2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe

Part of the legendary muscle trio, the Camaro is known for being mean and reckless speed. The muscle car concept should have stopped decades ago, but the rationality is not what us humans connect with. The ZL1 amplifies this image to a controlled yet crazy mechanical blend. The V8’s berserk power will give you a full zoom to what muscle car market has to offer. Not much has changed since last year’s model just a few tweaks on the front and the rear end and a new infotainment screen.

With a sticker price of $62,995, the 2019 Camaro ZL1 coupe is sports coupe with a crazy V8 engine. There is two transmission option with a 6-speed stick shift taking the lead, another 10-speed automatic transmission comes optional. The transmission sends the V8’s 650 horsepower and 650-pound feet of torque to the rear wheels of the Camaro.

Sitting at the pinnacle of the Camaro lineup is the Camaro ZL1 and it’s the craziest a muscle car could ever get. You will need a hell of money to ride this badass beast and get the full zest if the muscle car persona. It's fitted with a Supercharged V8 engine mated to a 6-speed stick shift gearbox and a lunch control. Throw in the 1LE performance package and you will upgrade your Camaro with features like a carbon fiber hood and spoiler, race-oriented suspension dampers, and 19-inch allow wheels.

Trim	Camaro ZL1 Coupe
MSRP	$62,995
Key Features	StabiliTrak, electronic stability control system with traction control
	External engine oil cooler
	Rear window defogger
	ZL1 rear spoiler
	Dual-zone automatic climate control
	Rear folding bench seat
	Driver Selector Mode
	Magnetic Ride Control
	Electronic Limited-Slip Differential (eLSD)
	Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus System with 8" diagonal HD color touchscreen
	Bose premium 9-speaker audio system

“Even with a smaller V6 engine, the Camaro is a surprisingly competent sports/muscle car. The performance gap between the V8 is shrinking, especially when it comes to handling. It's lively, inspires confidence and, above all, it's fun. And with a car like this, that's the whole point”- Edmunds

American muscles have always been about big guns, bigger the engine higher the driver’s macho. The ZL1 is carefully fitted with a 6.2L Supercharged V8 engine backed by a 6-speed manual transmission. Though the engine is synonymous to the SS trim the ZLT is tuned to muster a flabbergasted 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The stick shift transmission boasts short throws and is equipped with rev-matching downshifts. An optional 10-speed automatic is also part of the ZL1 lineup.

The dual mode exhaust releases thundering pops and crackles like Zeus himself was driving the Camaro. The suspension is tuned perfectly and doesn’t let the gargantuan power take over the control. The power delivery is smooth and the accelerator is ready to punch in that torque to the rear wheels of the ZL1.

Models	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe	Ford Shelby GT350 Coupe	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 w/1LZ coupe	BMW M4 Coupe	Audi RS 5 coupe Quattro	Mercedes AMG C63 coupe	Cadillac ATS V coupe
MSRP	$62,995	$61,745	$61,435	$80,590	$70,145	$74,200	$68,750	$68,790
Engine	6.2L V8 Supercharged Big Block	6.2L V8 SRT HEMI Supercharged	5.2L V8 Voodoo Naturally aspirated	6.2L V8 Supercharged Big Block	3.0L I-6 Twin Turbo	2.9L V6 Twin Turbo	4.0L V8 Twin Turbo	3.6L Twin Turbo V6
Transmission	6 Speed manual	6 Speed manual	6 Speed manual	7 Speed manual	6 Speed manual	8 Speed Automatic	9 Speed Automatic	6 Speed manual
Horsepower	650 [email protected] 6400rpm	717 [email protected] 6000rpm	526 [email protected] 7500rpm	650 [email protected] 6400rpm	425 [email protected] 5500rpm	444 [email protected] 5700 rpm	469 [email protected] 5500rpm	464 hp @ 5850 rpm
Torque	650 [email protected] 3600rpm	656 [email protected] 4800rpm	429 [email protected] 4750 rpm	650 [email protected] 3600rpm	406 [email protected] 1850rpm	443 [email protected] 1900 rpm	479 [email protected] 1750rpm	445 ft-lbs. @ 3500rpm

Acceleration

The V8 engine is crazy on the SS but this 650 horsepower rebel goes all berserk as you put the pedal through the metal. The Camaro rockets into the tarmac better than the wildest sports car you have known, the launch controls makes it's even better. The ZL1 makes the 0 to 60 mph test in just 3.5 seconds! And when it comes to a drag which is also the muscle car territory the Camaro hits the quarter mile light in just 11.4 seconds. The performance remains unchallenged by other muscles in the category.

