Camaro ZL1 With Manual Transmission Will Reach 60 MPH in 1st Gear
It’s no secret that modern automatic transmissions have become wildly intelligent and capable of squeezing precious tenths from 0 to 60 mph times, leaving manual transmission customers feeling a bit cheated. Well, today we have good news for you!
During a recent Camaro gathering at Detroit’s Woodward Dream Cruise, Al Oppenheimer, the chief engineer for the Camaro Six project had a little surprise for manual gearbox lovers. He explained that the ZL1 Camaro equipped with a six-speed manual transmission will be able to reach 60 mph in first gear, therefore eliminating the need to shift into second gear during the benchmark acceleration test. As a consequence, there won’t be a brief time in which the vehicle isn’t being propelled forward, which will grant the new ZL1 a 0 to 60 mph time that resembles a faster automatic transmission.
The 10-speed automatic transmission on the Camaro ZL1 can reach 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.5 seconds, and 11.4 seconds to the quarter mile. Figures for the manual haven’t been released yet, but common sense would dictate for it to be sub-4 seconds. Another cool treat for hot-rod fans is the “line-lock” feature, which allows the Camaro to lock the front brakes for up to 15 seconds while applying full throttle, becoming a purveyor of smoke and burnt rubber.
What’s your choice, automatic or manual?