2020 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The ZL1 comes equipped with a supercharged V8 engine mated to both manual and auto gearboxes and launch control. Throw in the 1LE performance package and you will upgrade your Camaro with features like a carbon fiber hood and spoiler, race-oriented suspension dampers, and 19-inch alloy wheels. 

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe
MSRP	$62,995
Key Features	Brembo front and rear performance antilock brakes
	Driver Selector Mode
	Dual-mode exhaust
	Launch control
	Interior spectrum lighting
	SiriusXM with 360L trial subscription
	6-way power front passenger seat
	Aluminum interior trim

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Since there is only one trim on offer for the ZL1, that is the only option to choose from. However, you can always ask Chevrolet for the Extreme Performance Package if it suits your purpose. The power is simply mesmerizing and will surely satisfy your pony thirst. 

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 gets a mammoth 6.2L supercharged V8 engine underneath its hood capable of putting out 650 hp and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. This sinister engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual transmission that diverts the power to the rear wheels only that accounts for an engaging and intriguing driving experience, a classic trait of Muscle cars.

Along with a stick shift, an optional 10-speed automatic is also part of the ZL1 lineup. The stick shift transmission boasts short throws and is equipped with rev-matching downshifts. The dual-mode exhaust releases thundering pops and crackles like Zeus himself was driving the Camaro. The suspension is tuned perfectly and doesn’t let the immense power take over the control.

Models	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat	Lexus RC F	BMW M4
MSRP	$62,995	$60,470	$64,750	$70,145
Engine	6.2L Supercharged V8	Supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 engine	5.0L naturally aspirated V8	3.0L 6-Cylinder Twin Power Turbo
Transmission	6-speed Manual	6-speed Manual	8-speed Shiftable Automatic	6-speed Manual
Horsepower	650 hp @ 6400 rpm	717 hp @ 6000 rpm	472 hp @ 7100 rpm	425 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	650 ft-lbs. @ 3600 rpm	656 ft-lbs. @ 4800 rpm	395 ft-lbs. @ 4800 rpm	406 ft-lbs. @ 1850 rpm

The Camaro ZL1 is a king of power figures, generating 650 ponies and torque. However, it still gets passed by the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, which comes fitted with a similar engine as the Camaro (both get a 6.2L V8). with a power bump of almost 67hp, the Challenger takes the crown followed by Camaro. Other rivals stand no chance in front of these cars carrying proper muscle genes. The Lexus RC F Coupe ranks third with 472 hp, followed up by the BMW M4.

Acceleration

The Chevrolet Camaro in its ZL1 is a muscle car with a supercar category performance, launching from a standstill and the 0-60 figure comes as early as 3.5 seconds. The Camaro rockets into the tarmac better than the wildest sports car you have known, the launch controls makes it even better. Impressive as it is, it also clears the quarter-mile mark in 11.4 seconds.

Even though the car weighs a mammoth 3800lbs, it still manages to put down such impressive numbers on the drag-strip.

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat	Lexus RC F	BMW M4
0-60 MPH	3.5 sec	3.7 sec	4.2 sec	4.0 sec
Quarter Mile	11.4 sec	11.8 sec	12.7 sec	12.2 sec
Engine	6.2L Supercharged V8	Supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 engine	5.0L naturally aspirated V8	3.0L 6-Cylinder TwinPower Turbo

The Camaro ZL1 comes out as the fastest car of the lot, clean swiping the rivals even though it had lower power figures than the Dodge Challenger SRT. Giving a mere 0.2-second defeat to the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, which displays a huge margin of in power figures between the two. The BMW M4 makes a chase, completing the 0-60 sprint in 4.0 seconds, followed up by the Lexus RC F.

Braking

Braking on the normal Camaro is acceptable and you can very well keep it as a daily driver, but the ZL1 is no ordinary muscle. For a car that accelerates with such potency, a capable braking arrangement becomes a must. In order to increase the stopping power, Chevrolet had installed a 6-piston caliper in front along with a 4-piston caliper in the rear made by Brembo on the ZL1.

The brake rotors on the Camaro ZL1 are one of the biggest in the segment, with 15.3-inch rotors on the front wheels and 14.4-inch rotors on the rear wheels. 

