In terms of inappropriate timing, we often end up driving convertibles that launch midsummer in Europe but midwinter in New Zealand. Much the same goes for the timing of the Camaro ZL1 launch locally, the hi-po variant arriving at the office during the wettest week of the year. But you’re not in Little Whinging now Dr Ropata. It is what it is, and you just hope to stay alive in the process.
For if you mess up in this beast, it will bite you hard with its big teeth. All 485 of them. The kilowatt count is matched by 881Nm of tornado-like torque. Evidently there’s 800Nm from 2500-5600rpm. Should be enough “for fun and trouble in equal measure” as the Ed once quipped. And we had a few moments out there, the ZL1 trying to swap ends when unleashed.
Admittedly, we were trying to find out just how quick this was in a straight line at the time. This isn’t the first time we’ve encountered a ZL1. A couple of years ago Editor Cassidy shot off to the Tron to drive a manual left hooker. Since then HSV made the decision to re-engineer the Camaro in Aussie, initially in 2SS guise, and now the ZL1 as well. It’s no small task swapping sides.