Chevy Camaro ZL1 Nears 200-mph Bogey

General Motors Co. says the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 sports car has a top speed of 198 mph. This makes it the fastest Camaro ever but the speed falls short of the 200-mph threshold achieved by Ford Motor Co.’s Mustang Shelby GT500 and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat muscle cars, media reports point out.

Chevrolet tested the ZL1, powered by its stock 650-hp 6.2-liter V-8 engine and optional 10-speed automatic transmission, at Germany’s Papenburg proving grounds. The car hit 202.3 mph in testing in one direction around the 7.6-mile track and 193.3 mph in the other direction to average 197.8 mph, according to the carmaker.

The 198-mph average was achieved on the ZL1’s production Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires with pressure set at 44 psi, the recommended setting for extended high-speed driving. Tweaking the settings to the maximum allowable sidewall pressure and adjusting the front and rear camber upped the ZL1’s two-way average to more than 200 mph.

During the tests, the ZL1 sprinted from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and covered a quarter mile in 11.4 seconds. The car also is able to brake to a stop from 60 mph in 107 ft and can take corners at 1.02g, Chevy says.

The ZL1 benefits from a stanchion rear spoiler, which Chevy says provides a better lift/drag ratio than a blade-style rear spoiler, and a patent-pending auxiliary transmission oil cooler cover that reduces front-end lift. Other goodies include electromagnetic ride control, an electronic limited-slip differential, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels and Brembo brakes with six-piston front calipers and two-piece rotors.

The 2017 ZL1 starts at $63,400 for a coupe with the 6-speed manual transmission and $65,800 with the 10-speed automatic. The prices include $1,300 and $2,100 gas guzzler taxes, respectively.