Daily Archives: March 17, 2016
2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Unveiled With 640hp, 10-Speed Auto
Everyone thought the 1LE would be the biggest and meanest Camaro to be unveiled this year. Well, we’re dead wrong. According to Motor Authority, Chevrolet just announced the debut of the new Camaro ZL1, which packs a staggering 640 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque.
That power comes from the familiar supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 found in cars like the Corvette Z06 and Cadillac CTS-V. This is combined with the lighter chassis of the sixth-generation Camaro’s Alpha platform.
The combination would give Ford’s Mustang Shelby GT350R a run for its money. It can even embarrass some other “powerful machines,” such as those being churned out by Porsche.
There are no significant details yet about the power and speed of the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, but expect it to be faster, of course, than the previous ZL1 that can run the quarter mile in 11 seconds. The new ZL1 has 60 horsepower more than the previous version, and it also weighs 200 pounds less.
And with the 10-speed automatic transmission, expect it to move right up there in the speed ranking. The transmission was developed with Ford, which initially wanted it for the new F-150 Raptor.
But those who don’t have the need for such speed can have the standard 6-speed manual with rev-matching.
There are other technologies used in the new ZL1 that has nothing to do with speed, but with a more efficient performance. The list includes magnetic ride control, an electronic limited-slip differential, performance-oriented traction control, launch control and a driving modes selector.
The new ZL1 has massive Brembos with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear too. Then, there are 15.35-inch discs at the front and 14.37-inch discs at the rear. The car sits on 20-inch wheels shod with Goodyear Eagle F1 tires that measure 285/30 at the front and 305/30 at the rear.
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will have its world debut next week at the New York Auto Show, so stay tuned for more details.
Mercedes-Benz Mildly Updates CLA Coupe and CLA Shooting Brake
The sign of a successful car is an almost invisible midway into its life. You know you’re making a good choice in buying a particular vehicle if the company has a reputation of improving the current version even before a new model comes out.
Mercedes-Benz is doing us all a favor in putting mild adjustments on its CLA four-door coupe and its Shooting Brake version. Although even owners of the coupe and the Shooting Brake may not be able to tell the difference, it’s still a welcome development for those who have yet to get their hands on the Merc.
The marketing materials from the company pointed out that there’s a new coat hook in the CLA’s grab handles, but that only means the car is evolving rather than introducing new technologies.
Of course, there are highlights, and these are quite literal, in a sense. With the update, Mercedes lovers can expect new LED high performance headlights that use less than half of the energy of equivalent xenons. That speaks of the Merc’s ability to adjust itself to calls for more eco-friendly vehicles.
These said headlights also offer a kind of illumination that is almost similar to natural daylight. This would be then helpful to people who usually find it hard maneuvering through dark streets—something the company can address succinctly by merely changing the headlights.
Then, there’s the suspended mid-air media screen that is smarter and slender than the previous version. It might not be that big of a deal for some, but it’s perfect for one’s line of vision.
The CLA has a new engine, too. The cheapest is the CLA180 diesel that emits just 89g/km of CO2, roughly the same as the Prius. It comes in front wheel drive and manual transmission.
As you go up the range, there’s AWD and automatic transmission, the most powerful of which is the CLA45 AMG models that has the same updated 376bhp 2-litre petrol turbo engine as the A45 AMG.
The CLA Coupe will debut next week at the New York Motor Show while the CLA Shooting Brake will launch in April at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin. Deliveries of both start in July.
