2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: Slightly Slower and Cheaper Than a Hellcat

General Motors just released pricing and performance figures for its 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and unless Ford comes up with a hotter Mustang, it looks like Dodge still holds the domestic performance crown.

Billed as the most powerful production Camaro ever, the 650-horsepower ZL1 comes with an MSRP of $62,135 for coupe models, $69,135 for drop-tops. Lower-end models stand to benefit from Chevy’s 1LE performance package.

Paired with the optional 10-speed automatic transmission, the ZL1’s supercharged 6.2-liter V8 rockets the top-dog Camaro to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds, and hits the quarter-mile in 11.4 seconds — about two-tenths of a second behind the Challenger Hellcat.

Acceleration figures for the Hellcat vary depending on who tests it, so despite overlap in 0-60 times, Dodge can still claim the fastest quarter-mile.

With stock tires and an non-prepped surface, GM says the ZL1’s lateral acceleration will hit 1.02 g while cornering. Obviously, this is a ride begging for the track.

If 62 grand (plus taxes and fees) is too steep, Chevy will add the 1LE package to your V6 or V8 Camaro for $4,500 and $6,500, respectively. Featuring many go-fast goodies, the V6 package also contains the FE3 suspension borrowed from the Camaro SS, while V8 customers gain the ZL1’s electronic limited-slip differential and FE4 suspension with Magnetic Ride dampers.

Zero-to-60 times for 1LE-equipped models are 5.2 seconds for the V6 and 4.2 seconds for the V8.

The ZL1 may be faster than anything Ford sells (barring the uber-rare GT), but the Mustang handily beats the Camaro in the all-important sales race. Chevy’s pony car struggled to find buyers this year, so we’ll wait and see if the ZL1 ignites a burning desire among performance car buyers.

While its performance figures muscle in on the Hellcat’s turf, the ZL1 undercuts the Dodge’s price by about $2,000.