What The 2017 Camaro ZL1 10-Speed Automatic Sounds Like Shifting
By Paulo Acoba
Chevrolet dropped a few specs on the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 including adding a 10-speed automatic.
The horsepower wars are alive and well over in Detroit and GM just dropped its latest bombshell with the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The Supercharged V8 now pushes out 640 HP and 640 lb-ft to the rear wheels. And according to GM, they’ve added their all-new 10-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Thanks to a video upload from Power Automedia, we know exactly how it sounds like. It sounds like a bonafide race car. Have a listen to the supercharged V8 at WOT in the video we’ve provided below and let us know what you think about the all new 10-speed in the comments below.
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Compared to the supercharged LT4 found in the Corvette Z06, this ZL1 is wisely 10 HP and 10 lb-ft less than its bigger brother. You can’t have a sibling rivalry brewing now can we. But compared to the older Zl1, this new supercharged LSA powerplant adds 60 HP and 84 lb-ft. Not to mention GM’s engineers managed to strip 200 pounds from the old chassis.
Two years ago, Ford and GM signed an agreement to co-develop two new transmissions; a 9-speed and a 10-speed. That 10-speed automatic is currently doing duty in Ford’s SVT Raptor so there’s no question that it can handles gobs of power without breaking a sweat.
For you die-hard manual only fans out there, each ZL1 will have the option of a 6-speed manual with rev-matching.
Along with a sleek set of transmissions, gobs of power and a lighter overall bodyweight, the ZL1 benefits from other technological goodies. The ZL1 comes standard with an electronic limited-slip, performance-oriented traction control, launch control and a driving modes selector.
Around all four corners are gigantic Brembos (six pot up front and four pot in the rear.) The Brembos up front grab 15-inch rotors while their rear ones snag 14-inch rotors. You’ve also got plenty of meat on those 20-inch wheels with 285/30 Eagle F1’s up front and 305/30’s in the rear.
Setting the ZL1 apart from its lesser brethren is an exclusive aero kit complete with large front splitter, wider fenders and a rear wing spoiler. In the grille is GM’s patented “Flowtie” with the hood sporting a functional heat extractor.
GM was scant on details but more will information will be avaialble at the official unveil in New York.
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As for the sound of that 10-speed automatic, it does the ZL1 justice. With paddle shifters, if you didn’t mention it’s an automatic you would’ve thought it was a DSG (Dual clutch) by the speed it shifts. According to the driver in the video, “it feels like you’re playing a video game sometimes.” And by the looks of sound of things, we couldn’t agree more.