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The pony car wars are still in full force and the Chevrolet Camaro is on the forefront of every battle. The seasoned muscle car boasts a muscular exterior with sleek lines and a powerful engine mounted behind that familiar face. The rear-wheel drive Chevrolet Camaro is powered by a 3.6L V6 engine delivering 304hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, but the better choice is found in the 6.2L V8 engine cranking out 400/426hp and 410/420lb-ft of torque. These engines are mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 by Lingenfelter goes up to more than 200 mph
 
A standard Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 can hit a top speed of "only" 184 mph. But the package recently announced by Lingenfelter has managed the impossible: at a recent test drive at the Continental Tire’s Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas on April 30th their car hit a top speed of 202.67 mph. However, it took another two tries before scoring this impressive result, but the car "only" managed to hit 199.8 and 199.9 mph respectively. Behind the wheel was Hot Rod boss David Freiburger. This impressive Camaro ZL1 has been equipped with a GT9 camshaft, CNC ported cylinder heads, an increased supercharger speeds, custom air intake with LPE’s race mesh filter, Continental ExtremeContact(tm) DW tires and production ZL1 wheels. But the most impressive thing is the car’s output: a total of 720 HP and 650 lbs. ft. of torque at the rear wheels! We have to remind you that the same car scored an impressive quarter-mile time just a few weeks ago: 11.03 seconds at 130 mph. So we guess its your move Mustang GT500! Video: Chevrolet invites us all to the 2012 Camaro5 Fest
What can be better than a Chevrolet Camaro? Before Mustang lovers start piping in with their opinions, we’ll provide the answer: One thing that is better than a solitary Camaro is a caravan of 150 5th generation Camaros. And there’s one place where you will almost always find this many Camaro models on display; that’s the Camaro5 Fest. Last year, the event took place in Phoenix, Arizona, but this year, the Camaro5 Fest will be getting together in Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 2-4, 2012. It’s still a few months away, but Chevrolet has already begun its marketing tirade with a cool documentary of the 2011 Fest, inviting all Camaro lovers to attend this year’s show. This is the best time for all Camaro drivers to get together and share their love for the muscle car. We’re pretty sure Mustang fans are not welcome! 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 Stage II Yenko Turbo Z
Having grown up in Washington, PA, just 10 miles from Canonsburg, PA – the home of famed Chevy builder Yenko – I have grown rather attached to these models. So any time I see one, I cannot help but drool and chuckle over the fact that a little town like Canonsburg can produce monsters like these. I get even more excited when a really rare Yenko goes up for sale. Something like a Stage II 1981 Camaro Yenko Turbo gets me all riled up, as there were only three of them ever built. In total there were two stages – I and II – and a total of 19 within all of the stages. Not only is this vehicle absolutely rare, but it is also the final true Yenko Camaro ever built. You may be wondering about the 2010 Yenko Camaro, but Don Yenko has nothing to do with it, as Chevy laid claim to the “Yenko” name in 2009. Another cool thing is that, in 1981, the Camaro was in a real dark area, as emission regulations had strangled the LM1 350 c.i. V-8 down to a paltry 175 horsepower. In the Stage II model, Yenko strapped on Turbo International turbocharger that pumped 7 psi into the intake, special decals, Kamp leather seats, leather racing steering wheel, “Turbo Z” floor mats, Koni shocks, stiffer stabilizer bars, modular wheels and Goodyear Wingfoot tires. Though Yenko never released the horsepower specs and they are non-existent on the Interwebz, we can take a nice stab and say it’s somewhere in the 210- to 225-horsepower range. That’s not much for this massive sled, but you’re getting one of the rarest cars in the world, if you are willing to pay the $179,900 “Buy it Now” price on Ebay. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 by Lingenfelter
Since the Camaro ZL1’s official debut, Hennessey has been the only tuner to offer a real upgrade package for the muscle car. But now Lingenfelter is offering another cool package for the ZL1 with three different update levels: 630, 650, and 700 HP. Prices for the upgrade go up to $11,245. Depending on the engine upgrades, the kit includes a GT9 ZR1 supercharger camshaft and Lingenfelter CNC porting & polishing of ZL1 LSA cylinder heads for optimal flow, Lingenfelter LS9 solid supercharger isolator coupling, Lingenfelter air intake duct, and all of the necessary gaskets, fluids, and bolts. The 650 HP version just established an impressive result: it ran the quarter mile in just 11.03 seconds at 130mph. The model was equipped with a remapped ECU, an LPE custom cold air intake, a 160-degree thermostat, and a new set of wheels, size 17" up front and 18" at the rear. All of the packages will benefit from a chassis dyno testing before and after installation, and professional assembly and engine installation.
