ZL1 and 1LE Very Impressive Results at Car and Driver Annual Lighting Lap #7 @ VIR

[Mr. Wyndham]

Results don't surprise me...

The 1LE was designed RIGHT...to whoop the Boss without the added cost that Ford charged...

And the ZL1 is simply stunning in every way, 'nuff said there.

A couple of you mentioned this already, but I'll re-state: VIR is the closest thing America has to a Nurburgring...very technical, relatively long, and plenty of curves and straights to accommodate a variety of cars. These results (by "regular" drivers, as opposed to a super-star engineers like Aaron Link..) prove that the ZL1 and 1LE Camaros are PHENOMENAL performance bargains compared to any car (as if there was any doubt ).

[Deki]

Originally Posted by doc7000

I do think that the Ford fans are running out of excuses as to why this happened, really the only thing they have is the fact that the BOSS 302 LS wasn't run this year but last year.

Though this comes down to a difference in philosophy between the two companies, GM really aims for performance cars that excel in all performance areas.

I don't think it matters that the Boss LS wasn't run this year, it would have just been nice to see what it did on the same day, same track, same drivers. It definitely wouldn't beat the 1LE, since the GT500 barely beat it with 230 more hp.

[doc7000]

Originally Posted by Deki

I don't think it matters that the Boss LS wasn't run this year, it would have just been nice to see what it did on the same day, same track, same drivers. It definitely wouldn't beat the 1LE, since the GT500 barely beat it with 230 more hp.

Though running every single performance car ever made on the same day with the same driver just wouldn't be practical. Which is why they have a board showing previous years and the times that the cars run.

You also have to consider that these conditions could have been worse then it was last year when they ran the BOSS 302 LS (or they could have been better). The BOSS 302 LS could have ended up posting a slower lap time then what it did when they ran it.

Though its all just speculation at this point, though from the BOSS 302 vs 1LE Camaro test I have seen showed the 1LE to out lap the BOSS 302 by more then 2 seconds. Honestly the BOSS 302 LS is far too expensive and with things like no back seat really hard to compare against a complete street car like the 1LE is at any rate.

[doc7000]

Originally Posted by NVmyZL1

First, congrats to GM for a couple of well-engineered Camaro's. Second, the real bang-for-the-buck performer in this test has to be the Focus ST. I mean, it bases for $23,700 and put down a 3.21 time! If you read the article, it might have even managed a sub-3 min time or right at 3.0 if not for an unfortunate key-fob destruction. That's near 1LE performance for $10K less, base price.

I highly doubt that its was going to post a sub 3 minute time, it might have posted a 3:15 lap time or a hair faster then that but sub 3 minutes....

So you think that the Focus ST is faster then the BOSS 302 LS and Shelby GT500 with 662BHP around VIR?..... (want what you are smoking).

The bang for the buck here would be the 1LE Camaro, for $37,000 there is no car that will put down a faster lap time stock that is sold in the US. Not only did every car that has posted a faster lap time then the 1LE Camaro cost more but, on the back end of that you need to drop down by around 25 spots to find a car that is cheaper and slower. Everything on down is more expensive and slower then it........ it beat the Lexus ISF, BMW M3 coupe, even the old Porsche 911 turbo (996 or 997 I am not sure).

Also on the big list, out of the op 10 cars on that list 5 are using small block chevy V-8 engines.......

[Deki]

Originally Posted by doc7000

The bang for the buck here would be the 1LE Camaro, for $37,000 there is no car that will put down a faster lap time stock that is sold in the US. Not only did every car that has posted a faster lap time then the 1LE Camaro cost more but, on the back end of that you need to drop down by around 25 spots to find a car that is cheaper and slower.

x2 could not agree more.

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by gearhead08

look at that ZL1 camaro had a faster lap time the the corvette z06 wonder what year

Looks like it was a 07...



