2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe 6.2L LT4 V8 6MT RWD (650 HP)

Vehicle Overview

It was the last upgrade for the sixth generation of the Chevrolet Camaro, and the automaker managed to make the ZL1 even quicker than its predecessor with the same engine.

Chevrolet didn’t want to let go of the Camaro lineup. It was an iconic model that could finally resurrected and brought back to its former glory. However, times changed, and after the Muscle Car Era and the Malaise Era came to an epoque when customers were looking for budget-friendly, good-looking vehicles. Fortunately, not all of them were on the same page, and some still looked for the sound of a thundering V8, which was one of the most massive superchargers ever installed in a pony car. The ZL1 was designed and engineered to compete against its old rivals, the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger, and the bow-tie branded coupe was not shy to face any of them.

While its lesser-powered siblings fitted with inline-four, V6s, or naturally aspirated V8s showed a new front clip, the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 kept its own angry face. Its HID headlights, underlined by waved-shaped LED daytime running lights, were integrated into a black V-shaped grille that boasted the bow-tie badge. Below the body-colored slim bumper, the automaker added a second, hexagonal-shaped, broad grille with a wide hexagonal mesh pattern. In addition, the ZL1 silver and red badge stood proud in the upper left corner. A pair of side scoops that housed the fog lamps flanked it, and the automaker even added a set of tail fins that enhanced downforce.

From its profile, the car unveiled the height of its hood featuring a carbon-fiber power dome and decorated with the ZL1 badges. The automaker added more aerodynamic elements on the lower side of the side sills that enhanced the ground effect. Furthermore, the ZL1 was the only version of the Camaro family that came standard with 20″ 10-split-spoke dark graphite-painted forged aluminum, while a 19-inch set was available. Out back, the automaker installed the same rear fascia as the rest of the range, featuring twin oval LED taillights that resembled the 1968 Camaro. However, it was slightly different since it featured a big wing on the deck and standard quad exhausts under the bumper.

Inside, Chevrolet included all the good parts it had in its bins. Customers enjoyed the standard Recaro high-bolstered seats with hand-stitched suede and leather. Fronting the driver was a new instrument cluster with an eight-inch display. At the same time, atop the center stack, the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 had an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, part of the upgraded Infotainment 3 GM’s software. In addition, to ease reversing, the car had a backup camera. Between the front occupants, the automaker placed a center console that housed the gear stick for the manual version or the gear selector for the automatic version. For the latter version, customers could also manually select gears via the paddle shifters placed behind the flat-bottom steering wheel.

Under the hood, there were no improvements in terms of performance compared to the previous version of the ZL1. The 6.2-liter V8 supercharged engine produced 650 hp (659 PS), and it was paired either with a six-speed manual gearbox or with a ten-speed automatic transmission. To cope with the massive torque, the automaker installed an electronically controlled limited-slip differential for the rear axle.