2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 by Redline Motorsports
The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is considered the most powerful Camaro in the world, one that comes packed with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that produces 580 horsepower. On its own, the Camaro ZL1 is already a pretty impressive piece of muscle. But whereas some may be perfectly happy with its stock configuration, others still seek something more powerful. That’s where Redline Motorsports comes into the picture. The Florida-based tuning company took a Camaro ZL1, added a high-capacity cold air intake, Redline Motorsports’ proprietary camshaft, upper and lower pulleys, headers, improved heat exchanger, performance torque converter, and Mickey Thompson drag radials. All these modifications not only gives the Camaro ZL1 a hell of a lot more bite, but also an increased output of 750 horsepower and 700 lb/ft of torque. These numbers are good enough to allow the Camaro ZL1 a record quarter-mile time of just 10.34 seconds with a top speed of 134.79 mph. Hit the jump to see the Chevrolet Camaro by Redline Motorsports in action! Full story Chevrolet Camaros on 32s take over-the-top to a new level
There comes a point where customization of cars reaches and then exceeds the level of what actually looks appealing and what helps or hinders a car’s performance. West Coast Customs back in the ‘Pimp My Ride’ days were masters of excessive styling, but the creations they once produced pale in comparison to what you see here. Fitting larger tires and wheels to muscle cars and sports cars has always been a popular and relatively cheap way of improving a car’s visual appeal, and even though every individual’s tastes differ in terms of car styling, we believe the following Chevrolet Camaros are the strangest on the road today. Fitting 22 inch wheels to a Camaro is pretty much the largest you’ll ever see on the road, but some true madmen in the U.S. recently fitted a set of 32 inch wheels to both a Camaro coupe and convertible, and we have to say, we’ve never seen anything so odd. Thirty-two inch tires may be right at home for a few Jeeps and Toyota Land Cruisers out there, but they usually run 20 inch wheels. The tires on the Camaros in these videos are extremely low profile, so it basically looks like the cars are driving solely on their wheels. Add in the fact that the spinners of the coupe play tricks with your head, moving forward while reversing and remaining still while driving forward, and you have two of the most tricked out cars going around. It’s obvious what we think about them, but what do you think? Second video after the jump. Full story
Steve Saleen Returns to the Company he Founded
Many years ago, okay maybe less than two years ago, if you were cruising down the road in your hopped up Mustang GT and came across a Mustang bearing the “Saleen” name on the side, you knew your poor GT had no chance. In 2007, this all started to change, as Steve Saleen left the company. Then in 2011, the performance vehicle side of Saleen shut down altogether. This rendered the once feared custom car builder just a high-performance parts supplier. Shortly after leaving Saleen, Steve Saleen started SMS Supercars, basically a new version of Saleen. A long legal battle ensued after Saleen’s new ownership group refused to honor warranties for the performance vehicles it manufactured prior to taking ownership and SMS Supercars stepped in to try to help. The legal battle circled around whether or not SMS Supercars had the right to use the “Saleen” name. After what seems like ages, there is finally a decision. Steve Saleen has been awarded the rights to use the “Saleen” name on all of his vehicles. In addition, all previously manufactured SMS Supercar vehicles will be added to Saleen’s master registry, making them official Saleen vehicles. Plus, Saleen will start producing badges for all of the old SMS Supercar vehicles, which SMS Supercar owners can buy and put in place of the old “SMS” badges. SMS Supercars essential now becomes one with Saleen, which means Saleen will begin producing super high-performance models of the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, and Chevy Camaro. Saleen lovers of the world rejoice! The days of Saleen being little more than AutoZone on steroids are over. We cannot wait to see the first Saleen branded cars, which should be coming very soon, though there is no official release date. Hit the jump for the official press release Full storyChevrolet Camaro ZL1 is back in action after short delays in production
