2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Since the Chevrolet Camaro’s rebirth in 2010, sales have taken off right to the top of the pony car field, even outselling its main rival, the Ford Mustang. Yes, it does feel like 1969 all over again, as the pony car wars are continuing to heat up. Indeed the latest shot comes from the general is a 580-horsepower missile going by a familiar name… ZL1.
The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was a born to race, special edition, one year only Camaro, limited to just 69 units. The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has a few similarities to the ’69, but a lot more differences.
For starters, there’s no big-block under the hood, instead it’s GM’s LSA 6.2-liter V8. That’s the same supercharged pushrod pumper found in the Cadillac CTS-V. Improved air flow for both intake and exhaust, as well as updates to the supercharger and intercooler, boost horsepower to 580 and torque to 556 pound feet.
Another big difference from the original ZL1 that was designed strictly for drag racing, this new ZL1 feels at home on any type of track. As with just about every GM performance car to come along in the last decade, it was designed on Germany’s Nurburgring. While we didn’t sample it there, we did our laps at the closest thing we have in this country, VIR. Virginia International Raceway is a track with lots of high speeds, off camber turns, and elevation changes. It’s not for the faint of heart. And neither is the ZL1. Starting with a Camaro SS, the ZL1 adds stiffer suspension bushings all around, a redesigned rear stabilizer bar, and most importantly, a new version of GM’s Magnetic Ride control.
And the result is… while it still feels a little on the heavy side, this car handles way better than you’re expecting. A new electric power steering unit feels neutral and is very responsive; the Performance Traction Management has five settings to suit track conditions or your driving experience. The Brembo brakes are by far the best we’ve ever experienced on a Camaro; it was hard to get our heads around using them as hard as we were. We didn’t get nearly enough laps to truly find their limits.
On the street, the ride is far from harsh, seating is comfortable, and the ZL1 is fairly well-mannered. 30% of the ZL1’s parts are unique, but most of them you can’t see, like aerodynamic enhancements under the body, a new rear differential that shares the transmission coolant, and additional pick-ups in the fuel tank.
Exterior enhancements are much easier noticed, and include a big front splitter, a new grille that feeds large brake cooling ducts and a carbon fiber hood with vents that not only get air out of the engine bay but provide additional front end down force as well. There are also extended rockers and fenders, and of course a rear spoiler. 20-inch wheels are standard and wrapped in Good Year Eagle F1’s, 285/35’s up front, 305/35’s in the rear.
Inside, the ZL1 gets a mild make-over with suede leather replacing the plastic trim on the dash and doors. The improved seats also get the suede treatment, and an optional Suede Package spreads hide onto the steering wheel and shifter as well. It’s also loaded. Bluetooth, back-up cam, and even Head-up Display, are all standard. You have your choice of 6-speed transmissions, manual or automatic; and just as in the CTS-V, the automatic is actually quicker to 60 by a tenth at 3.9-seconds. Top speed…180!
But, the manual achieves better Government Fuel Economy Ratings at 14-City and 19-Highway, while the automatic manages just 12 and 18. Those low numbers do warrant a Gas Guzzler Tax; still, much like the Chevrolet Corvette, the Camaro ZL1 delivers world class performance, without an exotic price tag, starting at just $54,995, with very few options available.
The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a truly contemporary muscle car. More than just a flimsy pony car made for the drag strip, it’s a high performance missile that can streak around any corner. And, it has clearly shot the Camaro to the top of the pony car field for now. With a 650-horsepower Shelby GT 500 Mustang on the way, will the ZL1 stay there for long? Well we can’t wait to find out. Welcome back to the 60’s - peace, love, and muscle cars, baby!
Specifications
- Engine: 6.2-liter V8
- Horsepower: 580
- Torque: 556 lb-ft.