Full list from 2012


1 2:45.9 MOSLER MT900S LL3 11/08
2 2:48.6 DODGE VIPER SRT10 ACR LL3 11/08
3 2:49.8 MOSLER PHOTON LL5 2/11
4 2:50.7 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1 (Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tir2/12
5 2:51.8 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1 (Michelin Pilot Sport Ptires)2/10
6 2:51.8 LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP570-4 SUPERLEGGERALL5 2/11
7 2:52.3 KTM X-BOW LLU 2/10
8 2:53.2 NISSAN GT-R LL3 2/12
9 2:53.5 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 (Z07) LL3 2/11
10 2:53.9 LAMBORGHINI MURCIÉLAGO LP670-4 SV LL5 2/10
11 2:54.6 FERRARI 430 SCUDERIA LL5 11/08
12 2:55.6 NISSAN GT-R LL3 11/08
13 2:55.9 PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS LL4 2/11
14 2:57.4 DODGE VIPER SRT10 LL3 10/07
15 2:57.5 PORSCHE 911 TURBO S LL4 2/11
16 2:57.6 ARIEL ATOM 3 LLU 2/10
17 2:58.0 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG LL4 2/11
18 2:58.2 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 LL3 8/07
19 2:58.5 CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT LL2 2/10
20 2:59.0 NISSAN GT-R (all-season tires) LL3 11/08
21 2:59.5 AUDI R8 5.2 FSI LL4 2/10
22 3:00.7 FORD GT LL4 11/06
23 3:00.7 PORSCHE PANAMERA TURBO S LL4 2/12
24 3:01.1 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 LL3 11/06
25 3:01.2 CHEVROLET CORVETTE (Z51) LL2 11/08
26 3:01.6 DODGE VIPER SRT10 LL3 11/06
27 3:01.8 PORSCHE 911 GT3 LL3 8/07
28 3:02.8 FORD MUSTANG BOSS 302 LAGUNA SECA LL2 2/12
29 3:03.6 CHEVROLET CORVETTE (Z51) LL2 8/07
30 3:03.8 PORSCHE BOXSTER SPYDER LL3 2/11
31 3:03.9 PORSCHE CAYMAN R LL3 2/12
32 3:04.0 CADILLAC CTS-V SEDAN LL2 11/08
33 3:04.0 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 LL2 2/11
34 3:04.2 CADILLAC CTS-V COUPE LL3 2/11
35 3:04.5 LOTUS EXIGE S LL3 8/07
36 3:04.8 AUDI TT RS LL3 2/12
37 3:04.9 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63 AMG LL3 2/12
38 3:05.3 LOTUS EVORA S LL3 2/12
39 3:05.4 BMW M3 COUPE LL2 2/10
40 3:05.4 LEXUS IS F LL2 2/11
41 3:05.6 BMW M3 COUPE LL2 11/08
42 3:05.6 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA S LL3 2/10
43 3:05.8 PORSCHE CAYMAN S LL3 2/10
44 3:05.8 PORSCHE 911 TURBO LL4 8/07
45 3:05.9 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 LL2 8/07
46 3:06.3 MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG COUPE LL3 2/12
47 3:06.4 JAGUAR XKR LL3 2/10
48 3:06.5 MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG LL2 11/08
49 3:06.5 MERCEDES-BENZ E63 AMG LL3 2/11
50 3:06.6 BMW 1-SERIES M LL3 2/12
51 3:07.4 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 LL2 2/10
52 3:08.3 LOTUS EVORA LL3 2/11
53 3:08.4 AUDI TTS LL2 2/10
54 3:08.6 FORD MUSTANG GT 5.0 LL2 2/11
55 3:08.9 JAGUAR XFR LL2 2/11
56 3:09.2 LOTUS ELISE LL2 11/06
57 3:09.3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE (Z51) LL2 11/06
