Skip to main content

Chevy’s 2017 Camaro ZL1 beats predecessor’s Nürburgring lap time by 11.67 seconds

Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife is a very public proving ground for new cars. No serious performance car’s spec list is complete without a Nürburgring lap time, it seems. Which is why General Motors brought the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to Germany.

The ZL1’s 7:29.60 best lap was not only 11.67 seconds quicker than the previous-generation Camaro ZL1, it was also quicker than several blue-blood performance cars. The ZL1 beat the McLaren 650S Spider, Koenigsegg CCX, and Mercedes-AMG GT S, among others, noted Jalopnik. The Chevy also beat what is arguably its closest rival, the Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang.

Recommended Videos

Under the hood of Chevy’s hottest Camaro is the same 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 used in the Corvette Z06. It produces 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, which is routed to the rear wheels. Chevy sent a car equipped with the new 10-speed automatic transmission (co-developed with Ford) to the Nürburgring, but a six-speed manual will also be available.

Read more: VW Golf GTI Clubsport S sets front-wheel drive ‘Ring lap record

With that engine, it may not seem surprising that the ZL1 can turn in impressive Nürburgring lap times. But the fact that this muscle car can hang with proper sports cars in the handling department is truly significant. A powerful engine only helps you go fast in a straight line, after all, and there are plenty of curves on the 12.9-mile ‘Ring. Like Ford with its Mustang, Chevy has made efforts to make the Camaro into a more well-rounded sports car, and those efforts seem to be paying off.

The ZL1 deployed at the Nürburgring was virtually stock, except for added Sparco racing seats with six-point harnesses, a roll hoop, and data acquisition equipment. The car was equipped with Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension, Brembo brakes, and no less than 11 heat exchangers. All of these features will be available in showrooms, although they might not all be standard equipment.

Other ZL1-specific features include underbody shielding, a rear spoiler and diffuser, reshaped front fascia, and the “flowtie” grille badge introduced on the discontinued Camaro Z/28.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Trump administration prepares to end Biden’s EV tax incentive, report says
president biden drives 2022 ford f 150 lightning electric pickup truck prototype visits rouge vehicle center

If you’re looking to buy or lease an electric vehicle (EV) and benefit from the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax incentive, you’d better act soon.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is already planning to end the credit, according to a report from Reuters citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Read more
Kia EV4: everything we know so far
Kia EV4 Front

Kia is continuing to expand its electric car lineup. The EV6 and EV9 have both been out for some time now, and the company is in the middle of rolling out the EV3 in Europe, with a North American release expected next year. After that, it's likely the company will turn to the EV5. But what about after that? Well, that could be where the Kia EV4 comes in.

Kia announced a concept version of the EV4 at its EV Day in 2023, showing off a futuristic-looking hatchback that's seemingly a little smaller than the EV6, but keeps many design elements. Since then, Kia has confirmed very few details about it, though we have seen it shown off at other automotive events. Here's everything we know about the Kia EV4 so far.
Kia EV4 design
The Kia EV4, or at least the concept version of it, is smaller than the EV6, and much smaller than the EV9. It's actually closer in size to a sedan than anything else, though with its open trunk, it could be considered a hatchback. Regardless, it certainly blurs the line between the two. So much so, that in recent months we've actually seen a full hatchback version of the EV4 being tested -- and it's possible that Kia is pivoting the design of the EV4 entirely to be a hatch, or will be releasing both hatchback and sedan versions.

Read more
Hertz is selling used Teslas for under $20K, Chevrolet Bolt EVs under $14K
2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently nixed hopes of a regular Tesla model ever selling for $25,000.

But he was talking about new models. For car rental company Hertz, the race to sell used Teslas and other EVs at ever-lower prices is not only still on but accelerating.

Read more