Chevy Camaro ZL1 Vs. Ford Shelby GT500 on the dyno

Inside Line took the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, together, on a field trip: to Westminster, California where where they were both tested on the same dyno at MD Automotive, run the by same operator on the same day. In case any memories need refreshing, the specs run thusly: the ZL1 has a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 belting out 580 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 556 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm, for a 0-60 (96 km/h) time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 296 km/h (184 mph). The Shelby GT500 rocks up with a supercharged 5.8-litre boasting 662 hp and 631 lb-ft, for a 0-60 (96 km/h) time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed in excess of 320 km/h (200 mph). Both get the power down via six-speed manual transmissions.

All things being equal, the dyno returns should have them split by something like 82 hp and 75 lb-ft. But good luck with equality, at least on this day: the Camaro charted 497 hp and 497 lb-ft, a the kind of 15 per cent drop you might expect due to driveline losses, and just 11 per cent of its torque sapped.

The GT500 would have none of it, charting 603 hp and 497 lb-ft. It gives up less than 10-per cent of its hp, leaving an on-the-road gap of 105-hp to the ZL1, and even though it loses more torque percentage-wise, it comes out even with its rival on the (dyno) road.

This latest info gives a new round of ammo to the armchair testers until the comparos start rolling in. But as numerous folks have commented on the dyno tests, what's really important is this: this is a great time to be a muscle car enthusiast.

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