Models	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe	Ford Shelby GT350 Coupe	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 w/1LZ coupe	BMW M4 Coupe	Audi RS 5 coupe Quattro	Mercedes AMG C63 coupe	Cadillac ATS V coupe
0-60 MPH	3.5 sec	3.6 sec	3.9 sec	2.9 sec	4.1 sec	3.8 sec	3.9 sec	3.8 sec
Quarter mile	11.4 sec	N/A	12.2 sec	10.9 sec	12.5 sec	12.0 sec	N/A	N/A
Engine	6.2L V8	6.2L V8	5.2L V8	6.2L V8	3.0L i6	2.9L V6	4.0L V8	3.6L V6
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

 

Ride and Handling

ZLT is the ultimate Super Saiyan of all Camaros ever built. The muscle maniacs unquenched hunger for power will surely be satisfied for good. However, the car’s agility is not compromised with a higher power. The Camaro ZL1 is still nimble when you want it to be and has a great center of gravity. The car cuts corners like a hot knife through butter and overpowers any car in its way. The quick-shifting gears reach their full potential only with a badass driver.

There are 3 modes available, Tour, Sport, Snow, and Track mode which is exclusive to the ZL1 and SS trims. If we talk about suspension we have a performance-tuned suspension with magnetic dampers and an electronic limited-slip differential which keeps the ride composed. The flat bottom steering feels nice in hand with optimum control and response. The road feedback is fair as it's built more like a sports car in a muscle car shell. Everything on the ZL1 is amplified on the Track mode where the actual wildness comes.

Braking

Braking on the normal Camaro is acceptable and you can very well keep it as a daily driver, but the ZL1 is no ordinary muscle. Hence the reason Chevy installed 6-piston front and 4-piston rear Brembo brakes on the ZL1. The pedal feels stiff and confident the kind appreciated on a 600 hp plus muscle. During hard braking, the car halts from the speed of 60 mph in 107 feet which is a foot more than what other muscles perform.

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe	Ford Shelby GT350 coupe	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 w/1LZ coupe	BMW M4 coupe	Audi RS 5 coupe Quattro	Mercedes AMG C63 coupe	Cadillac ATS V coupe
Brake Front (in.)	N/A	15.4	15.5	14.6	15	13.8	14.2	12.4
Brake Rear (in.)	N/A	13.8	14.9	14.4	14.6	13	14.2	12.6
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3883	4429	3760	3524	3625	3649	4074	3803
60-0 MPH (ft.)	107	N/A	96	99.6	108	N/A	N/A	N/A

With an appetitive of a full sized hippo, the Camaro ZL1 is a constant at the gas station. With a tank capacity of 19 gallons, the ZL1 won't save you a dollar in the name of economy, the V8 power comes at the expense of economy after all. However, compared to other muscles in the US market its the average ergonomic numbers. In the city, you can expect 14 mpg and in the highway the number expands to 20 mpg, together you have a combined mileage of 16 mpg.