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat	Lexus RC F	BMW M4
Brake front (in.)	15.3	15.4	15.0	15.0
Brake Rear (in.)	14.4	13.8	13.6	14.6
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3883	4429	3902	3625
60-0 MPH (ft.)	107	108	105	104

This is one category where the lightweight factor plays an important role. Even after having the big brakes the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe can decelerate from 60-0 mph in a distance of just 107 feet, which comes out to be on the third position out of four rivals. Although, these numbers are pretty respectable considering the ZL1 is presented as a muscle car. The BMW M4 showcases the best in class braking distance, all thanks to the M-spec brakes, followed up by the Lexus RC F.

What about its driving dynamics?

The ZL1 is an ultimate Super Saiyan of all Camaros ever built. The supercharged small-block V8 is enough to satisfy anybody’s hunger for power. With great power comes great responsibility and Chevy seems to know it very well as the car's agility is not compromised with a higher power. The Camaro ZL1 is still nimble when you want it to be and has a great center of gravity which helps in keeping it more attached to the ground. 

 

The car cuts corners like a hot knife through butter and overpowers any car in its way. The quick-shifting gears reach their full potential only with a badass driver. Fabulously tuned suspensions absorb most of the tough shocks without transmitting much of the after-effects to the cabin. The electric-assist power steering is capable of providing enough feels of the road to you on a silver platter. There is also an optional package that includes the Magnetic Ride Control Dampers which further take the handling and agility a cut above.

Muscle cars were never made considering fuel economy figures. These cars are made for only one thing, that is, ripping the tires the moment you floor the gas pedal. With a 6.2L engine along with a supercharger, the Camaro ZL1 is a regular at the gas station. 

This mammoth muscle car engine is mated with the standard 6-speed manual transmission, manages to earn a city mpg rating of 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway, summing it up to a combined mpg figure of 16. While the 10-speed automatic transmission also features almost the same figures with a slight change of 13mpg in the city, 21mpg on highway and 16mpg combined.

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat	Lexus RC F	BMW M4
MPG (city)	14	13	16	18
MPG (highway)	20	21	24	25
MPG (combined)	16	16	19	20
Fuel tank capacity (gallons)	19.0	18.5	17.4	15.8
Range (city/highway) (miles)	266/380	241/389	278/418	284/395

While this category is completely owned by smaller powerhouses. The BMW M4 offers you the best-in-class fuel-economy of 18 in city and 25 on the highway, followed up by the Lexus RC F. The Camaro ZL1 and Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat offers much fewer economy figures, both these cars offer a combined mpg of 16, while the ZL1 comes with the biggest fuel-tank of 19-gallon capacity.

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a great car, but the second you open the door of this Coupe, great turns to mere good. The interior in the ZL1 feels plush and airy for the front occupants but, the rear row speaks a different story though. This car is designed to fit only 2 people comfortably as It is hard to fit into the rear seats as the rear seats will give you a knee-in-nose posture which could leave you uncomfortable.

 

With only a small quarter glass as the window, the visibility is very less and gives a nauseated aura for the rear passengers. Everything is much nicer in front, as the ZL1 comes with Recaro bucket seats which hugs you well over in seat under all conditions. Over that, the telescopic steering wheel feels good and can be tilt adjusted to secure the ideal driving position.

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat	Lexus RC F	BMW M4
Passenger Capacity	4	5	4	4
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.)	38.5/-/43.9	39.3/58.5/42.0	37.8/50.7/45.4	39.8/55.3/42.2
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.)	33.5/50.3/29.9	37.1/53.9/33.1	35.0/46.1/27.3	36.1/51.7/33.7

Even though the Camaro is showcased as a four-seater, it features the least amount of rear seating space. While the Challenger comes out to be on top in terms of second-row space. All these rivals offer a similar amount of space in the front row.

Interior Features

In its price bracket, the Camaro surprisingly covers a plethora of features that gives it a premium touch.

• Remote start
• Dual-zone automatic Climate control
• Cruise control
• Keyless entry
• Power mirrors
• Head-up display
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel

Infotainment

 The infotainment system on the 2020 Camaro ZL1 comes loaded with an 8-inch touchscreen unit featuring Chevrolet 3 infotainment. The new infotainment is easy to use and responsive but the odd angle limits easy accessibility. Smartphone Integration features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. It also features swipe and pinch-and-stretch controls.

