Drag Test: 2010 Camaro SS

[Nine Ball]

We had the keys to a new Camaro SS yesterday, as well as a track all to ourselves. Enjoy!

http://www.planetlsx.com/news/Drag_T...0_Camaro_SS/74



Planet LSX track tests the new 2010 Camaro SS
Has the recent introduction of the new 2010 Camaro left you wondering how it might perform at the drag strip? Sure, we've seen other magazines post up results using GPS type tracking equipment, but we know our Planet LSX readers won't settle for high tech gizmos to record actual dragstrip results. Being the gearheads we are, we decided to take a brand new Camaro and romp it down the track to learn both the good and bad.

We picked up the phone to our friends over at Hennessey Motorsports, located in Sealy, TX. We learned that they were one of the first to take possession of a 2K10 SS, and this shop also benefits from having its very own dragstrip on site. Track conditions were fair, about 88 degrees outside and humid. Headwind was 10-15 mph, track prep was excellent. Camaro SS weighs in at portly 3,850 lbs without the driver.

We found that the Camaro was difficult to launch effectively, too little throttle resulted in bog, and too much throttle induced some terrible wheelhop. Bogging seemed to get slightly better results, due to maintaining traction. Clutch engagement was high on the pedal travel, but worked well. The TR6060 manual transmission shifted flawlessly, just like our test 2009 Z06. Even when maintaining a smooth launch, the best 60-foot times only resulted in a paltry 2.1 second range. Those rear tires on the Camaro are nearly 29" tall, and look very heavy. No doubt some of that curb appeal that they are intended for are hurting track performance. A set of drag radials would work wonders for netting a better launch.

Going down the track, you could feel some slight torque management in 1st gear, as if the throttle did not go wide open until 2nd gear. All passes were made with traction control off, electing to use driver (right foot) traction control instead. The Camaro only uses the first three gears to get down the quarter-mile, coming just under redline as you cross the traps. Our best pass was a 13.51 @ 107 mph, with a weak 2.1 sixty foot time. The car would easily be a high-12 to low-13 car in better conditions, with a decent launch. To be fair, our test car was never allowed to cool down, we did more hot laps than a NASCAR.

The 2010 Camaro SS was great fun, and we enjoyed our thrash of it. The car embodies exactly what a pony car should be. Nice exhaust note, sporty handling, aggressive stance and body, as well as decent track performance. We also realize that our readers are looking at this car like a blank canvass, eager to dig into that LS3 engine and get even more power out of it. We can't wait to do this ourselves here at Planet LSX!

[Crowley]

Im really disapointed in the times and MPH that people other than the magazines are getting ... they are about the same as my 2001 SS with just a lid and a good 4 -6 MPH off of the 03/04 cobras ...

Crowley

[Camaro Lives On]

Random thought. Is it just me, or does the SS sit kinda high in the front?

BTW, this is my new background . This picture is beauiful

[SilverTurtle]

I think its Hennessey's car... its not broken in yet and its probably been romped on pretty hard in the first few miles of its life... and God knows what Hennessey's shop guys have been doing to it since they got it.


btw, Tony, the wife still loves the Osiris rims... you were right when you said that once we got them on the black car, we'd never take them off... lol

[08z51c6]

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

We had the keys to a new Camaro SS yesterday, as well as a track all to ourselves. Enjoy!

http://www.planetlsx.com/news/Drag_T...0_Camaro_SS/74

Hmm, just like with the 03 Cobra's the IRS causes problems with wheel hop limiting the performance at the strip. No doubt with some tuning this car would be quicker. Wait to see what it will do in real owners hands before jumping to a conclusion.

[HEMI DAVE]

Its a 2SS and I always thought they would be slower than the barebones 1SS that the mags tested because it is a heavier car.

[FLAWLS3]

"Our best pass was a 13.51 @ 107 mph, with a weak 2.1 sixty foot time. The car would easily be a high-12 to low-13 car in better conditions, with a decent launch. To be fair, our test car was never allowed to cool down, we did more hot laps than a NASCAR."

not bad...

[SGOS252382]

Interesting to hear they had wheel hop issues with the 6 speed manual. I thought that problem with the IRS had been all worked out (they learned their lesson from the manual GTO).

My 6 speed manual GTO had terrible wheel hop issues (before I learned how to launch the car properly - knee jerk launch (at a constant rpm) without flooring the gas until the car was already moving off the line).
My A4 automatic GTO has never given me any wheel hop issues.

[bobby35ny]

Hmmm, GM said it was fixed. Testing says it's THERE.

I bet the testers are lying. GM would never lie to us.

