2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (pictures)

The ZL1 version of the Camaro is the top trim level, with a strong performance note. The car borrows technologies used in other GM cars to enhance power and handling.

The ZL1 keeps the basic Camaro exterior but adds ZL1 badges and a more aggressive air intake up front.

The hood includes functional vents, and with this car, an optional carbon fiber insert.

The LSA engine comes under GM's LS engine line, an aluminium V-8 block with 6.2 liters of displacement and a supercharger to force air through the intakes and bring horsepower up to 580.

As with the standard Camaro, the low greenhouse means constrained visibility.

The 20-inch wheels, with Goodyear F1 tires, come standard, along with Brembo brakes.

The suspension uses GM's Magnetic Ride Control technology, which adjusts the dampers based on driving style and road conditions.

With its large engine, the quad pipes sticking out the back are for more than just decoration.

The trunk offers a good amount of depth, but the opening is particularly small, making it difficult to get larger items through.

The front sport seats are very comfortable, and the bolsters are not so high as to make it difficult getting in.

There is not much room in the rear seats, and the two-bucket design means there is only room for two in back.

Although the ZL1 gets some nice fabric materials covering part of the cabin, much is still the hard plastic found in the standard Camaro.

Chevrolet uses an electric power-steering system, and although the wheel is precise and suitably heavy, it lacks road feedback.

The display between the speedometer and tachometer not only shows trip info, but can show navigation instructions and a lap timer.

The six-speed automatic, an option in the ZL1, delivers precise manual shifts, but its automatic modes are not particularly sport oriented.

Square gauges in front of the shifter hearken to the Camaro's heritage and show supercharger boost, oil temperature and pressure, and generator power.

This head unit comes standard, and is not upgradable. It shows music and phone information, but there is no onboard navigation available.

This display is adequate for choosing music from a connected iPod or USB drive, but a color touch screen would be nicer.

The display is large enough to show four lines when selecting satellite radio stations.

Chevrolet gives the Camaro ZL1 a Boston Acoustics audio system with nine speakers, but it sounds underpowered.

The Bluetooth phone system integrates with a paired phone's contact list, but that list cannot be accessed through voice command.

The head-up display shows a variety of screens, such as this one, which includes lateral g-forces.

A rearview camera display is embedded in the rearview mirror.