The Camaro ZL1 1LE Torches the Ring...

Michael Accardi
by Michael Accardi

Team Camaro just went ballistic.

With ride and handling engineer Bill Wise at the wheel, the 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE ate the 12.9-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife for breakfast, devouring the Teutonic track in an absurd 7:16.04, making it the fastest production Camaro, ever.

It might even be the fastest piece of metal GM has ever made for public consumption.

To put the Camaro’s time in context, the Corvette ZR1 officially looped the Green Hell 3.6 seconds slower than the 1LE; a brand new Ferrari 488 GTB is 5.6 seconds behind; meanwhile, the Formula 1–derived Enzo looks like a hot mess showing up 9.1 seconds after the land rocket from Lansing.

Rumor has it that Wise actually turned in a hand-timed 7:13.xx, but it will remain unofficial.

That’s like, super, stupid fast.

“With chassis adjustability unlike any vehicle in its peer group, the Camaro ZL1 1LE challenges supercars from around the world regardless of cost, configuration or propulsion system,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer, in a statement.

“To make up more than a second per mile on the Nordschleife compared to the ZL1 automatic is a dramatic improvement and speaks to the 1LE’s enhanced track features.”

Thanks to a ridiculous kit list the 1LE’d ZL1 has propelled the Camaro into the realm of dream cars.

GM’s heavy hitting 650-horsepower supercharged LT4 V8 is aided and abetted by a fully adjustable set of Multimatic DSSV dampers, a bigly front splitter, sweet dive planes, a carbon-fiber rear wing, and a specially made batch of Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R rubbers.

According to Chevrolet, the lap was set on the car’s production tires, unlike the Lamborghini Huracan Performante’s 6:52.01 Nürburgring lap which was controversially set earlier this year using a doctored set of Pirelli Trofeo Rs.

The 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE arrives this summer with a $69,995 price tag, including destination.

A version of this article originally appeared on GMInsideNews.com

Michael Accardi
Michael Accardi

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  • Bumpy ii Bumpy ii on Jun 23, 2017

    Random observation: I think the car would be faster if it kept the drive wheels on the pavement.

  • THX1136 THX1136 on Jun 23, 2017

    After watching the video it makes me miss driving a stick.

  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
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