Dyno Trial: 2010 SLP ZL575 Chevy Camaro
History has shown time and time again that bandwagons roll into town as soon as a cool car hits the streets. New cars offer new opportunities for the aftermarket and judging by the full frontal assault of bad taste at SEMA,the bandwagon for the 2010 Camaro is chock full.
SLP, however, are no strangers to smallblocks. Back in the day, aka 1991, Pontiac started selling the Firehawk, a stonkin’-fast hotrodded Firebird Formula offered as an option right at the dealer.It was SLP that did all the heavy lifting in creating the Firehawk, and the result was just about the coolest — and most powerful — thingthis side ofthe 911 Turbo of its day.
These guys are veterans, and they’ve since turned their know-how to the2010 Camaro you see here. It’s the SLP ZL575 Camaro. We drove it, tested it and brought it toMD Automotive ’sDynojet chassisdyno. You know, in the name of science.
Hit the jump.
You might have already guessed that the ZL575 promises a power output of 575 horsepower. Taking the Camaro’sstock LS3 powerplant from 426 to 575 hp requires boost, and the heart of the ZL575 is the bolt-on supercharger kit centered around a four-lobe Eaton TVS blower similar to the one on the Corvette ZR1.
Supercharged engines usually have a distinct whine. Not the ZL575. The blower is pretty much silent, and its sound signature consists only of intake and exhaust notes.
It made for a surprisingly mellow experience on the dyno… and then I checked the dyno display after performing the first pull.
Running on 91 octane, the ZL575proved its mettle, kicking out 558 horsepower at 6,450 rpm and 513 lb-ftat 4,200 rpm. Five runs on the dynowere nearly identical, suggesting that SLP did their homework on the engine calibration. No fuss,very littlevariation, justclean and consistent pulls. The SLP just goes about kicking ass in a nonchalant, matter-of-factway.
And the shape of the stock torque curve remains remarkably intact, just lifted way, way up. When you consider drivetrain loss, the ZL575 is easily generating more than its 575-hp claim. SLP has been here, done this before.
We’ll be sharingour full test of the SLP ZL575 with you next week.
,
