General Motors has just announced that it has built the world’s most powerful roofless production model ever, the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible. The new hyper drop-top will be officially revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

The convertible Camaro shares its underpinnings with the upcoming Camaro ZL1 Coupe and is scheduled to reach showrooms from late 2012. Powering the convertible is GM’s 6.2-litre supercharged LSA V8 engine producing 432 kW and 754 Nm of torque.

General Motors was quick to point out that its drop top Camaro ZL1 has more power output than Euro performance models like the Aston Martin DB9 with 350kW and the Porsche 911 Turbo with 395kW. However models like the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport were conveniently forgotten about.

“The Camaro ZL1 convertible will be one of the most powerful and most capable, convertibles available at any price,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “This is a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top – or hit the gas.” (more…)

Performing testing on any new car can be a long and grueling process. If it’s a performance car the testing needs to be even more rigorous and GM decided to push things even further when testing its new top dog Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

At the Milford proving grounds in the States, Chevrolet engineers pushed the Camaro ZL1 around the track at high speeds for four hours per day over six days straight. That’s quite the work out for a production machine.

The tests were conducted in 40-minute segments, of which there were 36 sessions in total. Many brand new cars couldn’t hack a schedule like that, especially on a track which is designed to unsettle cars and push them to their limits. (more…)

General Motors has just revealed exact power figures for its new 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and they’re suitably impressive. The new Camaro will be officially rated at 580 horsepower (432kW) and 752Nm of torque.

These staggering figures mean that the 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine is the most powerful unit ever fitted to a Camaro, beating the rated output of the 1969 Camaro ZL1′s 427-cubic-inch V8 by 150 horses. The motor can be matched up to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic fitted with Drive, Sport and Manual modes.

With all this power on tap, GM are understandably talking it up.  Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer of the Camaro, said, “The Camaro ZL1 delivers supercar performance and technology in the sports-car segment. For sheer power, the ZL1 delivers more horsepower than a Ferrari 458, more torque than an Aston Martin DB9 V12, and a better power-to-weight ratio than a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS.” (more…)

Keen Chevy fans just can’t get enough info on the new top-spec Camaro ZL1. It’s difficult to blame them either with the ZL1 being the most advanced and progressive Camaro ever built by General Motors.

To keep everyone happy, a new video has just made it online showing the latest high-performance coupe at the Camaro Homecoming event in, Ontario, Canada. Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser brought the car to the crowd, and then spent a few moments running through the ZL1 on camera.

For those who haven’t been keeping up with the ZL1′s progress, the 2012 model gets a range of upgrades over the standard Camaro offerings. In terms of design there are improved aerodynamics all around the car, including the bonnet vented ‘Mohawk’. In the cabin, Chevrolet has gone nuts with the suede trim, adding it to the seats, steering wheel and shift lever. Under the bonnet things are more hush hush, with no word yet on the ZL1′s exact power output. The supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine is a beast and there’s rumours that the ZL1 could be pumping out over 570 horsepower, but for now, all GM’s saying is that there’s at least 550 horses. (more…)

A new horsepower war is brewing and could see Chevrolet’s new Camaro ZL1 released with more grunt than was originally planned. The ZL1 (pictured) isn’t expected in American car dealerships until early next year, but new reports are stating that power output has been bumped up to more than 570 hp (425 kW).

When the car was officially debuted at the Chicago Auto Show, GM said the supercharged 6.2-litre engine would have a max power output of approximately 550 hp (410 kW). That was until word came out that the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was expected to utilise  a supercharged 5.8-litre V8 with up to 620 hp (462 kW). With Ford now bringing a machine gun to a knife fight, Chevrolet is left with little choice but to upgrade its hardcore ZL1, just to put up a fight. (more…)

The year was 1969 and it was the heyday for American muscle cars but no one predicted the impact the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was about to have. It was a hard-performing monster featuring an all-aluminum engine displacing 427 cubic inches that was originally only intended for racing purposes. Just 69 examples of the ZR1 were built and unsurprisingly, they remain much coveted by car collectors today. To relive the interest and uncompromising performance of the original ZL1 Chevrolet have resurrected the name plate for what it is calling the fastest and most technologically advanced Camaro ever built.

While specifications haven’t been finalised, Chevrolet says that the new ZL1 Camaro will come packing an LSA 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine that will pump out an estimated 550 horsepower and a massive 745 Nm of torque. The heavyweight engine will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission with a dual-disc clutch system and a short-throw shifter. GM is staying closed-lipped on performance numbers for now, but with 550-ponies packed under the bonnet, the ZL1 will move with some pace.

Away from the supercharged V8 engine and the new transmission, the ZL1 also boasts a series of chassis upgrades including a reworked suspension setting with a Magnetic Ride Control system. Putting down the anchors is a high-performance Brembo brake system with six-piston calipers up front and four at the back. A brand new electric power steering system and 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels cloaked in Goodyear Supercar F2 tyres, finish off the package.

In terms of design there is a new body kit to adorn the ZL1 and separate it from lesser siblings. The kit has a new front fascia and air intakes, there is also a new aluminum bonnet with a satin black-finish and carbon fibre insert that uses an air extractor to increase downforce. (more…)