MotorMouths

The Camaro ZL1 is good. Perhaps even too good. I’m not sure most Camaro buyers are even interested in this level of handling performance. Those few who do will find that Chevy has given us the perfect tools to tame the savage beast.

Call the ZL1 heavy, call it expensive, but don’t call it just a Camaro with a supercharger. I will say that for your money, nothing else with a back seat can approach the ZL1’s thundering performance.

If you want a pony car from the 2012 model year, the Camaro ZL1 is the one to have. The ZL1 is one of those rare cars that manages to be the perfect on-track tool while still delivering a ride comfort that makes it a viable daily driver.

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a truly contemporary muscle car. More than just a flimsy pony car made for the drag strip, it’s a high performance missile that can streak around any corner. And, it has clearly shot the Camaro to the top of the pony car field for now.

The ZL1 is a formidable droptop that’s Chevy’s hottest-ever. Its all-around performance is well balanced and it’s docile enough for everyday use. And let’s not forget the delicious aura of menace that distinguishes contemporary Camaro styling.

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is yet another excellent performance car from General Motors. It’s very fast, very loud, very, very thrilling, and — unbelievably for a 580 hp car — you can actually use it as a daily driver.

The 2013 Camaro ZL1 convertible is a magic carpet for wealthy folks who have thick-enough skins to shed eco-villain barbs from neighbors. Except for some really cheap-looking plastic interior trim. Chevy’s gotta do something about that.

That the ZL1 is the best Camaro ever is perhaps not a huge surprise. That it’s a damned fine all-around GT car is a little more shocking. With the ZL1, General Motors has made the Camaro into a true GT car—daily driver, long-range missile, and track-day special all in one.

The ZL1 is the horsepower king of the pony cars. In some respects it’s a bargain, and when you consider its civility, quite an achievement. It’s remarkable for its mix of everyday civility and track capability.

While we’ve always appreciated the style and, of course, the power of previous Camaros, the ZL1 is the first one that we actually want to drive. And for all it delivers, the asking price is a bargain.

Not much for cabin tech or fuel economy, the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is more show car and weekend racer than everyday driver.

The Camaro ZL1 is a big heavy coupe and its in-your-face retro styling isn’t likely to connect with many Gen Y buyers. But what was once just another retro-styled muscle car aimed at pot-bellied men across America is now a fire-breathing supercar.