Camaro ZL1 Convertible Ready to Power up the Top-down Fun
Fresh from posting a Nurburgring lap time of just 7:41.27—nearly 40 seconds faster than the modern-day Camaro SS and quicker than supercars like the Porsche 911 GT3 and Nissan GT-R—the high-performance Camaro ZL1 will soon set another benchmark: Already the most powerful production Camaro ever, the ZL1 is now slated to launch as the most powerful Chevrolet convertible ever. In fact, with the same supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 as the coupe, rated at 580 hp and 556 lb.-ft. of torque, the ZL1 convertible will deliver more power than exotic drop-tops from a lot of manufacturers, including entries like the 2012 Aston Martin DB9 Volante and Mercedes SL63 AMG, as well as the 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S and Ford Shelby GT500.
Simply put, according to Al Oppenheiser, the Camaro’s chief engineer: “The Camaro ZL1 convertible will be one of the most powerful and most capable convertibles available at any price. This is a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top—or hit the gas.”
That’s partly because Oppenheiser and his team specifically designed the current Camaro’s body structure to provide superior convertible performance right from the start, then added significant bracing and reinforcements to up the ante even further. But not only do these improvements reduce the unwanted body motions that plague many other open-air cars, they also reduce noise and vibration in the ZL1 convertible to create a more satisfying driving experience.
Of course, it also helps that the ZL1 coupe and convertible have some of the most sophisticated vehicle-performance systems in the world. Both showcase the latest generation of GM’s Magnetic Ride Control, which can adjust damping up to 1,000 times per second, as well as the company’s exclusive Performance Traction Management system. The latter integrates Magnetic Ride Control, launch control, traction control, and electronic stability control for dramatically enhanced off-the-line acceleration and cornering.
The new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 drop-top is scheduled to go on sale early next year—just in time for the 2012 convertible season.
No comments:
Post a Comment