- 0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
- EPA: 14 mpg city/ 19 mpg highway (manual)
2024 Hyundai Sonata
Updated Sonata Continues To Deliver
Comfort and room to roam used to be core elements for attracting buyers to midsize family sedans. But thanks to SUVs, that’s not enough these days. Now, luxury, tech integration, performance, fuel economy, and even all-wheel drive have become must have sedan ingredients. And one more, value. So, let’s see if the latest Hyundai Sonata gives us all a lesson in chemistry.
The seventh-generation Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan has been on the road since 2020, and as usually happens when vehicles approach the end of their lifecycle, this 2024 Sonata gets a makeover to keep the looks fresh and electronics current until an all-new one arrives.
Standard tech includes a crystal-clear 12.3-inch digital gauge display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Both are now combined into one wide curved housing similar to what we’ve seen from BMW and other luxury brands. This required a complete dash overhaul; a big interior change you can’t miss. Top Limited trim ups the game with navigation, leather seating, 12-speaker Bose premium sound, head-up display, and sunroof. It’s quite roomy inside, though maybe not quite as spacious or as comfy as some rivals with newer designs. On the other hand, rear seat legroom is very generous with long distance comfort.
There are three powertrain choices. The base front-wheel-drive SEL works with a 191-horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I4. And for 2024, you can now add all-wheel drive to it for $1,500. The sporty N Line puts a turbocharger onto that 2.5 which boosts output to 290 horsepower, but it remains front-wheel-drive only, as does this Hybrid. The Hybrid is 2.0-liter I4 based with a 39-kW electric motor that combine for an output of 192 horsepower.
The real draw with the Hybrid is fuel economy of course, and the Government Ratings are 44 City, 51 Highway, and 47 Combined. We manage just 42.7 mpg of Regular in our driving loop, but that’s still slightly better than in our recent tests of both the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid. And it earns a much better than average Energy Impact Score, using 6.3 barrels of oil yearly, with 3.1 tons of CO2 emissions.
Minimal body roll and light steering had us whipping in and out of the cones with a surprising amount of speed.
The price for that great fuel economy was paid at our test track with a slow roll to 60 of 8.0-seconds. There was no sense of urgency off the line, and while the engine sounded like it was really working hard, numbers on the speedometer were slow to climb. That meter was reading only 89 mph after 16.0 seconds as we crossed the quarter-mile. On a much more positive note, the Sonata Hybrid’s true six-speed automatic transmission provides a much more enjoyable experience than competitor’s CVTs.
And the experience in our handling course was positive too; minimal body roll and light steering had us whipping in and out of the cones with a surprising amount of speed. We didn’t experience much in the way of oversteer or understeer, and stability systems stayed out of the way. In our panic braking runs, the pedal was soft, and we could really hear the ABS working overtime, but stops were straight and fade free, averaging a fine 114 feet from 60 mph.
The Sonata has always attempted to set itself apart when it comes to exterior design. That meant an awkwardly shaped “Digital Pulse Cascading” grille when this gen debuted; we much prefer the more traditional and sportier take of this update. The rear fascia also gets revised, looking both sportier and more upscale at the same time, with wide H-themed lighting to accentuate the Sonata’s width.
Pricing starts with the SEL at $28,650; adding the hybrid powertrain boosts it to $31,950, Limited comes exclusively with the hybrid engine and tops the lineup at $38,350.
Hyundai’s long-time formula for success, delivering more for less and tacking on a longer warranty than rivals, has done a great job of getting them where they are today. The 2024 Hyundai Sonata’s high value, impressive powertrain options, which now include all-wheel drive, and better than average driving dynamics, will ensure they stay a major player in the midsize sedan segment for years to come.
Specifications
As Tested
- Engine: 2.0-liter I4
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Horsepower: 192
- Torque: 151 lb-ft.
- EPA: 44 City | 51 Highway | 47 Combined
- 0-60 mph: 8.0 seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 16.0 seconds at 89 mph
- Braking, 60-0 (avg): 114 feet
- MW Fuel Economy: 42.7 mpg (Regular)