2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1
The General really knocked it out of the park with their retro revival of the Camaro, but with the new ZL1, they aren’t holding anything back. Sporting the supercharged 6.2L LSA V-8, the ZL1 is the most powerful production Camaro ever. Rated at 580 horsepower and 556 lb.-ft. of torque with six-bolt mains, electric power steering (consuming less engine power), and an engine oil cooler borrowed from the Corvette ZR1, the ZL1 is likely to put a big smile on your face. A rear differential cooler and a high-performance fuel system designed to maintain fuel delivery during high-g cornering are among the many upgrades this beast is fitted with that make it track-ready.
While ZL1 has plenty of power and torque to please any muscle-car enthusiast, Chevy hasn’t forgotten how fat and spoiled we’ve become since the muscle-car heyday. While our appetite for sheer power is still quite healthy, our tolerance for a tank-like ride disappeared probably somewhere around time cup-holders became standard equipment. The ZL1’s answer comes in the form of Magnetic Ride Control. This technology employs a valve-less magneto-rheological (MR) fluid technology to vary the firmness of the ZL1 suspension.
That fancy-schmancy sounding name means that rather than using traditional suspension that uses oil or air in a sealed cylinder to absorb shock, the MR fluid technology uses a suspension of iron particles in a synthetic fluid. By controlling an electromagnetic current into the damper, the resistance and stiffness of the ride can be adjusted by charging the iron particles in the fluid. Thus the firmness of the ride adjusts to the road and driving conditions, making the ZL1 both a comfortable daily driver and confident road course performer.
It’s good to see GM and Chevy continue to up their game and to push these cars into the upper echelons of performance and quality.
