A few days ago, an American muscle icon gave an impressive demonstration to the world. The recently released Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE had its long awaited Nürburgring time announced. The car clocked in at a blistering 7:16.04, beating the times of legendary cars like the 2013 Nissan GT-R, 2010 Porsche 911 GT2 RS, and 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. This new breed of Camaro, the ZL1 1LE “Extreme Track Performance Package” as it’s aptly named, is a powerful, yet refined upgrade to an already fantastic example of american muscle.
The standard ZL1 was already a beast of a car, putting out an additional 200HP compared to a Camaro SS. However, the 1LE package is like the cherry atop a sundae. This package includes body upgrades for improved aerodynamics and downforce, the most striking addition being the large carbon fiber wing. There is also some weight loss, suspension upgrades, and a new set of stock tires included with the purchase. Those improvements work together to shave 13 seconds off the standard ZL1 Nürburgring lap time. All of this coming in at an extra cost of only $7500, making the grand total approximately $70,000.
I had the pleasure of viewing this beauty at the recent Chevrolet National Show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It was my first time out to the legendary fairgrounds, and despite many folks heading home early, I enjoyed every moment of my morning. My first stop was at the official tent for the Chevy Camaro team. There, in the center of the tent, sat the 1LE. After I picked up my jaw, I was able to take a few photos before other viewers came and prevented any more photos. Aside from the new 1LE, I found a beautiful 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Z16, a unique 1964 Corvair Rampside, and although I did not take a picture as proof, a 2012 neon orange Camaro with Lambo-style scissor doors. Overall, I loved the experience, and can’t wait for July 14-16, when the Chrysler National Show begins.
–Mike
