If you’re looking for a Chevrolet Camaro, you’ll certainly be drooling over the 580HP supercharged ZL1. The only problem is that it’s priced at US$56,550, so if you can’t or are not willing to spend that amount of money, the entry-level 323HP V6 model, which is priced from US$24,245 may be all that you need.
It’s got the looks, enough poke to light up those rear tires and justify its muscle car tag and costs way less than the range topper.
Even the SS, which puts out 426HP from its 6.2-liter V8 at $33,535 or US$37,035 in 1SS and 2SS guise respectively, is much cheaper than the ZL1 that can lap the Nurburgring in 7:23.51 and is, thus, priced accordingly.
Chevrolet picked up a thing or two from the big bad Camaro, such as the sticky Goodyear Eagle Supercar 20-inch tires, the transmission cooler and the short-throw shifter and modified the suspension with monotube rear dampers and larger anti-roll bars.
In doing so, it created the 1LE package, which also includes black 20-inch rims, a black hood and a front spliter and rear spoiler, is available on manual-transmission SS models and supposedly turns them into “road racers”.
Motor Trend’s Carlos Lago has always found the SS to be nice but too prone to under-steer. Does the 1LE package that costs a relatively modest US$3,500 alter the Camaro’s character? You can find out the verdict by viewing the video after the break.
By Andrew Tsaousis
VIDEO