HSV’S Chevrolet Camaro full of grunt

At first glance, Holden Special Vehicles’ new Australian 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 last week for the Australian version is 477kw at 6400rpm.

But HSV general manager of marketing Damon Paul told Goauto the engine is identical in both markets, with the blame for the discrepancy

sheeted home to the Australian ECEbased 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.

The ZL1 sells for $159,990 plus onroad 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 revmatching and launch control, while the 10-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission has launch control, linelocker and lift-foot gear hold technology.

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