2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo Test Drive: Point Me to the Corners

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo Test DriveAs I exit a corner with my foot nailed to the floor and all the nannies switched off, I can’t help but mutter to myself, “So much grip.” The new 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo 1LE oozes it.

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo Test Drive

As I exit a corner with my foot nailed to the floor and all the nannies switched off, I can’t help but mutter to myself, “So much grip.” The new 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo 1LE oozes it. The car combines the 2.0-liter turbo-four engine and the wizardry of the famed 1LE Performance package, which is a thing of beauty, even with the least powerful engine option. The ZL1, SS, and V-6 have had their turn; now it’s time for the base engine to get the track treatment.

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Producing 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, the Turbo 1LE isn’t a straight-line speed brute, though Chevrolet claims a pretty quick 5.4-second 0-60 run. Instead, it shines in the corners. During my time in our former long-term 2016 Camaro SS, power oversteer was a worry when pushing the V-8 version hard through corners. But this isn’t the case with the Turbo 1LE. I found myself eagerly applying full throttle exiting corners, not fearing the worst. If I’d driven the SS that way, the ditch on the side of the road would’ve been my next stop. You might miss the power of a larger engine on a straight stretch of road, but the coupe makes that up with impressive cornering control. Three sports cars with “low” power outputs and superior cornering capability come to mind: the Mazda Miata, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota 86. But the Camaro is quicker and more powerful than those three and has a lower starting price than their top trims. If you’re curious, the above SS hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and produces 455 hp from its 6.2-liter V-8.

The $4,500 1LE package (available on all LT trims) gets you Camaro SS suspension components, including larger-diameter front and rear stabilizer bars, uniquely tuned dampers, stiffer rear cradle bushings, and upgraded rear toe links designed to improve lateral stiffness. The goodies continue with lightweight 20-inch forged aluminum wheels shod in Goodyear Eagle F1 Run Flat summer tires (245/40R20 front, 275/35R20 rear), a mechanical limited-slip differential, track cooling package (engine oil, differential, and transmission coolers), short-throw shifter, dual-mode exhaust system, an upgraded fuel system borrowed from the SS (for high-load cornering), and Touring, Sport, and Track drive modes. If that’s not enough, Competition mode enables launch control and displays performance instrument readouts and shift lights. Recaro seats, a suede-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, and a suede-covered gear shifter are extra. Outside, you won’t find “Turbo” or “1LE” badging. Instead, the hood, front splitter, and three-piece spoiler are wrapped in satin black, distinguishing the Turbo 1LE from other, less track-focused Camaros.

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Source: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo 1LE First Drive: Point Me to the Corners – Motor Trend