Paradoxically, General Motors, the company that has received plaudits for its partially electric Chevrolet Volt, is also courting less environmentally conscious drivers who crave performance with the new 550-horsepower model of the Camaro sports car. The new Camaro debuted on February 9 at the Chicago Auto Show.
This rendition of the Camaro ZL1 performance coupe will be substantially more powerful (and likely more expensive) than the 426-hp 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS available currently.
“It’s the most technically advanced Camaro ever,” raved Rick Scheidt, the president of Chevrolet’s marketing team, in an announcement, “so we’ve chosen a name from the most elite and exclusive Camaro in history.”
The ZL1 moniker last appeared on an aluminum racing engine designed by General Motors during the 1960s and was installed in only a handful of 1969 Chevy Camaros.
The new ZL1 shares the same supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that powers Cadillac’s CTS-V series of high-performance luxury vehicles.
On the bulging hood of the 2012 Camaro ZL1, a sizeable pair of air ducts jut into a panel made of carbon fiber. The vehicle’s front end sports what GM refers to as a “Transformers 3” bumper, a reference to the movie in which the new Camaro played a prominent role.
“Everything about the ZL1’s design is directly related to its technology and serious performance, especially aerodynamics,” said General Motors global design vice president Ed Welburn in the announcement.
A six-speed manual transmission with a dual-mode exhaust system will come standard on the Camaro Zl1. With the dual-mode exhaust, the tailpipes open at high speeds for enhanced performance. The same system is installed in Chevrolet Corvettes. Also like the Corvette, the 2012 Camaro ZL1 will come equipped with the “magnetic ride” adjustable-suspension system.
Although it may seem like a contradiction for the same company that manufactures the Chevrolet Volt to introduce a performance machine like a ZL1, the move is all part of a big-picture strategy, according to Todd Lassa, an editor for Motor Trend magazine in Detroit.
“You have to have both,” he explained, “and you have to look at the competition for this car, and it’s the Ford Mustang.”
Ford offers the Mustang coupe at several performance levels, such as the 550-horsepower Mustang Shelby GT500, with which the Camaro ZL1 will have to compete head to head, according to Lassa.