The 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 has run the quarter mile in the 11s in stock trim.  Chevrolet took the supercar-eating Camaro out to a track and laid down 11.9 runs in both automatic and manual transmission cars with stock tires.  The automatic transmission was (predictably) slightly faster with a best run of 11.936 seconds at 116 mph.  The stick shift Camaro ZL1 runs the quarter mile in 11.965 seconds at 117 mph.

Manual transmission Camaro ZL1 models comes with launch control, which lets the driver pick a certain rpm speed to hold the engine at for launch (which helps with a 580-hp engine threatening to burn through any tire you throw under it). Also of help to drag racers is a Performance Traction Management system that reduces engine torque to maximize traction and avoid smoky (and slow) launches.

Readers unfamiliar with quarter miles times will probably be thinking “wow, those times sound a lot closer to 12 seconds than 11, what kind of PR spin is this?” To those hypothetical readers, rest assured, the nomenclature ‘in the 11s’ means you’ve run a time between 11 and 12 seconds, Chevy isn’t pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes.

The Camaro ZL1 is so fast that according to Motor Authority, Chevy managed a run under the 11.49 second barrier with drag radials, a time that would get you kicked out of NHRA sanctioned drag strips for safety reasons unless you have a roll bar installed on the car. Chevrolet specifically built the Camaro ZL1 to take the drivetrain abuse that comes with drag radials, so if your future plans might contain slicks, don’t worry about snapping a differential.  Save that money for the roll cage you’ll need.

The one glaring omission to Chevy’s tests: a head to head race with the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.  Since the GT500 has 650 horsepower, 70 more than the ZL1, it should be an interesting race.