We spied Chevrolet testing the 2017 Camaro ZL1 at the Nürburgring on multiple occasions during the car's gestation. It was only a matter of time until video surfaced of the car going for an all-out lap time at the Green Hell, and now Chevy has released it. This is the official run of the Camaro ZL1 around the 'Ring, and it's a doozy. This car is fast, folks. It's also proof that maybe you don't always need to give a shift.

The Camaro ZL1 used for the 'Ring run here is equipped with the new 10-speed automatic transmission. It also packs the supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V-8 engine that General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] has been tossing around to all of its high-performance family members. Using that powertrain setup, a test driver was able to record a Bridge to Gantry blast in just 7:29.60.

That is blisteringly fast.

In fact, it's nearly 12 seconds faster than the prior, fifth-generation ZL1. It also puts this new ZL1 around the 'Ring nearly eight seconds quicker than the prior Z28.

What other cars does the sixth-generation ZL1 beat at the 'Ring?

  • 997 Porsche 911 GT2 and GT3 RS
  • Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4
  • and many other exotic machines
In fact, this sub-7:30 time puts the ZL1 about one second behind the time set by a Porsche Carrera GT. The 2017 Camaro ZL1 is crazy fast. American muscle cars can take corners now. This is a fact of life that you're all going to have to accept... and the ZL1 isn't even the track-focused model in the sixth-generation Camaro family.