Autoblog

GM files trademark application for 'Z28'

George Kennedy — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Rumormill

This should raise the eyebrows of a few Camaro enthusiasts. GM Authority is reporting that General Motors has filed with the "United States Patent and Trademark Office for a trademark of the "Z28" moniker. Oh, do we have your attention?

Many GM performance fans were surprised when Chevrolet did not use the Z28 nameplate for its range-topping, supercharged ZL1 Camaro. There were rumors afoot that Chevrolet may still employ the Z28 name at some point, but some of the air went out of that balloon when an option pack debuted between the SS and the ZL1 wearing the 1LE designation. And potentially furthering this speculation is an April tidbit from Camaro5, where a forum member discovered that his Camaro ZL1 diffuser bracket had the designation "Z28" on it.

Yet while many such filings are to be taken with a grain of salt (often it's just a brand looking to protect a dormant or lapsed trademark), a development like this only stokes the rumormongers' flames.

The ZL1 is, without a doubt, the top of the Camaro performance ladder, so where would a Z28 fit? GM Authority offers some speculation, suggesting that a production Z28 could "even out-muscle the ZL1." Another interesting theory they offer is that the Z28 appellation could replace the Camaro SS designation, as Chevy has the Zeta-based SS sedan range coming in next year, and GM officials could be worried about confusion in the marketplace.

When the first-generation Camaro came out in 1967, Z28 was merely the option code designation for a race-ready package (SS models were option code Z27). It was not mentioned in any literature and many customers did not know about it at first. Since then, the Z/28 has become an iconic name in the world of muscle cars.

GM files trademark application for 'Z28' originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, GM, First Drives

Poise Before Power

Power isn't everything. We cannot argue with the fact that the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is an immensely fun car to drive on both the road and track. But unless you have a closed course with a proper straightaway to unleash all 580 of those supercharged horses - despite the ZL1 being a rather easy car to manage in everyday driving - you'll really only be using that force to blast by slow-moving semi trucks and perhaps engage in ill-advised stoplight drag race tomfoolery on suburban streets. In both of those instances, all that power certainly feels nice under your butt, but in the end, you just end up looking like a total chotch.

The thing is that the more power you have at your disposal, the harder it is to wrestle with a car on winding roads or even out on a track. There's a beautiful simplicity that's experienced while wringing out a less-powerful car with superb steering and top-notch suspension geometry, and it's that logic that allows us to wholeheartedly love cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S twins.

More to the point, this is exactly why we fell in love with the Mustang Boss 302. Ford took its delectable pony car and set out to fine-tune the chassis, suspension and brakes above all - adding a small dose of power into the mix as well - and in the end created a car that many of us would rather live on a daily basis with than the absolutely bonkers Shelby GT500.

Not to be outdone in the never-ending muscle car wars, General Motors has responded to Ford's Boss with this: the 1LE performance package available for the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS coupe. And while we can't yet say if we prefer it to the Dearborn Darling - we'd need some proper back-to-back time first - our day spent whipping the 1LE around Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Michigan only affirms our belief that power is purely relative. Naturally aspirated or not, this is the Camaro we've been waiting for.

Continue reading 2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE

2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Watch Chevy's Camaro 1LE lap VIR in 2:58:34

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet

There are two draws in the pony-car competition bracket: brawn-über-alles pits the 580-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 against the 650-hp Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, while the track-day killers set the 426-hp Camaro 1LE against the 444-hp Mustang Boss 302. And all of them are eventually tested in anger at Virginia International Raceway, which could one day become our own Nürburgring based on the cars that have set times there.

Answering that challenge, the Camaro 1LE has just come from posting a 2:58.34 around VIR. According to the list at FastestLaps.com, that puts the Camaro 1LE exactly midway between the 2005 lap time of a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 at 2:58.20 and the 550-horsepower 2011 GT500 which did 2:58.48. For better comparison, the 1LE is 6.1 seconds behind the Camaro ZL1, 4.46 seconds ahead of the Boss 302 Laguna Seca, and within two seconds of serious handlers like the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Ariel Atom 3 and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, all run in the last two years (although we don't know who the Porsche and Mercedes drivers were). FastestLaps lists a time of 2:58.00 for a "659-hp" GT500, but the year tested is "0" and we aren't sure what the story is there.

Not a bad day's work for the $37,035 Camaro, which starts at a price nearly $13,000 less than the Boss 302 Laguna Seca. Don't take our word for it, check out the whole lap below.

