Camaro 1LE Ron Fellows Driving ExperienceClayton Seams / Driving In the old days, you used to be able to build some weird cars.I dont mean the cars themselves were weird, but that you could ask your cheerful local Chevrolet sales manager to build you a car in one of an assortment of odd combinations: so many engines, big or small, to be paired with interiors, luxurious or sparse.Today, cars pretty much come in well-defined packages. The big engine only comes with the nice leather seats and the handling package. The small engine is available with a stick only if you forgo the luxury options.But there are exceptions. Just like in decades part or, perhaps, much like Burger King Chevrolet will still let you have it your way at least a little, pairing its 1LE track package with any of the four engines available in its new Camaro.Not only that, the 1LE mechanical package is independent of the four luxury option groups (thats 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, 3LT). This means you can order a track package on a Camaro with any engine and any level of luxury trimmings. You can get a lightweight 2.0-litre Turbo with cloth seats and base infotainment to get maximum value; or you can heap your plate high with a supercharged 6.2-litre ZL1 and the full luxury treatment. Now I dont have a calculator handy to tell you how many combinations are possible, but suffice it to say they are many. So to test out the 1LE package on various Camaro models, I went to the Ron Fellows Driving Experience at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. There, on the big track, we would have the chance to put these 1LE cars on track and see how they compare.So what makes a 1LE a 1LE? Well, it depends on the engine choice. The 1LE contains different bits to match the output. On the four- and six-cylinder cars, it includes the uprated suspension from the SS; 20-inch wheels; four-piston front Brembo brakes; a mechanical limited-slip diff; and a track cooling package with diff, oil and transmission coolers.Step up to the V8 SS model and you get Magnetic Ride Control; an electronic limited-slip diff; six-piston Brembos up front; Recaro front seats; and a dual-mode exhaust system. The ZL1 takes things even further by adding Multimatic dampers with adjustable front ride height, adjustable front camber plates and huge 305-section front and 325-section rear tires.The first car I hopped into was the SS 1LE with a manual transmission and the naturally-aspirated 455-horsepower 6.2-litre V8. Its as close as youll find to a classic muscle car formula in Chevrolets lineup, which is perhaps why it offered proper muscle car noise. Out on the big track, the 6.2-litre could really stretch its legs, and the wide torque band meant few shifts were needed.The upgraded four-piston brakes from the 1LE package were more than up to the task and felt great diving into corners hard. Visibility has never been a Camaro strong suit, and the impaired vision across the A-pillars and low windshield sometimes reduced driver confidence around undulating and tight turns on-track.The SS is an extremely fun car to drive. You can feel it wiggling around under power and sliding around turns. It doesnt feel like a car youd want to set blazing hot lap times in, but you could. It feels like a BRZ with some actual power. And thats high praise.Next up was the world-beating top-of-the-line ZL1. Still 6.2-litres but with a burly supercharger stacked on top of it the ZL1 makes a full 650 hp. Though the ZL1 is available with a stick, the test car had the new ten-speed automatic transmission. No typo: ten speeds.On track, the ZL1 is an entirely different animal than the SS. The playful sliding has been replaced by relentless grip. The ZL1s flanks are peppered with blade-like aero bits, and I have to assume they actually work, because this car sticks harder the faster you go. The massive summer-only Goodyear tires probably dont hurt much, either. The ZL1 simply grips and goes exactly where you point it.The other big difference from the SS is the 10-speed automatic. Whereas I rarely had to shift the six-speed manual around the track, I felt like a Formula One driver ratcheting down through gear after gear in the braking zones. With ten gears to choose from, it almost doesnt matter which one you choose. You could drive through a turn quite happily in 4th, 5th or 6th. It may have been better to let the transmission shift for itself, but I didnt have enough laps to mess around with it in full automatic mode.The ZL1 was also the most fun down Mosports hilly back straight. The ZL1 would come out of Moss corner with a vengeance and storm to 160 km/h almost faster than the speedometer needle could move. Letting all 650 hp pin you in your seat for several seconds without worry of encountering the constabulary were some of the best moments of the day.But the crux of this is that the 1LE package opens up that fun track experience for anyone with coin for a new Camaro. Even the 2.0-litre guys can join in the fun.
Origin: Chevrolet’s 1LE package makes you want to drive your Camaro lap after lap