2010 SLP ZL575 Chevrolet Camaro

It’s been a great year for the Camaro fans on our staff. First we tested the surprising 2010 Camaro V6.  Next, we cut loose the burnouts in the V8 Camaro SS. For Detroit muscle car fanatics, what more could we ask for?  Well, the wizards at SLP Performance Parts have an answer. They call it the ZL575.  We call it a supercharged throwback of epic proportions.   

SLP has been turning GM cars into track-caliber dealer-ready super tuners for almost two decades.  Most recently, we put their Pontiac G8 based Firehawk through its paces, a sedan that really blew us away. Now, SLP is mounting that same gusto for the return of the Camaro, and the resulting 2010 SLP ZL575 supercharged Camaro delivers some serious whiplash potential.

Starting with a stock Camaro SS, the New Jersey-based outfit plans to build just 500 of these monsters.  Our tester is the prototype, and one of 250 6-speed manually equipped ZL575s. The other 250 are automatics dubbed ZL550. If you haven’t guessed it already, those numbers mean horsepower. Output from our ZL575’s supercharged 6.2-liter aluminum block V8 jumps from the stock SS 426 horsepower to 575; torque from 420 pound-feet to an asphalt grinding 550 at 3650 rpm.

Like the G8 Firehawk, the ZL’s magic involves the addition of a high-output supercharger akin to the Corvette ZR-1, and a power-enhancing Cold Air Induction System.

Putting the pedal down, our ZL575 rocketed from 0 to 60 in a blurring 3.8 seconds on street tires. That’s over a second faster than the SS, and faster than our last Porsche 911 Turbo. Likewise, the quarter mile disappeared in 11.8 seconds at 121 miles per hour. When refitted with street-legal drag radials, the ZL bites down and leaps off the line with almost no wheel spin. There’s a slight drop-off between gears 3 and 4, as the clutch is muscle-car stiff.

This Camaro’s deep, powerful growl is the result of SLP’s specially tuned exhaust system. But even with so much power, the ZL will not overwhelm enthusiasts at the strip or on the street. For maximizing cornering prowess, our ZL575 benefited from a performance-tuned sport suspension spring package. The progressive rate springs lowered the chassis one inch, and were firmed up to be on par with NASCAR and Formula 1 calibrations.  There’s also an adjustable sway bar package to flatten out handling even further.

Like all mods of the new Camaro, you feel the car’s size and weight. Yet response is immediate, and again very manageable-decidedly not like muscle cars of old. Rather, like an NFL linebacker, it handles its heft with sheer athleticism. Steering is quick and well-weighted with tons of feedback. Stock Pirelli tires are fitted to new SLP 20-inch 5 spoke alloys, where a red stripe pays homage to the ‘67 Camaro’s factory tires.

Optional, but definitely warranted, is the Brembo Sport Disc Package.  For even more stopping power, you can opt for the Brembo GT Front Brakes with 6-piston calipers. With this option, the top speed limiter is raised from 155 to 190 miles per hour. With both brake packages, a hard stop from 60 to 0 averaged an impressive 110 feet, with fade never an issue.  This car just hunkers down and sticks to the pavement.

Exterior enhancements to the ZL575 are unique and purposeful, headlined by a performance hood with a functional air scoop. Styling cues include an available SS badge to replace the grille’s stock bowtie, rear quarter panel gill inserts, a taller body-color rear spoiler, a heritage-style rear black-out panel, and 4-inch stainless steel exhaust tips. ZL575 badges on the decklid and fenders indicate the car’s profound power.

With the Camaro’s stock cockpit already heavy on heritage, ZL enhancements are mostly limited to embroidered headrests and floormats and a dash plaque that shows the vehicle’s place in the small production run.

Now for the bottom line. The ZL575 comes in at $57,995-that’s about $23,000 over a stock 2010 Camaro SS.  The optional Brembo brake packages add another $6,485. That may seem high at first, but in terms of true performance value, few other efforts come close.

SLP continues its streak of turning GM muscle cars into mind-blowing speed machines. The 2010 ZL575 supercharged Camaro takes all the throwback appeal of the new Camaro and infuses it with a level of performance rarely seen for under six figures. With this Detroit pony car, you’ll have a blast turning heads where ever you hit the gas.