The Cheapest V8 Chevrolet Camaro Is an Absolute Performance Bargain
The muscle car segment is dwindling, with Dodge discontinuing its brutish Challenger and four-door Charger. However, Chevrolet might also put a stop to its Camaro, which means the end of another big name in American muscle car history. Still, fans can get a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro with multiple engine options before it rides off into the sunset. Better yet, the cheapest V8 Chevrolet Camaro, the LT1, is a genuine performance bargain.Â
What Camaro models have a V8?
The 2023 Chevrolet Camaro packs a 6.2L V8 into the LT1, 1SS, and 2SS. The 6.2L V8s are naturally aspirated, meaning snappy throttle response and excellent low-down torque. Moreover, for fans who want the most powerful of the new Camaros, the ZL1 packs a supercharged V8.Â
The track-ready ZL1 is a far cry from the V8-powered LT1. It packs a supercharged 6.2L V8 mill which produces 650 horsepower and that same figure in lb-ft of torque. As a result, the ZL1 and its premier track-focused trim, the 1LE, are performance bargains of their own. However, the ZL1 is much more expensive than the LT1, with a starting price of around $68,695.
How much HP does an LT1 have?
The 2023 Chevrolet Camaro LT1 produces 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque from its naturally aspirated 6.2L V8. That puts it ahead of the 2022 and 2023 Ford Mustang GT, which dropped its horsepower figures from 460 to 450.Â
Moreover, the entry-level V8 Chevrolet Camaro has much more muscle than the more expensive 2023 Dodge Challenger R/T. Specifically, the R/T has a 375-horsepower 5.7L Hemi V8. Also, with a curb weight of around 4,157 lbs, the R/T weighs as much as 538 lbs more than the Chevrolet model. That means the LT1 is more powerful than the Ford Mustang GT and Dodge Challenger R/T, with a much higher power-to-weight ratio than the hulking Dodge model.Â
Of course, the 2018 to 2021 Mustang GTs and the Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack out-muscle the Camaro LT1. For instance, TrueCar says the pre-2022 GT produces 460 horsepower, and the Scat Pack makes 485 horsepower from its 6.4L V8.  Â
How fast is a V8 Chevrolet Camaro?
The V8-powered Chevrolet Camaros, like the 1LT and 2SS, are quick enough to hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. That makes the Camaro quicker than the Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack and on par with the post-facelift Ford Mustang GT with a 10-speed automatic.Â
Of course, fans who would rather have fun than straight-line speed can stick with the standard six-speed manual transmission.Â
How much are V8 Chevrolet Camaros?
The 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT with a 6.2L V8 starts at around $37,795. As a result, the V8 Camaro model is cheaper than a comparable 2023 Ford Mustang GT by about $2,000. Moreover, the Camaro LT1 is more affordable than the Challenger R/T by about $3,200.Â
Moreover, the Camaro is much cheaper than the R/T Scat Pack, considering the Dodge model’s starting point of around $47,440. The 2023 Chevrolet Camaro LT1 is a bona fide performance bargain among the muscle car segment.
