HSV confirms Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 power at 477kW

AT FIRST glance, Holden Special Vehicles’ new locally converted right-hand-drive Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 supercar appears to have 8kW less peak power than the original American version, but the Melbourne-based company says the difference is merely the result of different testing standards used in the two countries.

On paper, the monster supercharged 6.2-litre LT4 V8 puts out 485kW in the United States, while the official figure announced today for the Australian version is 477kW at 6400rpm.

But HSV general manager of marketing Damon Paul told GoAuto that the engine is identical in both markets, with the blame for the discrepancy sheeted home to the Australian ECE-based testing regime.

Torque is also the same in both markets – a muscular 881Nm at 3600rpm – on the new Camaro range flagship that has just gone into production alongside the 2019 facelifted entry variant, the 339kW/617Nm Camaro 2SS, at HSV’s Clayton South factory in Melbourne.

As GoAuto has already reported, the ZL1 sells for $159,990 plus on-road costs for the six-speed manual. An extra $2200 buys the 10-speed auto that was developed jointly by General Motors and Ford.

The ZL1 price is a healthy mark-up on the 2SS that, in its facelifted 2019 guise, goes for $86,990 for the manual and $2200 more for the 10-speed auto that replaces the eight-speeder on the previous model.

But HSV managing director Tim Jackson described the ZL1 as a “truly exceptional vehicle” with a set of numbers to inspire GM, HSV and performance car enthusiasts alike.

The ZL1 gains a number of performance features over the 2SS including a sportier suspension tune with magnetic dampers, 20-inch forged alloy wheels and six-piston Brembo callipers with 390mm rotors up front, up from the four-pot front and rear stoppers in the 2SS.

The manual transmission gets rev-matching and launch control, while the 10-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission has launch control, line-locker and lift-foot gear hold technology.

Recaro performance seats, a suede-wrapped flat-bottom sports steering wheel and gear shifter are standard.