To create the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, Chevy took one part Camaro ZL1, another part Camaro 1LE, and stirred. The resulting supercoupe is a delicious combination of high horsepower and raw performance.
The ZL1 1LE plays at the opposite end of the muscle-car spectrum from the forthcoming Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, opting to clip apexes as opposed to ripping off epic quarter-mile runs. Still, the ZL1 1LE won’t be a one-trick pony car. Thanks to the rip-snorting 650-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine it shares with the standard ZL1, we expect the hard-core Camaro to hold its own at the drag strip—although the fact that Chevy plans to offer the model exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission may cost it a tenth of a second or two.
Compared with the standard ZL1, the 1LE sheds a claimed 60 pounds, owing to thinner rear-window glass, a fixed (rather than folding) rear seatback, and lighter wheels and dampers. Additional downforce comes in the form of a massive fixed rear wing made of carbon fiber, air deflectors and dive planes fitted to the car’s nose, and a set of sticky summer tires—a new breed of Goodyear rubber dubbed Eagle F1 Supercar 3R—mounted on lightweight, staggered 19-inch forged-aluminum wheels (11 inches wide up front, 12 inches wide in the rear) to help keep the big beast stuck to the ground. Spool-valve dampers, made famous by Formula 1 racing teams and the last-gen Z/28, sit under adjustable camber plates in front and work with a three-position-adjustable rear anti-roll bar out back. Chevy says making changes at the track will be easy enough so the car can be reverted to a more street-friendly stance for the drive home, and that includes a front end that can be lowered by 0.4 inch.
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Besides the aforementioned aerodynamic items, the Camaro ZL1 1LE separates itself from the standard ZL1 with trim-specific smoked taillights, a black-painted hood, and a revised front fascia that ditches the ZL1’s LED driving lights to suck in more air. And in case you were wondering, yes, it has a flowtie. Unfortunately, Chevy isn’t ready to reveal pricing for the ZL1 1LE, but expect the 1LE package to add quite a few quid to the ZL1’s $63,435 base sticker when the model goes on sale this summer.
Despite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg's career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend.
