The most powerful Camaro, Corvette, and Challenger are the subject of this track test, and Top Gear’s intent is “to prove that American cars don’t just make noise and burn rubber.” Except for the Demon, the ZL1 and ZR1 are made to tackle corners just as good as anything the Europeans can throw at General Motors.
As incredible as it might come to you, Top Gear chose the Camaro ZL1 with the 1LE Track Package as the winner of this comparo. Deputy editor Jack Rix explains his preference as “the only car I can actually imagine using in Europe.” Speaking of which, shouldn’t the Shelby GT350 also be taken into consideration?
The Corvette ZR1 was eliminated for a reason that can only be described as short-sighted, more so from the point of view of an automotive journalist. More to the point, the most track-focused ‘Vette of all time has “a whiff of midlife crisis.” Dear Jack, when was the last time you’ve heard someone in his midlife crisis put down $119,995 on a car with 755 horsepower?
As for the Demon, the 840-horsepower brawler is “the coolest car here.” But Jack eliminated it because it’s better for the quarter-mile run than in corners. That’s like saying a fish is a worthless animal because it can’t climb trees, isn’t it?
As much as I would like to make a case for the Camaro ZL1 1LE as the best of the three, I can’t because the three are extremely different in nature and purpose. And through this lens, it’s best not to take this comparison at face value.
The Dodge Demon is no longer in production, the Hellcat Redeye acting as the heir-apparent with 797 horsepower and a starting price of $69,650. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is $61,500 from the get-go, to which the customer can add the ZL1 Track Package for $7,500. As for the ZR1, the range-topping version of the C7 Corvette family also happens to be the most expensive of the lot.
Coincidence or not, the only sports car on the lot is the fastest contender of the three-prong comparison, capable of accelerating up to 212 mph.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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