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe	Ford Shelby GT350 coupe	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 w/1LZ coupe	BMW M4 coupe	Audi RS 5 coupe Quattro	Mercedes AMG C63 coupe	Cadillac ATS V coupe
MPG (city)	14	13	14	15	18	18	18	16
MPG (highway)	20	21	21	22	25	26	27	23
MPG (combined)	16	16	16	17	20	21	21	19

“This Camaro improves on its predecessor in many ways, but many elements still have us scratching our heads. It struggles with some usability issues that arise from the aggressive styling, particularly in regard to visibility. Chief rivals are far less compromised”- Interior

Seating and Comfort

The exterior’s retro-modernized persona leaks into the interior design as well. There are a lot of elements with strong styling like the steering wheel, dash, and odd placement of AC vents, all with the pony car aggression. The features list is rich but the placement is not that smart, it will take a few trials before being completely acquainted with all features and buttons. There are standard RECARO seats since it’s listed as a performance muscle through its positioning feels more like build for taller people. Then you have the telescopic steering wheel which feels good and can be tilt adjusted to secure the ideal driving position. You do have a good look of the gauge cluster and steering while driving the ZL1 which can be distracting.

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe	Ford Shelby GT350 coupe	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 w/1LZ coupe	BMW M4 coupe	Audi RS 5 coupe Quattro	Mercedes AMG C63 coupe	Cadillac ATS V coupe
Passenger capacity	4	5	4	2	4	4	4	4
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.5/NA/43.9	39.3/58.5/42.0	37.6/56.3/44.5	37.9/55.2/43.0	39.8/55.3/42.2	39/55.3/41.3	38.8/54.8/42	37.6/54.1/42.3
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	N/A	37.1/53.9/33.1	34.8/52.2/30.6	N/A	36.1/51.7/33.7	NA/50.7/32.7	35.6/51.7/32	35.1/55.1/33.5

The front cabin is cozy but feels packed due to the rebel styling. You get 38.5 inches of headroom, 55-inch shoulder room, and 43.9 inches of legroom on the front cabin. The rear cabin is not sensible, there is barely any legroom for an adult, it’s a good thing if you have children otherwise Camaro kills practicality with the rear seats.
 

Infotainment

The Camaro gets a new 3 Plus infotainment 8-inch system. The new infotainment is easy to use and responsive but the odd angle limits easy accessibility. Smartphone Integration features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard for both 1SS and 2SS. The navigation system has been simplified for better use for the ZL1.

Interior Features-

• Premium Carpeted Floor Matsyes
• Dark Night Interior Spectrum Lightingyes
• Premium Carpeted Floor Mats W/1LE Performance Logoyes
• Cargo Netyes
• Sport Pedals Kityes
• Red Interior Trim Kityes
• Illuminated Sill Platesyes
• Black Sueded Knee Pads
• Premium Carpeted Floor Mats W/Performance Logo
• Embroidered Center Console Lid W/Camaro Badge
• All-Weather Cargo Mat W/Camaro Logo
• Black Interior Trim Kit
• All-Weather Floor Mats
• Camaro Logo Premium Carpeted Mats Package
• Black Interior Appearance Package
• Recaro Performance Front Bucket Seats
• Structura (Brushed Aluminum) Interior Spectrum Lighting

Cargo volume

Being practical is where ZL1 hits a dead end. Same as the rear seats there is no space in the cargo compartment, even by the muscle car standards. The 9.1 cubic feet is less than most muscle cars in the segment. Even the well-rounded Mustang delivers more than 10 cubic feet of cargo. Things get worst with the subpar cabin utility, we would suggest to not carry a lot of personal belongings in the Camaro. But hey, you can always put to use the impractical rear seats for extra luggage.

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe	Ford Shelby GT350 coupe	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 w/1LZ coupe	BMW M4 coupe	Audi RS 5 coupe Quattro	Mercedes AMG C63 coupe	Cadillac ATS V coupe
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	9.1	16.2	13.5	15.0	11.0	16.4	10.5	10.4

“A modern take on 1960s cool, the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro prioritizes sleek and sporty over space and function”- The Car Connection

Design and Styling

The jump from 5th to 6th generation was a bold move and the 2019 ZL1 goes extreme with a fresh front and rear fascia, more aerodynamic body, a new hood scoop, and more details visible with a closer look. The design is still inspired by the late ’60s, and it’s better than ever. The rebellious grill and huge muscles look like the Camaro is high on a protein shake. It's good that the retro framework is backed with a lot of modern customization options. There is an army of alloy option on the Camaro and choice for body color hood vents, and vibrant paint options like Hyper Blue, and Garnet Red.

