The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is one of the long-anticipated models that will arrive later this year, and it is expected to become one of the most powerful Chevy performance vehicles the enthusiasts will just love. What is really marvelous on this sixth-generation Camaro is racing-derived aerodynamics and suspension improvements that are followed by admirable weight reduction. We can safely state that the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is a league of its own.
The chief engineer for this muscle car, Al Oppenheiser said during the official introduction of the vehicle: “The track-focused 1LE package offers progressive levels of performance across the Camaro lineup, from the V6 1LE to the SS 1LE. But with the new ZL1 1LE, the progression takes a quantum leap — this is the ultimate track-day Camaro.”
Exterior Details
Every detail you can see on the exterior of the new 1LE is thoroughly planned in order to enhance the car’s behavior on the road. For instance, there is more aggressive front fascia on which a larger both upper and lower grille openings are added, and the LT1’s trick “Flow Tie” logo is introduced. Around the logo are black carbon fiber air deflectors, while front splitter and dive planes are included as well. The aluminum hood with carbon fiber insert and satin black wrap have been carried over. To further improve aerodynamics we are getting a prominent carbon fiber wing that sits at the rear end, and produces about 300 pounds of downforce. Regular on this model and option on the standard ZL1 are the smoked taillamp lenses.
Camaro ZL1 1LE’s DSSV
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE comes with front strut towers and a rear cradle in order to improve the agility of the car. Furthermore, the 1LE is equipped with a racing-style Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) front, and rear dampers and this is the largest difference compared to the regular ZL1 model. This system can also be found in the fifth-generation Camaro 1LE and Z/28, and its purpose is to allow you switch between street/circuit settings with ease and provide exceptional control while allowing at least decent comfort when top performances are not needed.
Wheels and Tires
Although the 2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE is equipped with powerful Brembo brakes that are taken from the standard ZL1 model, the tires and wheels are authentic and new. The wheels are 19 inches in diameter instead of the current 20, and they are made of lightweight forged alloys with custom-spec Goodyear Eagle 1 Supercar “3R” tires around them. According to the US automaker, the summer-only 3Rs warm up faster, and they are more consistent than other tires allowing the car to pull 1.1G maximum lateral grip. This amazing tire “performance” is the result of the development process which lasted for three years.
Under the Hood
The new 1LE is offered in Coupe form only, but under its hood is a powerful 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 unit that produces 650 ponies and 650 pound-feet of torque – the same as the ZL1. The engine is mated to the Tremec six-speed manual transmission that sports Active Rev Match and top-gear ratio that is specific for this model. Interestingly enough, an automatic gearbox is not available. The 1LE goes from 0 to 60 mph in, well, this remains unknown, but the Chevy tested the vehicle at the road course at Milford Proving Ground that is 2.9 miles long, and it was only three seconds slower than the ZL1. Hopefully, we will know the acceleration numbers soon, but speaking of a top speed of the car, it is safe to state that it will be around 200 mph.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Price
The curb weight of the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is about 60 pounds less than the curb weight of the standard ZL1. Almost all of the features you can find on the regular ZL1 will be offered in the 1LE, and these include dual-zone automatic climate control, heated/ventilated Recaro front sport seats, a heated steering wheel and Bose premium audio system. Pricing details are not familiar yet, but we expect it will be more expensive than the ongoing Camaro ZL1, which starts at $63,435.
