Chevrolet Camaro ZL 585 by SLP: Power to spare

Once known as muscle cars, North American sports cars have been enjoying resurgence over the last three years. Incidentally, that’s since the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger came on the scene, joining the Ford Mustang and its years of uninterrupted production.

With the public firmly behind more environmentally friendly cars and with gas prices continuously on the rise, sports cars with powerful V8s are bucking the trend. However, unwavering diehard performance enthusiasts are always prepared to do without other things for the pleasure of driving one of these high-performance cars. For years, the American company SLP operated in the Montreal area, modifying Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds coming from the Boisbriand assembly  plant. When management at GM decided to close this plant and cease production of these two models, that was it for SLP in our province.

But when the Camaro was reborn, SLP was called on for its expertise in modifying high performance cars. The company now concocts several muscle-bound variations of it. Many options are offered – even a model with a 750-hp engine! Take note, thrill seekers!

Our Chevrolet Camaro ZL 585, which was provided by Stefano Ciambella, SLP Sales Manager for Eastern Canada, came with the full  deal to meet the demands of the genre’s diehards.

159 extra HP

Math isn’t my strong suit, but this Camaro SLP has 585 horsepower while the factory-standard version comes with a 6.2-litre V8 engine producing 426 horses. That’s a difference of 159 horses, the horsepower of an average compact car! Today, engine modifiers know what they’re doing and perform miracles in terms of performance and output.

Years ago, to increase the power that much, radical changes would have been necessary, and the result would have been a car that was more temperamental and not much fun to drive. This time, the magicians at SLP delivered impressive results, while making it surprisingly easy to drive. The secrets behind this power surge include a compressor, certain modifications to the electronic control and more efficient management of the engine’s air intake. All of that helps to create a car that’s as powerful as a race car while remaining docile in an urban setting.

Along with this brawny engine, you can order different options to customize this beast and maximize available power. There’s everything from a lower suspension and better quality shocks to a special exhaust called Loud Mouth II that helps improve the engine output while unleashing a sound that big V8 enthusiasts will love. You can also order higher performance Brembo brakes. As you’d expect, a car in this category has to have low-profile sport tires. Our test car came with 20-inch rims fitted with Michelin Sport tires.

Of course, fans love the fact that this car features a more unique shape than the original. SLP managed to tweak it just enough without going too far. Sure, the stripes on the hood and trunk aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they are part of the tradition. I really liked the front deflector, the hood with its functional air intakes, and the rear spoiler mounted on the trunk lid. But in my opinion, the nicest thing is the air diffuser flanked by exhaust pipes. The regular Camaro is good-looking, but this pimped version is va-va-va-voom!

Manageable, but...

Getting behind the wheel of a car this powerful, you’d expect the clutch to be really hard, the stick shift to be tougher than a day at the gym, and the engine to have a hard time in slow traffic. This Camaro has none of these unpleasant characteristics. The clutch is firm, but not too firm. Moreover, high marks go to the short shifting, precise and easy-to-use stick. In addition, Montreal’s fabulous roadways let us try it out in traffic, and the engine never flinched. In fact, whether in flat-out accelerations, at moderate speed or even in slow moving traffic, this car is super smooth and incredibly docile.

Some people find the suspension firm. Personally, in spite of the deplorable condition of the roads this Spring, I was satisfied with the suspension and how it was calibrated. But it ain’t soft, that’s for sure. The car holds the road well and the grip is good. Its steering is precise, guiding the car into curves with ease. However, this firm suspension tends to hop on bumpy roads. Best to be careful...

People looking for a ride that makes their hearts race and for raw acceleration will find what they’re looking for in this vehicle. Indeed, with 585 horses under the hood, you’ll be leaving skid marks all over town. For example, it goes from 0-100 km/hr in 3.6 seconds while the ¼ mile takes just 11.4 seconds. But the most important thing is that the car is pleasant enough for everyday driving and is also very impressive on the road circuit, thanks to its stability in turns and handling.

Basically, SLP once again demonstrates its capacity for producing impeccable high performance cars. And the most interesting is that you can get this unconventional Camaro at a Chevrolet dealership. Even better, the powertrain comes with a five year/160,000 km warranty.

You want to know how much all that sinful power costs? Depending on the engine and the options you choose, the price can climb above $70,000, but I guarantee that you’ll get your money’s worth.