58 3:09.4 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT8 392 LL2 2/12
59 3:09.5 PORSCHE CAYMAN S LL2 11/06
60 3:09.5 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS LL2 2/10
61 3:10.0 BMW M6 LL3 11/06
62 3:10.1 DODGE CHARGER SRT8 LL2 2/12
63 3:10.4 BMW Z4 sDRIVE35is LL3 2/12
64 3:10.5 BMW 335i COUPE LL2 8/07
65 3:10.6 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION SE LL2 2/11
66 3:10.8 AUDI S4 LL2 2/10
67 3:11.0 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 LL2 11/06
68 3:11.0 AUDI RS4 LL3 8/07
69 3:11.1 BMW X5 M LLT 2/12
70 3:11.7 BMW Z4 M COUPE LL2 8/07
71 3:12.0 NISSAN NISMO 370Z LL2 2/10
72 3:12.5 NISSAN 350Z TRACK LL1 11/06
73 3:12.5 FORD MUSTANG V-6 LL1 2/11
74 3:13.0 CHEVROLET COBALT SS LL1 11/08
75 3:13.3 FORD MUSTANG GT LL1 2/10
76 3:13.3 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION MR LL2 11/08
77 3:13.5 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION IX MR LL1 11/06
78 3:13.7 BMW 135i COUPE LL2 11/08
79 3:13.8 HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE 3.8 R-SPEC LL1 2/11
80 3:13.8 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI SEDAN LL2 2/11
81 3:13.8 BMW 335is LL2 2/12
82 3:14.0 LEXUS IS F LL2 11/08
83 3:14.0 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R LL2 2/12
84 3:14.6 AUDI S5 LL2 11/08
85 3:14.8 HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE 3.8 LL1 2/10
86 3:15.0 HONDA S2000 CR LL2 11/08
87 3:15.7 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP LL1 8/07
88 3:16.0 MAZDASPEED 3 LL1 8/07
89 3:16.2 MAZDASPEED 3 LL1 2/10
90 3:16.3 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT8 LL2 11/08
91 3:16.5 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX SEDAN LL1 2/11
92 3:16.6 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX HATCHBACK LL1 2/10
93 3:16.6 LOTUS ELISE SC LL2 11/08
94 3:16.7 MAZDA RX-8 R3 LL2 2/11
95 3:17.1 MINI COOPER JOHN COOPER WORKS LL1 2/10
96 3:17.4 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SRT8 LLT 2/12
97 3:17.5 INFINITI G37 COUPE SPORT LL2 11/08
98 3:18.2 DODGE CHARGER SRT8 LL2 11/06
99 3:18.4 MINI COOPER JOHN COOPER WORKS COUPE LL2 2/12
100 3:19.0 MAZDA RX-8 LL1 11/06
101 3:19.0 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI HATCHBACK LL2 11/08
102 3:19.3 VOLKSWAGEN GTI MkVI LL2 2/10
103 3:20.6 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SUPERCHARGED LL1 11/06
104 3:20.8 DODGE CALIBER SRT4 LL1 11/08
105 3:20.9 FORD MUSTANG GT LL1 11/06
106 3:21.8 VOLKSWAGEN R32 LL2 11/08
107 3:22.9 MINI COOPER S LL1 8/07
108 3:24.1 HONDA CIVIC Si COUPE LL1 2/12
109 3:24.8 HONDA CIVIC Si MUGEN LL2 11/08
110 3:25.1 VOLKSWAGEN GTI MkV LL1 11/06
111 3:26.5 HONDA CIVIC Si COUPE LL1 11/06
112 3:26.6 VOLVO C30 VERSION 2.0 LL1 11/08
113 3:27.3 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI LL1 2/12
114 3:29.3 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA LL1 11/06

