The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is one of the greatest cars of all time. With its supercharged engine and tactile manual gearbox it’s a hoot to drive on track and as well as on the regular roads. The 1LE package adds some track-specific bits and pieces that make it a certified apex hunter.
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Even after being a front engine, RWD muscle car, the sheer exit speed it manages out of corners is something you would not believe unless you witness it yourself! The acceleration, the torque curve, and the high end performance, everything seems to be perfectly balanced in the Camaro ZL1-1LE while keeping it’s raw nature alive.
Now, let’s dive into the details of the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, and what makes it a masterpiece!
How does the Camaro ZL1-1LE look?
With its aggressive stance and hunkered-down chassis Camaro ZL1 looks like it’s doing 100 mph while standing still. Spec it in black, and it looks exactly like a batmobile! The front profile houses an enormous cooling apparatus and an LED headlamp setup.
The 20-inch wheels are usually painted in gloss black along with matching calipers. The iconic high belt line is still present and tapers gently upwards after the middle. Some models are also specced with contrast black hoods and Jake logos all over the fenders and body, which look like the most menacing machines mankind ever saw!
What’s the Camaro 1LE package?
The optional $4,500 1LE package on the Camaro ZL1 was Chevrolet’s enhancement for the dedicated track nuts. This package added spool-valve dampers in aluminum housings, super sticky and wide Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires, a wider front opening to enhance the airflow to its 11 heat exchangers, dive planes, and a large rear-mounted carbon fiber spoiler to increase downforce and enhance aerodynamics.
What else do you need!
Interior Of The Camaro ZL1-1LE
The inside of the car is pretty driver-focused with Alcantara and contrast stitching throughout. The interior of the Camaro ZL1 is spacious enough for 2 occupants only, because race-car! As standard comes with Recaro seats with suede inserts and optional red seat-belts to create a better vibe. On the dash, you’ll find an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that can be configured in several different ways.
However, keeping the cost in mind, Chevrolet has given the Camaro ZL1 1LE a dual zone climate control, to have you a bit of luxury in your car!
What’s under the Camaro ZL1-1LE hood?
Pop open the hood of the Camaro and you will find one of the most powerful engines inside a road-legal car. The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 generates an astonishing 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque as stock. With this engine, the Camaro uses either a 6-speed stick-shift with Rev matching or a 10-speed automatic transmission, and both of these are incredibly quick and responsive.
Chevrolet offers adjustable suspension for the Camaro, and with that you can customize the suspension’s behaviour with the touch of a button. Also, there are a total of 4 drive modes, Snow/Ice, Touring, Sport, and Track, which adjusts the maps of the throttle response and other functions!
Now, when it comes to stopping power, Brembo is one of the most renowned brand in the world! And the Camaro ZL1 1LE uses 6-piston calipers from Brembo only, which helps the front engine muscle car behave way better when it comes to braking. Plus, for better traction, the Camaro gets a Limited-Slip Differential in the rear axle, which works fantastic!
How does the Camaro ZL1-1LE drive?
The 2017 Camaro with the 1LE package lapped the Nurburgring in just 7m16s, for reference it is faster than the last-gen Porsche GT2 RS. The steering is full of feedback and you are completely aware of what the front wheels are up to all the time. The in-gear acceleration thanks to the linear torque curve of the supercharged engine is phenomenal.
The 0 to 60 times of a manual Camaro ZL1 1LE is just 3.7 seconds and drops down to 3.4 for the 10-speed automatic, not bad for a 3900-pound car. The lateral grip thanks to its super sticky Eagle F1 tires is a healthy 1.19g! Keep the foot flat down and it will top out at manufacturer-limited 198 mph, while covering the quarter-mile in just 12.2 seconds.
Can the Camaro ZL1-1LE be modified?
Well, the Camaro ZL1 is already pretty powerful in its stock form and will readily devour anything on the track and in a straight line in its class, but if you still think that 650 hp doesn’t cut it for you anymore, the famous tuner Hennessey is offering a 1200 hp resurrection package with a warranty on its official website. However, if you are looking for factory-backed 700 + horsepower cars check out the Dodge Super Stock, the Dodge Viper, the Ford Mustang GT500, the Corvette ZR1, and the Durango SRT.
