MILFORD, MICHIGAN – Chevrolet is staging one of those long, bit-by-bit rollouts of its new King of the Hill Camaro ZL1, and the latest tidbits are power and torque ratings. The 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 will make 580 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 556 lb-ft of torque at 4200 rpm. That trumps Ford’s Shelby GT500, rated 550 horsepower and 510 foot-pound of torque.
Other Mustangs enjoy serious weight advantages over their Camaro counterparts, though 30 horses and 46 foot-pound could make the ZL1’s likely extra weight easy to overcome. Chevy hasn’t released weight figures yet. First drives are planned for late this year. The ZL1 goes on sale in early 2012 as a ’12 model.

 

I expect the GT 500 to respond to the camaro's new power. Let's go ford, let's go! (clap clap)

 

I like it! IT`s what they shoulda done to this platform to smooth out the edges in the first place! Finally a properly competetive car.

 

Let's see how Ford responds. I think Chevy fans are gonna be sad...

 

Even if Ford doesn't increase the power the mustang is seriously lighter and 30 HP shouldn't be able to overcome that Ford still on top

 

I'm always glad to welcome another muscle car, and this one looks good.

But I'm more excited to see how Ford responds

 

nice horsepower number, too bad all ford has to do is change a pulley lol
That thing is going to way 4100-4300lbs quote me on it

 

From Motor Trend:

Other Mustangs enjoy serious weight advantages over their Camaro counterparts, though 30 horses and 46 foot-pound could make the ZL1’s likely extra weight easy to overcome. Chevy hasn’t released weight figures yet. First drives are planned for late this year. The ZL1 goes on sale in early 2012 as a ’12 model.

 

If I'm right the zl1 only has to change a pulley too. Zl1 is boosted.

 

Who's to say the Chevy can't 'just change a pulley' too?

They can play the game now too....

 

the 2013 GT500 will be over 600hp so it wins the hp war. Let's hope it outperforms the ZL1 in other categories too

 

I don't think the new Shelby will be here until 2014 or 2015.

 

This sounds a bit like Ford when the GT500 was coming out for 07....475hp, no 485... then it was 500hp in production.

I think the Chevy will have 600hp final production trim. I expect Ford to up the GT500 to an equal 600hp.

 

Yeah, but the GM guys are going to cry that the ZL1 is a 2012 model and should only be directly compared to the 2012 GT500, not the 2013 and still look to claim victory regardless of the fact that both cars will be hitting showrooms around the same time.

Quite frankly, it's not the HP number that the concern should be about, it's that TQ number. 46 lb-ft is a substantial number to make up, even if there is a weight difference. That being said, a simple swith by Ford to a stock TVS supercharger would bring the torque numbers that of the ZL1 with no other changes. I'd rather see them work on getting the power to the ground better than playing the raw power game. Take it from someone who has a Hellion twin-turbo 2010 GT500, the challenge is making it stick, not making the power.

Not true, Ford said "at least" 475HP all along regarding the GT500 in pre-production and then delivered 500. GM has been saying for months "more than 556HP" and delivered 580. I really don't think the production model will see more than this official 580, but then again, I have been known to be wrong.

 

Serious question, why on earth do you need that much power? You are past supercar power without the handling to back it up.

Serious amount of ***** waving going on here.

 

If you have to ask, you'll never get it.

 

Read up on the LSA, it will not hold as much HP as the gt500's 5.4.
They would have to change internals to play the game.

Now if it was an LS9 then they can play.

 

true they will say that. Whatever helps them sleep at night lol. When that 5.8L GT500 hits it will be nuts

 

Only 5 years later than the GT500. Good job GM.

I seriously can't hate on the ZL-1 though. I'd prefer the Shelby or BOSS personally.

 

I hope Ford can bring something similar to PTM to the new GT500. I think that's the big key in traction and improving times, especially given the lump of hp it's rumored to get.