[FINALLYSATISFIED]

Seeing these results makes me want the 1LE that much more.

[doc7000]

Originally Posted by NVmyZL1

Okay,I concede, probably not sub-3 minute, but if it managed only the 3.15 you stated, that puts it within spitting distance of the 1LE and GT500 on that track for considerbly less money.

As I have stated many times before, give me my Shelby in a drag race venue and my ZL1 on a road course.

At 3:15 that is not within spitting distance....... that is 13.5 seconds slower then the 1LE Camaro. At 100MPH that is a gap of some 1,984 feet............. 2,116 feet in the case of the GT500 in other words MANY MANY MANY MANY MANY MANY car lengths.

at VIR grand west it would take about 10 laps for the Mustang GT500 to lap the Focus ST and 11 for the 1LE Camaro.... in a 24 hour race the ST would finish many laps behind.

don't know about you, but I can not spit 2000 feet....

[IOMZL1]

Great job for the 1LE and ZL1.... Definitely proving to be real track performers regardless of what some might say. Very impressed with the 1LE value!

[Mgizzle]

I almost broke down after opening my mailbox this morning and seeing this magazine in there. I waited for it SOOOOOOOOOOOO long to put the Boss 302 LS rumors to rest.

The best thing about this story is that FINALLY somebody mentioned CORRECTLY why the mustangs are behind the camaros. Front weight distribution. The Mustangs are horrible when you look at this and if it wasn't for this bad distribution, they would've been seconds faster, even with the solid rear axle. GT500 at 56.6% front weight distribution?!?!?!? They had no other option but to make crazy amounts of HP to just beat a 1LE..... now you know why they never posted Nurnburgring times.

I am too still blown away that nobody has done a Boss 302 LS vs. 1LE head to head comparison but the fact is that popular mechanics compared a base 2013 302 to the 1LE at gingerman and the 1LE beat it by 2.5 seconds. That is A LOT for such a short track. Finally, we see #'s that show it is faster than a 2012 Boss 302LS, which is better than the 2013 LS from what I have heard or seen. With 0.9 slower than a 2013 shelby gt500 I have zero doubt the 1LE is faster than a Boss 302 LS. To be honest, with such a HUGE price gap it doesn't even matter. Years of tires and brake parts for the track with a better car to begin with. Thank you GM.

I always knew that buying a 1LE was the right thing to do as far as bang for the buck (I payed in the $37s) but when I saw the German lap times in this article I was blown away. M5, M6, S6, RS5 SECONDS behind a 1LE??!!? Man, I can't wait to take that cover of my 1LE in the spring.....

[doc7000]

Just think if GM puts the LS7 in the 1LE........

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by KKreme15

I'm sure a driver with more seat time would be able to crack 3:00. No doubt Chevy engineers have run sub 3:00 there
Chevy got the ZL1 around in 2:52.4

Right so the Fords can be faster too. But still the 1LE and the ZL1 both turned in very impressive times. A tribute to suspension technology and a rigid chassis. So the weight does have a benefit if well placed.

It is amazing so many seconds could be trimmed by the 1LE from the already respectable SS time. All for $3,500? Performance deal of the century. Well done Chevrolet.

[Mgizzle]

Sorry for the double post but I had to mention this....

If you flip a few more pages in that magazine you will find a 2013 Viper GTS vs. Corvette ZR1 comparo at Laguna Seca. Corvette 2.0 seconds faster and picked as 1st. Motor trend last week compared both cars at Laguna Seca too with the ZR1 being 2.5 seconds faster. This is a car that carries design from 2005 and it is destroying 2013 supercars. Lol.

Chevy is on a roll, this is so awesome. I can't wait for the C7 next year (about two more weeks!!!!) and then the 6th gen camaro. Exciting times ahead.

[RLHMARINES]

These result's from the lightning lab was not to be unexpected seeing how Camaro performance development engineer driver Aaron Link did the same task on the grand course in 2:58:34 earlier this year in the 1LE @ VIR.

But like it was stated earlier this time set by car & driver was still good especially seeing how these guys are not performance drivers but magazine editors with some driving school training at best, if my memory serves me right with the proper recall.

Their times are more indicative of what you or I, the average joe blow bench racer, will probably do as most of us are by no means as talented or has had the seat time to develop our driving skills. I strive to be like Aaron Link but sadly fall short somewhere below the car & driver staffers. I need more training.



And of course the ZL1 in the hands of Aaron Link on this same coarse did it in 2:52:4, again a great run by a driver on a demanding road coarse.