My Bolt on 2018 Mustang GT vs 2021 Camaro ZL1

[Jmtoast]

Zl1 has some nice upgrade potential. I think Chevy could have kept up with the jones's more in regards to the hp muscle wars. especially now it isn't a threat to the Corvette. Chevy never could understand the idea that they are completely different cars that appeal to different people so as a result they sandbagged the Camaro.

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[Idaho2018GTPremium]

Zl1 has some nice upgrade potential. I think Chevy could have kept up with the jones's more in regards to the hp muscle wars. especially now it isn't a threat to the Corvette. Chevy never could understand the idea that they are completely different cars that appeal to different people so as a result they sandbagged the Camaro.

I agree a hp bump for the '21 ZL1 would have been nice this year to ~680 hp, to showcase the most powerful GM product currently for sale (new). The 6th gen Camaro was the first Gen where the top dog Camaro didn't get sandbagged power-wise behind the top dog Corvette Z06 (until the ZR1, 2 years later). Both the ZL1 and C7 Z06 have 650 hp 650 ft-lbs torque. The ZL1 also shares a few components with the Z06, like the eLSD.

As far as keeping up with the hp wars...in a straight line the ZL1 keeps up with a stock Hellcat pretty well because of the extra 600 lbs the Challenger Hellcat variants lug around. Not to mention on most surfaces from a dig through 100+ mph the ZL1 is going to win as well because of the better front/rear weight distribution (54/46 vs 57/43) and overall lighter weight.

The GT500 obviously walks from a ZL1 in a roll race, but from a dig the ZL1 is just as quick to ~70 mph as a GT500.

On a track, the ZL1 obviously destroys any Hellcat variant, and keeps up remarkably well with a GT500 trim for trim (i.e., ZL1 vs base GT500 and ZLE vs GT500 CFTP) considering the 110+ hp gap.

I think GM has seen all that and realized they didn't really need to upgrade the power because the ZL1 is still holding its own against the newer or more powerful competition. And, the lower hp is keeping it more affordable and lighter (not that it's a light car) as well. Speaking of weight, I put the following in a post on Camaro6 the other day; I thought the weight differences between the different muscle/pony cars was interesting:

Car and Driver weighs each tested car w/ a full fuel tank, in order from lightest to heaviest:

ZLE M6: 3,842 lbs
ZLE A10: 3,886 lbs
ZL1 A10: 3,925 lbs and 3,933 lbs and (1st one was the lightning lap A10 ZL1, the 2nd one was the test in 2017) 54/46 front/rear
GT500 CFTP: 4,059 lbs (56/44 front/rear)
Base GT500: 4,171 lbs (another test by C&D had one that was a little lighter, but I couldn't find that data on the C&D website)
For grins: Challenger Hellcat Redeye A8: 4,529 lbs (57/43 front/rear)

My thoughts are the differences between the ZLE M6 and the base GT500 are massive: 329 lbs. However, the difference between an A10 ZL1 and a CFTP GT500 is not that big, about 130 lbs.

The weight of the GT500 is unfortunate, but all reviews have claimed it drives lighter than it is, for what that's worth, similar to how the ZL1 defies physics for a 3,900 lbs car.

Last thought: The Hellcat Redeye is a very heavy car and has the worst weight distribution of the three, which is why it can't get traction. It's heavy even compared to the heavy base GT500 (358 lbs lighter) and is a whopping 600 lbs heavier than an A10 ZL1.

 

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

For those who care, I received my ZL1 yesterday in shadow gray metallic. She's a beast. Definitely more of a "racecar" feeling than the GT. And less practical (harder to get in and out, longer doors, less visibility, some strange ergos). None are deal breakers, but, the performance is on another level...Here's a few pics:

 

[Strokerswild]

Love the color, nice blue/gray.

Wish Ford would have something similar on the GT500 that's a darker blue (not Antimatter Black).

 

[Jmtoast]

A race red front tow hook would really look good.

 

[Torinate]

Beautiful car!

Thanks for the write up and sharing.

Don’t do the cheesy race red tow hook UNLESS you will actually be using it as a tow hook.

 

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

A race red front tow hook would really look good.

Beautiful car!

Thanks for the write up and sharing.

Don’t do the cheesy race red tow hook UNLESS you will actually be using it as a tow hook.

Thanks! It actually came with a black tow hook from the factory - found it in the glove box today!

 

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

Love the color, nice blue/gray.

Wish Ford would have something similar on the GT500 that's a darker blue (not Antimatter Black).

Thanks. My wife says the color looks more like a dark denim blue metallic than gray.

 

[ice445]

Looks awesome for sure

 

[newmoon]

Looks Good. Have fun with it.

 

[GreenS550]

Very Nice car, OP. For sure. I can see how Chevy guys would love the look and color. I almost bought a Chevy back before the bailout, a Tahoe. But now will never buy one based on the horrendous taxes I have paid in my business life and the government bailout and then the ability for GM to get out of many of their long term parts contracts while Ford had to suck it up.

Having supercharged 3 coyotes, something the LT engine will never be able to compete with is RPM potential. A pushrod motor will always have difficulty here with valve train weight.

One of the reasons I got back into cars at an older age is the Mustang and its ability to rev and modify.

All that said, you have a beautiful car there.

 

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

Very Nice car, OP. For sure. I can see how Chevy guys would love the look and color. I almost bought a Chevy back before the bailout, a Tahoe. But now will never buy one based on the horrendous taxes I have paid in my business life and the government bailout and then the ability for GM to get out of many of their long term parts contracts while Ford had to suck it up.

Having supercharged 3 coyotes, something the LT engine will never be able to compete with is RPM potential. A pushrod motor will always have difficulty here with valve train weight.

One of the reasons I got back into cars at an older age is the Mustang and its ability to rev and modify.

All that said, you have a beautiful car there.

Thanks! Don't get me wrong I love the Gen 3 Coyote in my GT and the high revving nature, but the LT4 is a great engine as well, gobs and gobs of torque down low, and great pull to 6500 rpm. The LS7 pushrod in the Z28 and C6 Z06 revved to 7000 rpm, so that's just as high as a Gen 1/2 Coyote, and a bit less than the Gen 3. So they can be made to rev pretty high if the right parts are used.

 

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

Hung out with my friend today that owns the GT350 (thought I'd get a pic with me and both cars):

 

[19s550gt]

My brother has a 18 zl1 m6, and it’s a beast! Enjoy your new ride and cheers!
Here’s a pic of his!

 

[m3incorp]

As a person that really likes cars from different manufacturers, I say I it is a beautiful car and the performance matches the looks.

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