 Problem solved! Just one week after the production of the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was put on hold, Chevrolet has announced that the hold has been lifted and the problem has been solved. Initially, the Camaro ZL1 had to be recalled due to some potential issues that were not provided to the public. The company stopped the production and deliveries of the muscle car and even asked the one person who had taken delivery of their ride to bring it back. Chevy’s thought on the matter was that it was better to prevent than to heal, so they decided that all of the vehicle should go back to the production plant to have the problem solved. They were even able to do it under their timeline of a few weeks by only taking one week to resolve the issue. Way to go, Chevrolet! MotorAuthority says they received an email from Chevrolet that stated that the customers had been informed that "their cars will arrive at dealerships within two to three weeks. For customers whose cars are still being built, production has resumed and estimated delivery times are being developed." The other customers who had already placed their orders but whose cars had not been sent to production yet will have to wait another two weeks before Chevrolet determines the remaining ZL1 models’ allocation and timing. 2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE
Chevrolet Camaro is about to receive some major updates for the 2014 model year, but until then, the 2013 model will be getting a series of improvements to prep it for the following year. The major addition will be a new race-spec package 1LE, and will be joined by an updated interior with a new 7 inch color screen which replaces the standard radio unit. The new 1LE package was previewed last year at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show with the Camaro 1LE Concept. It will be distinguished by a new front splitter and rear spoiler painted in smoke gray combined with a unique matte-black hood. The car will sit on a new set of 20" wheels in a 10-spoke design featuring low-gloss black finish and red Brembo brake calipers. The interior will add a ZL1 flat-bottom steering wheel, trimmed in sueded-microfiber and designed for easier heel-and-toe driving on the racetrack. Chevrolet has also installed a quick-acting, short-throw shifter from the ZL1, also trimmed in sueded-microfiber. The new 1LE package will only be available for 1SS and 2SS coupe models and will be powered by a 6.2 liter LS3 V-8 engine that delivers a total of 426 HP and 420 lb-ft of torque. The 1LE is only available with a six-speed manual transmission featuring a standard air-to-liquid cooling system for track use. The Chevrolet Camaro 1LE will go on sale in Fall 2012. Hit the jump for a full list of 1LE options. Full story
Video: World’s Fastest Camaro Hits 253.1mph at Texas Mile
The 2012 Texas Mile run was an enormous success this year, which is evident in the number of records that were broken. We’ve already reported on the Hennessey Twin-Turbo Ford GT that now holds the new world record at the Texas Mile for standing mile, but it’s the Camaro’s turn to take its spot on the podium. A fourth generation Camaro has become the fastest standing mile Camaro in the world with an impressive top speed of 253.1 mph. It doesn’t beat out the Ford for fastest standing mile, but at least it broke the record for its own model. This was obviously not a stock Camaro. It was built by Late Model Racecraft, owned by Kelly Bise, and driven to success by driver Josh Ledford. The car is powered by a twin-turbocharged engine that will deliver an amazing 1,809 horsepower. The video shown here includes the impressive run, a series of in-car run images, and some burnouts. Enjoy the video and let us know what you think about the 2012 Texas Mile! | featured reviews:Chevrolet Camaro latest reviews:Chevrolet Camaro tuning:
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