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2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Review

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Photo: Sébastien D'Amour
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Mathieu St-Pierre
The other appendage
The 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a perfect metaphor for the world in which we live: it is the poster child for civilized chaos, and I guess that’s the way I like it.

Unlike its rival, the Ford Shelby GT500, the 2013 Chevy Camaro ZL1 can be coaxed into being good with little effort. If you have sufficient self-restraint, the ZL1 will comply with traffic and its surrounding environment. The GT500 won’t.

For the sights and sounds alone, the Camaro ZL1 is worth absolutely every penny that General Motors wants for it. The cabin is all business, but for the sake of the world as we know it; GM, put a proper and worthy steering wheel in the damn car, will you?

The Red Devil
It’s like an accident with bloody bodies strewn about or a horrible, cheap suit: you can’t help but stare at it.

The 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is bar-none the car most in need of anger therapy on the road today, if only because of its looks. It’s tough to know where to begin as the whole of the car turns the brain to Silly Putty with an onslaught of visual, “Buddy, don’t waste my time” or better yet, “Get the hell outta here!” cues.

At night, the determined brow with haloed HID and fog lights can scare the panties off any girlie-man.

Low, wide, nasty, snorting: the ZL1 is perfect. In Victory Red (Rally Yellow if it was my money), the massive black 20” wheels poke, and the mesmerizing deep front fascia and gargantuan aerodynamics-improving bulged hood draw the eye to an inevitable conclusion: This is the most badass car on the road today. More so than my beloved Ford Mustang Boss 302

The belly of the beast
From within, the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is more or less standard Camaro fare, which has its ups and downs. This means a top-heavy dashboard, low-slung seating position and impossible outward visibility. But it also signifies that the driver is in command of a missile.

To be aboard the ZL1 is to be consumed by the embrace of the suede-lined support and comfortable seats -- and of the colossal V8’s rumble. As I sat there, controls well in hand thanks a great driving position, I could not shake the impression that I was possessed and in the arms of a manipulative mistress. The 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 makes you do things you never thought you would.

Apparently, the car features GM’s latest all-in-one, handsfree entertainment system called MyLink, but I can’t tell you anything about it; not once did I use it or even turn the radio on. All I could make out were the sweet whispers of the LSA V8 messing with my senses, begging me to prod the pedal needlessly only to fill my senses with its intoxicating growl. More, it said. I only ever gave in.

What makes a ZL1
The heart of the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is GM’s LS3 6.2L V8 which was then given an Eaton supercharger with four-lobe rotors. It boosts the 6.2L’s output to 580 hp and torque to a skin-crawling 556 lb-ft.

Now, the ZL1 is not as fast or powerful at the Shelby GT500, but the fact that it will reach 100 km/h in a little over 4.5 seconds (about 0.5 more than the Shelby) and that it will top out at just under 300 km/h is plenty to brag about. But it’s more than that; it’s how it all comes together.

You see, the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 can be civilly driven on a daily basis. The clutch is heavy, but its action and friction point are well judged and the shifter’s to-and-fro moves are firm and tight. Jerky take-offs are not an issue with the ZL1. By comparison, the Shelby GT500’s components are barely cooperative and rough even. Ask my friend Miranda about it; she prefers the Shelby for precisely those reasons…

Steering is well balanced and precise. Turn-in is quick, but easy to adapt to in an urban setting. I’d really like GM to create a dedicated race-inspired wheel for improved control over the wheel.

Putting the power down
The 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 sports a unique drivetrain. Every component is larger, stronger and plain heavy-duty. The Performance Traction Management (PTM) features launch control, and the very awesome magnetic ride control suspension system provides a surprisingly good ride.

Its driver-selectable Tour and Sport modes manage to make the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 comfortable even on a rough road. Alternatively, it can shake your fillings loose unless the road surface is nothing short of perfect, like a race track for example.

On that subject, the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is fully poised to take on any closed circuit. It’s got engine and differential oil-coolers, huge vented powerful disc brakes with multiple-piston calipers and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 tires.

With all of these mad, go-fast features, it’s a wonder the car is street-legal.
2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
chevrolet camaro 2013
2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
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Mathieu St-Pierre
Mathieu St-Pierre
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