Continue reading Watch Chevy's Camaro 1LE lap VIR in 2:58:34

Watch Chevy's Camaro 1LE lap VIR in 2:58:34 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible priced from $60,445, Camaro 1LE from $37,035

Steven J. Ewing — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, GM

At an event in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Sunday, Chevrolet Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser officially revealed pricing information for the new ZL1 Convertible and 1LE Coupe. The droptop ZL1 will start at $60,445, and the less-powerful 1LE will sticker for $37,035. Both prices include a $900 destination charge.

To refresh, the ZL1 Convertible is simply the soft-top version of the Ford Shelby GT500-fighting Camaro ZL1 Coupe, packing a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under its hood, good for 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque. For the sake of comparison, know that the 2013 GT500 Convertible retails for $59,995 (including $750 for destination) and packs 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. But remember, when it comes to range-topping muscle cars like these, power isn't everything.

The 2013 Camaro 1LE builds upon the current SS model in a similar fashion to how the Boss 302 improves upon the Mustang GT formula. The 1LE package includes better suspension geometry, lighter wheels wrapped in better-performing tires, and as Oppenheiser stated during Sunday's press conference, the end result is a "damn fun car to drive." In fact, Chevrolet is so confident that the 1LE is an excellent performer, Oppenheiser stated that he expects this Camaro to stand up closer to the Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca - not just the standard Boss.

That said, the 1LE offers quite the cost advantage compared to Ford's Boss. A standard 302 starts at $42,995, and the Laguna Seca ups that number to $49,990 (both prices include the $750 destination charge).

These two new models aside, there are a few other changes to speak of regarding the 2013 Camaro line. The V8-powered SS models now come standard with electric power-assisted steering, as well as GM's dual-mode exhaust sound system. V6 models will also get the fancy exhaust work starting in the fall. What's more, Chevrolet's new MyLink infotainment system will be standard on LT, SS and ZL1 models for 2013, and no, just like the new bit of tech for the Spark and Sonic, a CD player is not included.

We'll be driving the new 2013 Camaros this week, so stay tuned for full driving impressions.

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible priced from $60,445, Camaro 1LE from $37,035 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Jul 2012 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE images released, upcoming nav teased

John Neff — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

You would be forgiven for having forgotten about the new 1LE package for the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS. Announced back in March, this performance upgrade package was quickly overshadowed by the arrival in dealerships of the 580-horsepower Camaro ZL1. While the Camaro lineup's big dog may be all that anyone's been talking about, not everyone can afford to step up to the Shelby-slayer. So, just like Ford found room for the Boss 302 between the Mustang GT and GT500, so too has Chevy made space for the 1LE between the SS and ZL1.

Chevy has finally released official images of the 2013 Camaro SS with the 1LE package, and the good news is that this isn't your average SS. A matte black hood, front splitter and rear spoiler are the most obvious tells that you're not looking at a normal Camaro, though the car's black-finished 10-spoke wheels come straight from the ZL1. The 1LE borrows other things from the ZL1, including some suspension hardware, much of its fuel system, its flat-bottom steering wheel and a short-throw shifter, the latter of which is mated to a 1LE-exclusive Tremec TR6060-MM6 six-speed manual transmission designed for the particular abuses of road racing.

The car also receives larger front and rear stabilizer bars than the standard SS, higher-capacity rear-axle half shafts, mono tube rear dampers and a strut tower brace. Nope, there are no engine upgrades, so you'll have to make do with the same 426-hp 6.2L LS3 V8 in the SS. That makes the 1LE less powerful (and significantly heavier) than the 444-hp Boss 302 against which it will inevitably be compared, but it's also less expensive. Final pricing isn't available, but Chevy says it will land under $40 large (the Boss 302 starts at $42,200).

Also of note is the new seven-inch touchscreen that will be standard equipment atop the center stack of all 2013 Camaros. The new screen will control the car's entire suite of audio options, including MyLink hookups with apps like Pandora and Stitcher. Later in the year, buyers will also be able to pair the screen with the first available GPS navigation system for the Camaro.

Continue reading 2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE images released, upcoming nav teased

2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE images released, upcoming nav teased originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #276 LIVE

Dan Roth — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:42:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Etc., Chevrolet, Ford

We record Episode #276 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below, check out our discussion topics, or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #276

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Can't see the EventBox? Click Here.Voices Heard Media

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #276 LIVE originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments