2017 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE: First Look
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Competes with: Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger
Looks like: An even better, badder Camaro
Drivetrains: 355-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 or 455-hp, 6.2-liter V-8; six-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive
Hits dealers: Late 2016
Chevrolet looks to improve on a good thing and is offering the new 2017 Camaro with a 1LE Performance Package; it will be showcased at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show. The big news: You can now get the 1LE performance upgrades on the V-6 Camaro as well as the big V-8 models.
More 2016 Chicago Auto Show News
The 1LE Performance Package first appeared on the last-generation Camaro, a stand-alone option on the SS V-8 models that changed the car from heavy and slow handling into a racetrack-ready dancing machine. The 1LE package added stiffness and a much better degree of control, but it didn’t sacrifice much road-going civility; it was a track performance package that you could drive to and from the track without punishing yourself or passengers.
Exterior
Chevy differentiates the 1LE cars from normal 1LT, 1LT or SS trim levels most prominently by the flat-black hood that comes standard with the package. Rounding out the body tweaks are a low front splitter under the bumper, satin-black high-flow upper and lower grille, and a unique three-piece spoiler. Twenty-inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 tires are standard on the V-6 LT, with custom Eagle F1 Supercar tires for the SS. The package changes the Camaro’s look dramatically, with the satin-black paint showing off all the strakes and creases in the car’s lines to great effect.
Interior
There isn’t much new on the inside, however, with the biggest change being a standard suede steering wheel. Recaro-brand seats are optional on the LT models, and come standard on the SS version. First seen in the Chevrolet Corvette, the performance data recorder, which allows owners to record their drives on a built-in high-definition camera and upload the videos to the internet, is optional on both the LT and SS models.
Under the Hood
This is where things get interesting. The V-6 LT models start by getting the SS’ FE3 suspension package, which includes new shock absorbers, rear suspension cradle mounts, ball-jointed rear toe links and stabilizer bars. It also gets the Brembo-brand four-piston brakes from the SS; a mechanical limited-slip differential; coolers for engine oil, differential and transmission fluids; a standard dual-mode exhaust system; and the SS’ high-flow fuel system. The 335-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 and six-speed manual transmission are unchanged aside from a short-throw shifter being added to the trans (an automatic is not available with any 1LE package).
The SS V-8 models get standard Magnetic Ride Control suspension and a special FE4 tune to the dampers, springs and stabilizer bars. The SS also gets a standard segment-exclusive electronic limited-slip differential, red-painted six-piston Brembo brakes with larger two-piece rotors, and the same track-cooling package as the LT 1LE. Just like the V-6, the V-8 powertrain is unchanged – the big 6.2-liter engine still makes 455 hp, and it’s still mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
The 1LE Performance Package will be available for sale later this year when the new 2017 models arrive.
