2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will have 650hp, according to leaked order guide

By Stephen Edelstein Published August 1, 2016

The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 just got even better. The most muscular version of Chevy’s sixth-generation Camaro will have 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, according to a leaked order guide.

The 107-page guide was posted on enthusiast site Camaro6.com, ahead of an official General Motors announcement of the final specs. When GM unveiled the ZL1 at the 2016 New York Auto Show back in March, it quoted figures of 640 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque. It’s always nice when 10 hp and 10 lb-ft materialize seemingly out of nowhere.

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That means the ZL1 now matches the output for the Corvette Z06, with which it shares a 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 engine.GM apparently isn’t worried about the Camaro stealing the Corvette’s thunder, or overshadowing the Cadillac CTS-V luxury sedan. That car also uses the LT4 engine, but is rated at 640 hp and 630 lb-ft. The ZL1 also debuts a new 10-speed automatic co-developed with Ford, while the Corvette and Caddy use eight-speed autos. The Corvette is also available with a seven-speed manual, while the ZL1 uses a six-speed.

Read more: 2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1 loses its top, keep supercharged V8

Even with a 10-horsepower bump, though, the ZL1 can’t match the 707-hp output of the almighty Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi Hellcat may still be the most powerful muscle car engine, but the ZL1 will likely be the more well rounded of the two. The lighter Camaro body and more sophisticated suspension should the ZL1 a better track car, even if it won’t win every drag race.

The ZL1 uses GM’s Magnetic Ride suspension, which includes magnetorheological dampers filled with fluid impregnated with iron filings that can adjusted near-instantaneously by running a current through it. GM also claims the ZL1 will be fully track ready from the factory, thanks to features like 11 standard heat exchangers. We’ll see how it stacks up against the current track-going muscle car champ, Ford’s Shelby GT350R Mustang.

The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 goes on sale later this year in coupe form. A convertible model will follow it to showrooms in early 2017.

Stephen Edelstein

Former Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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