By now you’re plenty familiar with all the major specs of the Camaro ZL1. You already know all about the 580 horsepower supercharged LSA engine and the Magnetic Ride suspension. However, in video from YouTube, Chief Engineer of the Chevrolet ZL1 Camaro, Al Oppenheiser, walks us through some of the fine details that are built into the ZL1 on one of Chevrolet’s displays.

Chevrolet uses this cool display to show off all the technology going on underneath the ZL1. In fact, it's not really a display - it's a full size ZL1 minus 3 of the wheels turned on its side.

It's tough to find anyone who has more knowledge on the ZL1's technology than this guy - Chief Engineer, Mr. Al Oppenheiser.

Oppenheiser starts with giving an overview of the ZL1’s aerodynamics package and how the front splitter, grille, and hood extractor that work in concert to create quite a bit of downforce. Next, he takes us through the unique belly-pan with ducting that helps cool the transmission tunnel and front brakes, as well as the integrated differential cooler that can drop diff temps by as much as 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  

When we tested the ZL1 at the drag strip this past summer, one of our favorite features of the car was the dual-mode exhaust. It was nice and mellow at cruise speeds, but rewarded you with all the great V8 sounds your heart desires when you stepped on the loud pedal. Oppenheiser says, “We use the induction vacuum to drive the valves in the back. This is a pretty straight through exhaust, in fact if you dropped a golf ball in through one of the tips it would basically go all the way to the cat and wouldn’t hit anything. It’s basically using all the engine sound possible. “

Of course, there’s the whole GT500 vs. ZL1 debate that continues to rage on, and to that Oppenheiser leaves us with, “Where we excel over the GT500 is that we give all this standard on every ZL1. There’s no optional content you can add to the car [except aesthetic items].”