5 Things You Need To Know About The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

Some good news for Camaro fans emerged at the weekend, with Chevrolet revealing the latest of its 1LE track packages. It’s the most extreme yet, as it’s for the already very potent ZL1. Here’s what you need to know…

It’s packing aggressive aero

Let’s start with what you’ve probably already picked up on: it’s sprouted several new bits of aero. We’re looking at a carbonfibre wing at the back, while at the front you’ll find air deflectors and some pretty substantial canards. The new aero package will increase downforce, although Chevrolet hasn’t said by how much.

The dampers are Multimatic

Just like the previous-generation Camaro Z/28 (and presumably the next one), the 1LE ZL1 comes with a set of ‘Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve’ (DSSV) dampers from Canadian firm Multimatic. As we found out when investigating the use of the technology in the Colorado ZR2 pickup, the crucial difference between these dampers and more conventional shocks is in the spool valve.

Normally, you’ll find a set of metal shims covering the holes in a damper’s piston. These shims move out of the way when a large amount of force is sent through the damper, which allows for a freer flow of oil, meaning the piston can move to a greater degree.

Multimatic replaces these shims with a spring-loaded spool valve, which does a much better job of controlling the flow rate depending on how much force is going through it. The idea is it gives the flexibility of an active damper with passive technology. The more you know.

The front pair of DSSV dampers are height and camber adjustable, and also on the suspension agenda is a three-way adjustable anti-roll bar.

It’s had some weight reduction, bro

It’s customary to trim off a little fat when it comes to making track cars, and sure enough the ZL1 1LE has dropped a few kilos. There are new forged aluminium wheels - which are an inch wider but an inch smaller in diameter - contributing to a reduction in rotational mass of 3.3kg per corner.

Meanwhile, the rear glass in thinner, there’s a lighter fixed-back rear seat, and those posh DSSV dampers are lighter too (the standard car has bulkier magnetic dampers). All told, the ZL1 loses 27kg with the 1LE package.

The tyres are grippy enough to make your face hurt

The lighter forged wheels we’ve just been talking about are wrapped in a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tyres. The boots have been specifically developed for the ZL1 1LE, and warm up much faster than conventional rubber. Chevrolet says they’ll deliver a maximum of 1.10g in terms of lateral grip, which should make for the kind of cornering forces that’ll make your face hurt.

The 1LE package doesn’t add any power, I’m afraid. But with 631bhp and 650lb ft of torque from a 6.2-litre, supercharged GM LT4 V8, the standard ZL1 isn’t exactly wanting for poke.

There are no performance figures just yet, but with the weight reduction the existing 3.5sec 0-60mph time may have been reduced by a tenth. It’s a fairly irrelevant stat for this car though: the important question is how fast it is on track, and the answer is jolly fast. In early testing, the 1LE-equipped ZL1 was three seconds faster than the standard car at GM’s 2.9 mile Milford Road Course.

Tempted? It’ll go on sale later this year, for an as-yet undisclosed price.