2019 Chevy Camaro 1LE ZL1 & The Power of Ten
Chevy surprises us with a nice surprise just when you thought that the Detroit Auto Show was over . The 2019 Chevy Camaro 1LE is “the fastest and most track-capable Camaro in history.” I was sold on “fastest” but you added “most track-capable Camaro in history.”
You say you are able to track?
What’s all this about a transmission upgrade? Tell us now! ?
Money Pits & Stop Watches
Look, I am not a big track fan. I love to go to tracks. But, getting in my car to run around and race is not for me. This is for a variety of reasons. One reason is that it’s very expensive. Tires, brake discs and pads are all things you would not normally consider “consumables”. Some tracks allow you to go through an entire set in one weekend.
I’m not a very wealthy writer. It’s not because I am slow, but rather that I am a writer. It’s nice to think that I’m Mario Andretti’s equal, but the stopwatch doesn’t lie.
Many of you like to spend time on tracks. I understand the appeal. Go fast and you won’t get tickets. It’s hard to argue against that. Say you are a track fanatic with a penchant for American cars. Corvette? There are plenty of them at the track. Want something else? Might I suggest a 2019 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE?
Black Magic Woman
It is the new automatic transmission that makes the 2019 Chevy ZL1 1LE so special. A 10-speed automatic is available. Before you start acting like an ape, let me say that I (partially), agree with you. Automatic transmissions, as far as I am concerned, are frightening compromises. They seem to run on sorcery and black magic. They are also not as much fun as manual transmissions.
There are new auto-boxes that are very good and can seem to be able split the difference between an old-style automatic and a manual.
The first trucks to use these new automatics were trucks. When dealing with trucks, all your “manual trannies till I die!” purist ideas are thrown out the window. Have you ever tried to upshift a truck that is hauling tons of weight up a hill? It is embarrassing to hear the grinding of gears, and I’ve seen it almost (or outright) stop. The technology that made trucks easier to use made its way down into everyday transportation, and then into the hands of greasy gearheads at performance departments.
The 2019 Chevy Camaro is equipped with a 10-speed transmission.
The Power of Ten
What speed can you go? Ten speeds! Imagine how it would feel to drive down a straight road, stomp on the brakes, and then drag the downshift paddle around five, six or seven times, before reaching the apex. You say automatics are faster? Ha! says Camaro Chief Engineer Mark Dickens.
This transmission is designed for speed. “With Track Mode calibrations unique to the transmission and 10 gears you’re always in the right gear whether you roll on the throttle or not,” explained he. You may not be an expert race car driver but you can now shift like one.
Remember when I said stopwatches don’t lie? On the 2.9 mile Milford Road Course, the new Camaro ZL1 1LE with its 10-speed automatic clocks more than a half-second faster than the manual standard on GM’s proving ground. A half-second. I know racers who would give their finger up to get this much. GM continues, saying that on longer tracks the new ten-speed will give you even more. You can expect to save several second on tracks such as the Nurburgring compared to the older six-speed ZL1 1LE manual.
It’s a strangely specific question, isn’t it? It’s almost as if Chevy has run both versions at The ‘Ring back-to-back and is subtly letting you know something.
Upgrades to Power and Performance
Special calibrations have been made to the transmission system, the electronic limited-slip diff, and the traction control system in order to better match the ZL1 1LE performance package upgrade. Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve shocks were tuned to handle weight transfers from faster shifts.
Chevy has even added an extra cooling duct to the steering gear and a new transmission pan.
The wheels are wider, but smaller in diameter. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R summer tires have a lateral grip of 1,10g. The whole car is lighter. Wheels and dampers, a thinner rear window, and a rear seat with retracted back all contribute to the weight loss of more than 50 pounds. The curb weight is reduced by more than 50 lbs compared to the ZL1 Coupe standard.
All these performance goodies will be powered by a 650 horsepower supercharged LT4 and (thank goodness) controlled by Brembo brakes.
Not Too Spartan After All
You can get the ZL1 Track Performance Package for $7,500 if you only want the 10-speed tranny. I find both of these prices to be reasonable. The 2019 Chevy Camaro starts at $71,495.
You can also get other modern features for your money like heated and ventilated seats in the front, a Bose audio system, or dual-zone climate control. This is not a track-only car.