New "1LE" Camaro

[mockingbird812]

<span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE a Mustang Boss 302 Killer?</span></span></span></span>

<span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 was thought to be the obvious rival for the Ford Mustang Boss 302, as history would have shown. General Motors has thought otherwise, deciding that their ultimate handling pony car shall be the 1LE, which will sell for under $40,000 and offer a claimed 1g of handling.

This Camaro is similar to how the Corvette Grand Sport was designed. Engineers have taken some good bits from the range-topping ZL1, and put them into the 1SS and 2SS models to make the 1LE. This includes things like a transmission cooler, short-throw shifter, suspension geometry, fuel system components, 10-spoke wheels, and steering wheel.

Other changes that separate the 1LE to other V-8 Camaros include a switch to monotube rear shocks, upgraded axle shafts for better cornering, uprated front and rear swaybars and a strut-bar. Outside, stylists have forgone a gaudy body kit and instead offer a matte-black hood, front lip spoiler and trunk spoiler. Everything else is plain old 1SS or 2SS Camaro, but only comes with a manual transmission (which will probably change much like the ZL1.)

All these changes are well and good, but may not be enough to dominate the Boss 302 from its track day, pony car pedestal. There doesn’t seem to be any real weight-savings attempts on the car, something that seems to be essential for a serious track day special. Also there aren’t any engine tweaks to produce more power like the Ford as well. The only thing it seems to do better with is a cheaper price than the Mustang, which starts at $42,995.

Whether it offers a better performance than the Boss 302 will remain unseen until a comparison can be done.</span></span>

This article was posted on Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/03/27/2013-chevrolet-camaro-1le-mustang-boss-302-killer/?intcmp=features) today.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/mockingbird812/sYc%20site/camaro.jpg

[Xplantdad]

Hmmm....

[markinnaples]

Why not name it Z/28?

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Why not give it more horsepower? GM fails again.

[69LM1]

Cool concept. But where's the Z28? It would be like Ford making a Boss 302 without a GT model.

Fwiw, I own a 2012 Boss 302, and it is one mean ride. Nothing even close to a stock GT. One of, if not the most enjoyable cars I have ever owned.

http://mustangattitude.com/mustang/2012/2012_00058_01.jpg

Hopefully GM continues to tweak their performance department and starts paying attention to the weight issues on the Camaro.

For now, she's still the fat chick in the room....

RichP

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Rich,

Did you get the sky roof on yours?

[69LM1]

No, none of the Boss 302's can get them, it just looks like it with the gloss black top.

I love the Track Key &quot;red key&quot; option and had mine turned on. Basically, the red key resets the tune on the car to a &quot;track only&quot; tune and the regular (gray) key sets it back to standard Boss 302 mode.

Next morning after I got it I made the first &quot;day 2&quot; mod and removed the restrictor plates from the quad exhaust exits in front of the rear tires. Make a big difference in sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiWSr-Ax8K4

I also was able to do the two day &quot;Track Attack&quot; Boss 302 driving program at Miller MotorSports in Salt Lake. It was an awesome time.

Rich Pern

[jannes_z-28]

I guess calling it 1LE is a natural evolution. The gen 3 and 4 of the Z28s were not really performance packages if you compare to the 1st generation.

Adding the 1LE to the Z28 on a gen 3 or 4 gave you a real racepackage. Read more here: http://www.camarowiki.com/index.php/Third_Generation_1LE

But I agree that they could've gone a bit further on the mods.

I also agree that a 5th gen Z28 would be better from a marketing point since that is a better known name.

Jan

[1970Bluel78]

1Le.....Really ??? Tell that marketing guy he is fired. Call it the Z28

[69LM1]

The 1LE program was pretty cool if not widely known.

There was a cup called the &quot;players challenge&quot; and the 1LE's sold for that race were called &quot;players cup challenge&quot; cars I think. There were even a few Firebird Players Cup 1LE's made.

http://www.playerschallengeseries.ca/First.htm

They were pretty cool and all were sponsered:

http://www.playerschallengeseries.ca/images/1988_jekyll_hyde_mini_poster.jpg


I think the series went from 87-96ish?

here's one (partially) sponsored by Sunoco:

http://www.playerschallengeseries.ca/1989_05_Randy_MacDonald.jpg

RichP

[70 copo]

I agree. If you look at the marketing plan for the new camaro it is a clean sheet approach which is seeking a buying segment by changing the model designation slightly with no real engineering trickle down from the top of the line ZL-1.

Cosmetics on the exterior have been all but handed to Berger SLP and others along with all of the good looking stripes and hoods.


I would expect to see a Z28 sometime, until then I will simply let the model run for this body style play out and then get the high water mark car used. A Z28 could get me to order a new car for myself, but GM does not seem inclined to listen to buyers for the product.

[69 Post Sedan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1970Bluel78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1Le.....Really ??? Tell that marketing guy he is fired. Call it the Z28 </div></div>

<span style="font-weight: bold">^^^^^X2</span>

[mockingbird812]

I say, call the 1LE a Z only after a reduction in weight and bump in power (nothing extravagant - just enuff to put the pressure on FoMoCo <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif )

[danachevroletfor1967]

Hmmm, I like the idea of the new 1LE package. Unfortunately it seems to be just a handling and cosmetic package with nothing really being done to increase engine hp and torque, or lighten weight. I can't really see it being any competition to the Mustang Boss 302 with 444 hp and hundreds of pounds less weight.
If Chevy does come out with a 5th gen Z28 I would hope it would lose 200-300 hundred pounds if not more, come with a smaller cid engine that revs higher than the current engine in the SS, and be a stripped car with no electronic gadgetry, no unneeded and for me unwanted luxury items, and sell for less than an SS. With that being said I think I am going to wait for the 6th gen Camaro supposedly due out in 2015 on the Alpha platform which should make it smaller and lighter than the current Camaro. Let's all pray that GM gets the 6th gen Camaro right with a weight of no more than 3,400 lbs., a 5.0-5.5 liter V8 engine that can rev to 7,000 rpm with say 450 hp, retro styling with no squashed top look, and a stripped version available with nothing on it that doesn't make it go faster, stop quicker, or handle better that is called a Z28.

[Late BrakeU2]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jannes_z-28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Adding the 1LE to the Z28 on a gen 3 or 4 gave you a real racepackage.
Jan </div></div>

True, but the 3rd gens stand alone as the closest thing to a &quot;COPO&quot; of that era. These were purpose built for SCCA SSGT,as well as Auto X. Unlike the 4th gens, these had baffled tanks,aluminum driveshafts, PBR calipers, B4C lower control arms, delron bushings etc. The ILE &quot;delete&quot; package on fourth gens were only avaliable with 1SC and hardtop, but you could order other creature comforts like AC, pw, pdl,so not lightweights like their predecessors.

Do like the splitter on the new one!.

[Zedder]

Z-28 is definitley in the works...

[StriperSS]

Here's a couple of 3rd Gen's, both with a race history. I was a sponsor of the red 91, and it's in a local collection. The white 87 was restored here, but is in Edmonton now.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c155/StriperSS/Race%20cars/1002090021.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c155/StriperSS/Race%20cars/1002090001.jpg

[69LM1]

Wow...... Nice cars, I know a &quot;little&quot; inuendo, rumors etc. Can you give us the scoop on these cars and what you know from actually participating?

Thanks,

RichP