A very powerful sports car it may be, yet GM opted to offer the ZL1’s with an automatic transmission.
Not just any auto, though, but a 10-speed one. Why not a dual-clutch, as is the norm in most other manufacturers?
Well, according to Chevrolet it upshifts faster than a dual-clutch transmission and comes with a wider overall gear ratio spread to optimize performance and efficiency, thanks to its wider 7.39 overall gear ratio spread, which intensifies acceleration off the line with an aggressive 4.70 first gear.
“There is simply nothing like the experience offered with the new 10-speed automatic in the Camaro ZL1. It delivers nearly instantaneous, lightning-fast shifts that alter your perception of what an automatic transmission can offer in a high-performance vehicle – whether you’re on the street, drag strip or road course”, said Aaron Link, ZL1 lead development engineer.
“The gear ratios are so tightly spaced that the transmission is in the right gear and the engine is at the best rpm for transitions from corners to straights. And with the power from the ZL1’s supercharged LT4 engine, the force you feel in your seat as you accelerate out of a turn will put a grin on your face every time”, he concluded.
Hundreds of hours were spent integrating the gearbox with the ZL1’s power-band, and Chevrolet claims that the rig has 26 to 36-percent quicker upshift times than Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch transmission. Moreover, it’s a tenth faster to the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint than the six-speed manual version, recording a 3.9-second time.
For now, the 10-speed also comes with an all-new, proprietary electronic control system and performance calibrations customized for the 640 ZL1, but in other applications it will match each car’s respective performance range.
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