Part of what makes the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1 LE such a potent piece of machinery is that it’s bleeding in aerodynamic equipment. Compare to the “standard’ ZL1, the 1LE version looks and performs like it’s from a completely different planet altogether. And yet, it is this very feature of the Camaro ZL1 1LE that has made it impossible to own in Europe. That’s because according to Motor Trend, Chevrolet can’t sell the ZL1 1LE in that region because the dive planes in the car violate Europe’s pedestrian safety laws.

It may sound trivial to ban a car because of one piece of aerodynamic component, but the way those dive plans, or canards, stretch out does make you wonder if they can clip a pedestrian who’s standing a little to close to the car when it drives by. Then again, Chevrolet itself can’t just take out those dive planes just so it can sell the car in Europe. They play an important role in enhancing the Camaro ZL1 1 LE’s aerodynamic capabilities, not the least of which is its ability to work with the splitter and the carbon fiber wing to create as much as 300 pounds of downforce at speeds of 155 mph. Without the dive plans, the Camaro ZL1 1LE is effectively comprised of the very features that make it the most track-capable Camaro ever created. Tough luck then to our European friends, although it does feel like a little bit of fair play considering that we were shut out of getting cars like the Ford Focus RS and Honda Civic Type R for so long.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

Bitter pill to swallow, but all is not lost

I can imagine the frustration our friends over there must have for getting shifted out of the Camaro ZL1 1LE. I especially feel for the track rats in Europe who won’t be able to get their hands on a car that reportedly set a 7:16.02 lap time around the 12.9-mile Nordschleife track at the Nurburgring. That lap time is almost two seconds quicker than the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and a ridiculous five seconds clear of the lap time posted by the Ferrari 488 GTB. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is a potent a machine as anything Chevrolet has created so not having in it Europe is a big loss for our mates out there.

There is of course a measure of good news, though not in the way most people expect. See, there is a way to get the 1LE package over there; it just won’t be the actual Camaro ZL1 1LE. Instead, Chevrolet is offering a track-focused version of the Camaro that’s essentially a Euro-spec version of the 1LE. It was featured at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show and was called the Camaro Track concept. Make no mistake though, certain elements of the concept will be made available in Europe in the near future.

For those who are willing to wait and see what these options will be, they can hope that it’s going to include upgrades to the front and rear bumpers, a three-piece rear spoiler, and quite possibly, a set of 20-inch aluminum wheels. On the aesthetic front, options like smoked taillights, black emblems, and exclusive body colors are possibilities while interior goodies could include items like Recaro bucket seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel wrapped in suede, suede knee pads, center console arm rest, premium floor mats, and aluminum pedals.

I know it’s not the actual Camaro ZL1 1LE, but it’s at least better than nothing, right?

References

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1 LE

Read our full review on the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1 LE.