval at Germany’s Automotive Testing Papenburg GmBH proving ground. Top-speed runs are always the average of two runs, one in both directions. That accounts for wind speed on the day of the run. The new Camaro ZL1 laid down two official times of 202.3 mph in one direction and 193.3 in the other. That averages to 198 MPH.

GM says this was an un-modified production ZL1, not a "ringer." Chevy said, "The Papenburg testing was conducted on the ZL1’s production Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires with pressure set at 44 psi, the recommended setting for extended high-speed driving. The car’s only deviations from stock were mandatory safety equipment and data logging equipment."

 

Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer, summed up the Camaro succinctly after the event, saying, “This test caps an impressive list of performance stats for the Camaro ZL1, which was designed to excel at everything. It’s the most capable — and fastest —Camaro ever.”

[barry G]

I was just watching one of my subscriptions.

motor trend on demand

 

The manual version not only won the automatic, it went by the corvette.

The only thing missing is straight cut gears from all 3 places...

the supercharger is enough for most.

incredible ride.

 

Given how large the numbers are.. I ponder it is more than a 50hp gain today on the old rules of auto to manual.

my truck is just 30hp over an auto on a 305 manual, to go by a 350 auto.

 

The camaro, I hope it defends what is missing elsewhere...trucks etc.

[1997SierraSLT]

with enough wind to my back, I can ride 60 mph on my 10-speed

[Driver72]

I know the ZL1 can also handle really well, but not sure if GM should be trying to brag about the 198 mph top speed.

Ford did 200 mph in the GT500 in 2012 (as a 2013 model) and Dodge did 199 in the Challenger in 2014 and 204 mph in the Charger shortly thereafter.

So even in 2017 the ZL1 is falling short of the others from 3-4 years ago.

Again, this isn't a comparison of track times, or handling, as it's clear the ZL1 has had the development time and brand new chassis to make the ZL1 out handle the competition from their years past.

So if I were them I'd concentrate on the handling aspect, not the top speed runs as in that regard it falls short of it's competition, even though they've had a few extra years to make it faster than the competition too.

But let me make one other thing clear, 190+ mph is uber fast and a speed basically 1% of the owners at best will ever see.

So in that regard it's pretty pointless. But the ZL1 with a brand new 10 speed auto hasn't beat the heavier Hellcat with 8 speed auto in NHRA certified 1/4 mile testing either, and the 2013-2014 GT500 with a manual (driven perfectly) is just as fast as well.

 

Again, GM should concentrate on the handling aspects of the ZL1 over it's competition for those who are more apt to go to a track with curves than to one that's straight.

[Colossus]

No one cares about the handling, it's about how fast it can go at the stoplight and track.

[RyanbabZ71]

No one cares about the handling, it's about how fast it can go at the stoplight and track.

The handling is the fun part

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Driver72]

No one cares about the handling, it's about how fast it can go at the stoplight and track.

 

 

 

Well that's my point.

If that's the case, it's still one tenth and about 1 mph slower, in NHRA certified 1/4 mile times than the Hellcat Challenger from 2.5 years ago, with a much older chassis, older 8 speed transmission and worse aerodynamics. And though it's really difficult the 2012-2013 GT500 with a 6 speed manual runs similar times as the new ZL1 at the strip.

Make it a manual vs manual acceleration test and the GT500 is faster in acceleration and in top speed.

 

So GM MUST make it about handling if they are going to brag about the ZL1's ability when comparing it to the older competition.

[1997SierraSLT]

No one cares about the handling, it's about how fast it can go at the stoplight and track.

 

Instead of speed and horsepower and marketing GM cars to the masses, where is the GM version of the best selling, best resale value, and most reliable cars like the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.