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe	Ford Shelby GT350 coupe	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 w/1LZ coupe	BMW M4 coupe	Audi RS 5 coupe Quattro	Mercedes AMG C63 coupe	Cadillac ATS V coupe
Curb weight (lbs.)	3883	4429	3760	3524	3625	3649	4074	3803
Length(in)	190.2	197.5	189.6	177.9	184.5	185.9	187.1	184.7
Width(in)	75.0	75.7	75.9	77.4	73.6	73.3	73.9	72.5
Height(in)	52.9	57.0	54.2	48.6	54.4	53.5	55.2	54.5
Ground clearance (in)	N/A	4.5	N/A	N/A	4.7	N/A	3.6	N/A
Wheelbase (in)	110.7	116.2	107.1	106.7	110.7	108.9	111.8	109.3
Track width (in) F/R	63.4/62	64/63.7	N/A	63.5/62.5	62.2/63.1	62.9/62.5	64.4/62.7	60.3/61.7

Dimensions and Weight

The hood looks a little short for Muscle car standard, the result of 188 inches of total length. As for the width and height, they are rated at 74.7 and 53 inches. Away from the Challenger’s boat like body, the Camaro kept it compact resulting in its 110.7 inches of wheelbase. Be prepared for a wider turning radius while maneuvering the SS though.

Exterior Features

• 20" Dark Graphite premium paint, forged aluminum wheels with summer-only tires
• Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 285/30R20 front and 305/30R20 rear, summer-only tires
• Front intermittent wipers
• ZL1 rear spoiler
• Body-color heated, driver-side auto-dimming power outside mirrors
• Tire inflator kit

The Camaro is yet to undergo any third party crash testing. However, the 2018 model received the highest Good rating for the driver-side and passenger-side small overlap front, Moderate Overlap Front side also lands the same rating on the IISH crash test. There are a lot of safety features listed as standard.

• Electronic Parking brakes
• StabiliTrak, electronic stability control system with traction control
• Daytime Running Lamps, LED
• Airbag system
• OnStar® & Chevrolet Connected Services capable
• Teen Driver
• Forward Collision Alert
• Rear Park Assist
• Forward Collison Warning
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

IIHS and NHTSA not rated

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Vs Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The Camaro’s longtime rival the Dodge Challenger is giving the ZL1 a run for its money. The price might be the same but the Challenger is more muscle than the Camaro and we are not talking about its retro body. The Camaro’s is powered by less horses which clearly gives Dodge an edge in a drag. The Challenger also is a big car offering more space and practicality, so it might just be a better choice as a daily driver. Then again Camaro far outruns the Challenger with its driving dynamics, it easily cut corners without compromising vision.
So, if you are buying a muscle for the sheer pleasure of driving without thinking about practicality then Camaro is your car.
 

Ford Shelby GT350 Vs Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

A blast from the past Ford won’t let Chevy and Dodge take the lead on this one. The Ford Shelby GT matches everything the Camaro ZL1 except for raw power. The Camaro is a mind-boggling 125 horsepower more than what the Ford kept reserved for Shelby. Other than power, both cars are evenly matched in terms of mileage though delivers more cargo volume which makes the Shelby more sensible.

The Selby suffers from the same jampacked rear seats which are not habitable for adults. Both Shelby and Camaro are decent with a similar price tag, in that case, we would recommend the Camaro out of sheer power.

The Chevy Camaro used to be an iconic muscle car though the modern-day Camaro is mutated to a Sports car. Yes, it has flexed its muscles to be more nimble and shaped for optimum aerodynamic just to harness the insane power. The fire breathing V8 engine conjures 650 horses pulling this godly chariot which will impressive a lot of Americans.

However, the days of power dominating ride quality are long gone and the Camaro agrees, rather than the brute strength Chevy focused more on the experience. But, power takes a toll on Camaro’s economy. The rear seats and cargo volume isn’t that impressive either. But no muscle purist can resist the ZL1’S power! It’s probably the best car in the holy trinity of muscles.