wheels
2015 Corvette Stingray
A DRIVER’S DREAM
ROAD TESTING THE BEST NEW AUTOMOBILES OF 2015. BY DAVID A. ROSE
A real car guy never thinks of his automobile as transportation. For him it’s the thrill of acceleration, the sense of control as he traverses through a tight turn, the throaty sound of his car’s exhaust note. These are what bring him joy. His sports car may not be the most pragmatic machine on the road, but it likely reflects his personality and sense of style. The car guy—and he who desires to become one—is the guy I’m addressing here. At the magnificent Monticello Motor Club in Monticello, New York, I had the opportunity to drive almost all the newly released 2015 car models as part of the International Motor Press Association’s test days. This happens each year as the new models are about to go on sale, so that automobile journalists can ascertain an impression of each one. In this car guy’s opinion, these six models represent the cream of the crop.
2015 Camaro ZL1 With a top speed of 184 MPH, 0 to 60 in four seconds and the ability to travel a quarter-mile in just 11.96 seconds, you might say this car was built to impress. The original Camaro was introduced in 1967, and this 2015 ZL1 more than lives up to its iconic heritage. The vehicle has it all: speed, looks and comfort. The 6.2 liter supercharged engine delivers 580 horsepower with 556 foot-pounds of torque. Taking cues from its racing past, the Camaro ZL1 is a driver’s machine; it’s strictly for the guy who wants all the grunt he can get from a street car.
2015 Corvette Stingray This eight-speed paddle-shifting convertible boasts 460 horsepower with 465 foot-pounds of torque. The exhaust note of the V8 engine is equivalent to the lyrical tonality of a brass band. Unlike earlier Corvettes (which tended to under-steer with hard cornering), this car is very neutral and quite nimble. Truly a world-class sports car, comparable to a Ferrari 458 Italia but at less than half the price.
Camaro ZLi
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