-bobby

[HEMI DAVE]

Originally Posted by bobby35ny

Hmmm, GM said it was fixed. Testing says it's THERE.

I bet the testers are lying. GM would never lie to us.

-bobby

That was pretty funny

[DeathChill]

Originally Posted by bobby35ny

Hmmm, GM said it was fixed. Testing says it's THERE.

I bet the testers are lying. GM would never lie to us.

-bobby

I am assuming this is sarcastic because it just sounds too unreal.

[2SSRS]

No not GM, Lie to us not in a million no 54 billion years.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Crowley

Im really disapointed in the times and MPH that people other than the magazines are getting ... they are about the same as my 2001 SS with just a lid and a good 4 -6 MPH off of the 03/04 cobras ...

Crowley

Give the after market a year and someone will offer rear end gears that will trade in some of that high end speed for short distance times.

[bobby35ny]

Originally Posted by DeathChill

I am assuming this is sarcastic because it just sounds too unreal.

Ya, I was being funny... I have never seen a IRS car mass produced by anyone NOT get wheel hop. I was expecting it. I didnt think GM could ever solve it on a mass production car.

=Bobby

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Did you guys try competitive launch mode?

[GLBL WMR]

Originally Posted by Steve

Give the after market a year and someone will offer rear end gears that will trade in some of that high end speed for short distance times.

Wait a year? The fact of the matter is the 1/4 mile times for this car have been pretty shitty at best considering the power. I think the best time we've seen noted thus far is the 12.9 that GM notes as the official time. I haven't seen an independent tester do better than 13.0 Broken in or not, 13.51 is weak. But I guess its a decent trade off for the 20+ average MPG that a lot of people have been noting.

[Silver Streak]

May not be the numbers you were hoping for, but to say 13.51 is weak....wow. This is a 13 sec flat car and that by no means is weak. If you do think it is weak maybe you are looking in the wrong class of cars.

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by Silver Streak

May not be the numbers you were hoping for, but to say 13.51 is weak....wow. This is a 13 sec flat car and that by no means is weak. If you do think it is weak maybe you are looking in the wrong class of cars.

Uh oh..... your gonna bring out the Boobirds.....

[08z51c6]

Most of the mags have gotten 13.0's out of the car and some of their times usually suck. I think it's fair to say that in the hands of a skilled driver this car is easily capable of a better time than 13.5. Wait till some real owners get the car to the track before you start bashing the cars performance.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Well, we saw the video of Henneseys run. What a piece of crap driving that was. I pretty sure the driver here was just as sorry. Hot Rod Magazine got 12.95 at 112.92.
That mph tells it all!!! Hod Rod will drive a car. Bottom line. If you know how to drive,
then you can get some very impressive numbers with this car stock!!!

[CamaroSpike23]

We picked up the phone to our friends over at Hennessey Motorsports

driver mod.

[pharmd]

Density Altitude...go look it up. Most of the car mags tests were done when it was cold outside...Tony said it was 88 deg, humid and into a headwind, plus they never let it cool so it was heat soaked and likely pulling some timing. What do you expect? Winter VS summer ALWAYS makes a huge difference in performance. These cars are easy 12 second cars in the late fall with drag radials on...PERIOD! The track times are what they are, you can't fake it at the track, and their are many factors that can play a role. Lets all just take a deep breath and calm down. When you get your car you can go to the track and see what it will do, until then calm down and reserve judgement. What does it matter what it runs stock anyway...its not like we're leaving them that way very long

[GLBL WMR]

Originally Posted by Silver Streak

May not be the numbers you were hoping for, but to say 13.51 is weak....wow.

Considering 4th gen LS1's did 13.5 or better with a half decent driver driver 10 years ago, if 13.51 turns out to be par for the course in the 5th gen with 126 more HP, I believe "weak" is a completely appropriate way to describe it.

[Gary B]

The driver is just average, the track is marginal....its a personal test track, not a prepped one used for racing on a constant basis! RELAX people, damn you guys flip over the lastest gossip! Wait until a real owner who knows how to drive brings his car to Englishtown Raceway in NJ, you'll see this car FLY!!! Better yet, wait until High-Tech uses that track for there test of the SS.

[Silver Streak]

Originally Posted by GLBL WMR

Considering 4th gen LS1's did 13.5 or better with a half decent driver driver 10 years ago, if 13.51 turns out to be par for the course in the 5th gen with 126 more HP, I believe "weak" is a completely appropriate way to describe it.

I think making a judgement off of one or two videos and few reviews of a completely new model of car is weak! I think jumping to conclusions at this point really would be a mistake. BTW did you watch the video, I did, and no way would I think that driving and those results of being a good base to judge from. IMO