This intuitive infotainment unit comes loaded with the following features:

• Apple CarPlay
• AM/FM
• Satellite radio
• Android Auto
• Bluetooth
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Chevrolet Connected Access
• Bose premium audio system
• Speed sensitive volume
• Amplifier
• Digital signal processor

Cargo Volume

Being practical is where ZL1 hits a dead end. Same as the rear seats there is no space in the cargo compartment, even by the muscle car standards. The ride is a big-time disappointment for the people who’d want their car to carry some luggage. The ZL1 disappointingly supports only 9.1cu.ft of cargo space. Also, the trunk opening is positioned inconveniently at a higher level and has a narrow opening too.

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat	Lexus RC F	BMW M4
Cargo Volume with rear seats up (ft.3)	9.1	16.2	10.1	11.0

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is the most utilitarian ride of the segment. Along with offering seating capacity for 5, it also offers the best-in-class cargo space. The BMW M4 Coupe ranks second with 11.0 cubic feet of space, followed up by the Lexus RC F and finally the last place is given to the Camaro ZL1. 

 

The jump from 5th to 6th generation was a bold move and the 2020 ZL1 goes extreme with a fresh front and rear fascia, more aerodynamic body, a new hood scoop, and more details visible the more you stare at it. Though the Camaro has sacrificed most of its muscle-car elements, yet retains some pony character with a high beltline, a low roofline, and a wide front fascia. 

 

Muscle cars are known for their beefy looks and the ZL1 definitely has a lot of that with the kind of road presence it offers. 

Model	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe	Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat	Lexus RC F	BMW M4
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3883	4429	3902	3625
Length (in.)	190.2	197.5	185.5	184.5
Width (in.)	75.0	75.7	72.6	73.6
Height (in.)	52.9	57.0	54.7	54.4
Ground Clearance (in.)	N/A	4.5	5.1	4.7
Wheelbase (in.)	110.7	116.2	107.5	110.7

The Dodge Challenger SRT comes out to be the heaviest car of the lot. Along with that, it is also the longest, widest, tallest and has the longest wheelbase too. While the RC F comes second heaviest of the rivals. The ZL1 comes second last followed by M4. 

Exterior Features

Forming the best mixture between muscle and sports car the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe does everything just right in its design and character. Some of the most prominent exterior features that help the car achieve this feat are: 

• 20-inch dark graphite forged aluminum wheels
• Body-color power outside mirrors
• Dark tint tail lamps
• Daytime LED DRLs
• Rear stanchion spoiler
• Quad-exhausts
• Galvanized steel/aluminum body material
• Black grille
• Rocker panel extensions
• Rear bumper with black rub strip
• Black front bumper insert

Even though the Camaro ZL1 Coupe lacks safety features that are available nowadays in the basic segment of cars. It still manages to score a decent safety score across all kinds of tests. Other than that, the car packs a decent number of safety features that are offered as standard. Some of these features are: 

• Rearview camera
• 8 airbags 
• Electronic parking brake
• LATCH
• Lane change alert with side blind zone alert
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear park assist
• Tire pressure monitor

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe vs. Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

The two main rivals in the car world are fighting for the best muscle car with a sports car pedigree. On one hand, Chevrolet is offering huge versatility in its vehicle lineup. Dodge is focusing on making tarmac shattering machines, stuffing them with immense power. In this case, as well, the Camaro ZL1 Coupe receives the biggest threat from the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.

 

The Dodge generates 67 horsepower more than the ZL1 and that too while packing enough cargo space in the boot. However, the Zl1 is a better handling car than the Challenger, any day. 

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe vs. Lexus RC F 

The main downside of the RC F is the 5.0L V8 engine that puts out 472 hp along with 395 lb.-ft of torque. These figures give a good lead to the ZL1 in terms of power output. While in a 0-60, the RC F will mostly be getting a good glance of the Camaro ZL1’s tail lamps with 4.2 seconds 0-60 time.

However, the RC F comes out as a proper sports coupe that dons the utilitarian character decently with efficient mpg figures and a better cabin and cargo volume. 

The 2020 Camaro ZL1 is a car trying its best to become a track monster while still carrying all its muscle power characters. The Chevy Camaro used to be an iconic muscle car though the modern-day Camaro is mutated to a Sports car. Yes, it has flexed its muscles to be more nimble and shaped for optimum aerodynamic just to harness the insane power.

The massive V8 engine putting out 650 horses pulling this godly chariot will impress a lot of people. Though the car lacks the utility prospects and presents the owner with a confined cabin and cargo space. Coming onto a final verdict, the ZL1 is everything you can ask a modern-day muscle car to be along with track credibility.