2012 Chevy Camaro at Chicago auto show

The dual-mode exhaust should make the ZL1 plenty loud, while the Magnetic Ride Control suspension — also borrowed from Cadillac — won’t make the car completely unwieldy in daily-driving situations. It will have Tour and Sport selectable ride modes.

Unlike the Shelby GT500, the Camaro ZL1 will be available in all the same colors as the current Camaro, but with the black carbon-fiber hood cover, and the only interior color will be black. There are new 20-inch wheels and Goodyear Supercar F2 tires. There will also be plenty of ZL1 badges inside and outside of this high-powered Camaro.

It also gets a high-torque MG9 version of the Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission, a dual-mode exhaust borrowed from the Corvette, a beefed up driveshaft and rear axle setup, a heavy-duty limited-slip differential, magnetic ride suspension with two driver-selectable modes, 14.6- and 14.4-inch front and rear brake rotors, six-piston calipers up front and four-pistons out back, plus a range of interior and exterior tweaks that are best observed in the photos.

All ZL1s also get heated leather seats, plus the standard content found in the 2SS package of the Camaro SS. For GM's official history lesson on the ZL1 name and its origin, hit page two.
The magnetically controlled suspension offers driver-selectable "Tour" and "Sport" modes--The front fascia is revised, featuring a front splitter and new vertical fog lamps. Front-mounted air extractors will direct air over the car for better aerodynamics, and the carbon-fiber insert will reduce mass. ZL1 badging will appear on the hood, grille, and brake calipers.

The ZL1 will ride on 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels shod with Goodyear Supercar F2 tires that Chevy claims are specific to the ZL1. The ZL1 will have the same content as a 2SS and add a USB port, steering-wheel audio controls, Bluetooth, six-way power front seats, ZL1 sill plates, unique door inserts, unique instrument panel inserts, a rearview camera and rear parking assist, and a premium audio system. ZL1 logos will be embroidered on the front-seat headrests.