LS1LT1

I've heard that hinted at over the last year or two as well but I'm not counting on that happening at this point. The new 7 speed manual is almost a given, and a stronger and improved 6L80/6L90 6 speed (or 7 or 8 speed?) automatic might work very well too though.






While he is right about the excessive weight of the new Camaros, you are also correct.
The new car handles, stops and yes even still accelerates better than the any of the standard (ie: non COPO/non Yenko type models) 1st gen cars (or even the 2nd or 3rdgen cars as well). Even the V6 model is capable of low 14s (or even high 13s in the right conditions). I've personally driven a barely bolt ons only 2010 V6 to a 13.6@102mph.

On a set of modern drag radials/slicks there's even a chance that a 1st gen Z28 or SS396 could out accelerate a current gen SS, but maybe not.
And of course the new Camaro ZL1 will literally trounce ANY Camaro that's come before it on any type of track.

SlickShoes

Ah ah ah!

The ZL-1 '69s went 11.60s to 11.80s on 6.5" wide tires, all day, stock. I think even with 550hp, people are going to have a tough time driving the new ZL1 to 11.5 or better. Remember, the rated power on the original 427 in those cars was 430, though all the engine dynos have shown perfectly recreated engines out of NOS pieces to put out over 500, and sometimes up to 550... which, coincidentally is what the new car is openly claiming... though this one needs a blower.

LS1LT1

Generally speaking, no one ever ran (nor recorded) those cars in pure BONE STOCK trim with just a tire swap, it was quite common to 'tune' those cars with different carburetor jetting changes and uncorked/open headers so that part about doing it being 'stock' might be a little misleading.
Still impressive of course.





580hp actually.
I've been drag racing/'ET chasing' in modern era cars for many years now, I've put a bolt ons only LS2 car solidly into the 10s multiple time and even a bolt ons only LS1 car into the high 11s. I'm quite confident that a bone stock 5th gen Camaro ZL1 will run at least an 11.8 second 1/4 mile pass in pure bone stock (right down to tires and paper air filter) before 2012 is over.
With only the addition (replacement) of drag radials the car should go at worst an 11.5. Time will tell.
I think these very recent test results of a barely bolt ons only ZL1 back this up:

http://blogs.hotrod.com/the-race-to-the-10s-23325.html

Racer X

I sure the new model probably does outperform it on all those things, in spite of the weight. However, you can easily change that with swaping a few parts on the original. You won't be able to easily drop 600 pounds off the new model.

What I am saying is the new model would be so much better if it weighed the same as the 1969 model.

Generally speaking weight is the enemy. Although there can be tradeoffs. A slightly heavier brake system could dramatically improve braking.

Think how fabulous the new ZL1 would perform if it were 600 pounds lighter, most of off the front end.

rcallen484

Not to mention that the '69 looks a lot better and has far greater visibility from inside the coupe.

LS1LT1

Notch

I agree with you.

thebrander

No doubt and I think that's exactly what we're going to see in the 6th gen. I predict it will be back to around 3400lbs with the current HP level and even better electronic handling/stability control.

Pretty impressive technology roadmap GM is on using the MR shocks and PTM to make 4200lbs lap like a 3200lb Z06, followed by a focus (I assume) on weight reduction to take the performance to the next level.

SlickShoes

And I commend you, as well as the other CF hotshoes here who've managed wring such amazing times out of these cars, but you're the anomalies. The exceptions, not the rules. If that was commonplace, then everybody would be able to put stock C6Z's in the 10's on runflats like Ranger. "Bolt-on" 10 second LS2 cars are unicorns. Hell, bolt-on 11 second LS2 cars even are still less common than the more average bolt-on 12 second LS2 cars.

I specifically neglected to say it was going to be impossible in lieu of saying it's going to be extremely difficult for most people (99% of buyers and testers) to best the times of the original ZL1 by any repeatable margin. When the car hits the public in any substantial numbers, if I'm wrong and everybody and their mom is going low 11's in them, I will happily grill up some crow and butter my foot. For now, I'm confidently skeptical.

In addition, the 11.60's to 11.80's times that I researched were the un-tweaked claims for those cars. The ones with rejetted carbs, silly timing thrown at them, uncorked exhausts, etc (tuned cars) were going high 10's. The records are there, and can be read from myriad sources.

0WildVettes

My bolt ons ls6 is a solid mid 11 car on drag radials and bad socal air. I bet low 11s to high 10s on drag radials and some East coast love would be possible. That is with stock gearing so these cars have a ton of potential. I think the zl-1s will be pretty regular 10 sec cars with minimal mods.

OnPoint

I bet it gets a much improved paddle shifted torque converter auto.

Which may provide adequate shift speed, and likely higher durability than some dual clutch set-ups.

LS1LT1

The Highlander

I see the GTR trans holding up just fine after some upgrades.... Don't hate me, i want a DCT inside a Corvette.

The Porsche boxster spyder has one and its simply AWESOME.

LS1LT1

Well, maybe now they're holding up better, but it wasn't always that way:

http://www.blog.automotiveaddicts.co...ission-failure




Me too.
But I can also still deal with the C7 having a traditional style automatic as long as it's strong and functions well with at least some 'sporting' feel about it.

The Highlander

The problem is that it will not hold to the z06/zr1 power reliably. Which is why I think the best solution is the DCT.

Yes, now they are holding and previously you would have to buy a new trans for $20k in order to get the car going. The car had its misshaps.

LS1LT1

True, the advent/introduction of a strong new DCT/SMG style trans could finally mean the availability of an automatic in the Z06 and ZR1 models, but I have a feeling that those two models will still maintain/follow the 'Viper concept' of a traditional 'three pedal' type manual transmission only.

The Highlander

Which is a bad decision...

here they have sold 15 gtrs this year alone on a single dealer of a friend of mine and he tells me that interestingly enough, most were corvette owners...

Maybe is the market here.. but i believe gm would sell a lot more Z06/ZR1 if they had an "auto" as an OPTION.

blackmagicZ

Go to www.corvetteblogger.com and see the video.

LS1LT1

That video is also featured back on page 1 of this very thread, post# 11.

Racer X

They have a auto trans that will hold up to the Z06, it is in the CTS-V and ZL1; 6L90 IIRC. Not sure that it would hold up to the ZR1.