Every car has its stand-out feature and with a muscle car like the Chevrolet Camaro, it’s undoubtedly the V8 power plant under its hood. From the beginning, the most iconic versions of the Camaro were powered by iconic V8s, and the 2021 Camaro LT1 follows that same pattern. Only this time, we get to experience modern styling elements and a beastly V8 engine.
Take the V8 engine out of the equation, and the Camaro isn’t a Camaro anymore. After all, these cars are all about that raw muscle power that only a good V8 can deliver. However, modern emission laws and the constant strive towards efficiency have put Chevrolet in a difficult position. Chevrolet introduced the LT1 engine to combat this problem by offering a V8 engine that can power down half of its cylinders and have the same MPG as your average Honda Accord. Here’s why the 2021 Camaro LT1 might be the perfect new(ish) muscle car.
Sixth-Generation Chevrolet Camaro
The sixth-gen Chevrolet Camaro went on sale in 2016 as a 2016 model. The then new Camaro featured several changes and made use of the GM Alpha platform. This was the same platform that the Cadillac CTS and ATS used. What this meant in practice was that the car now had MacPherson struts instead of the Multi-link suspension at the front.
That being said, it didn’t share everything with the two Cadillac models. According to General Motors, 70 percent of the components that made up the car’s chassis are unique to it. Just like older Camaros, the sixth-gen can be had as a coupe or a convertible. The sixth-generation Camaro is also 2.3 inches shorter, 0.8 inches less wide and 1.1 inches shorter than the car it replaced. While that doesn’t sound like a big difference, here is something that does. When specced similarly, the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro is more than 200 pounds lighter than the model it replaced.
When it was launched, the Chevrolet Camaro was available in four trim levels – 1LT, 2LT, 1SS, and 2SS. All four versions came equipped with automatic climate control, cruise control, satellite radio, and seven airbags. It wasn’t long before the company added yet another trim level – the ZL1. With its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 this trim level meant business. The company was forced to make changes to the grille for the additional cooling required for the powerful engine. The ZL1 also added several other features including big changes to the suspension to improve handling.
To put that into perspective, the ZL1 Camaro has a top speed of 198 mph and a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7:29.60. That’s not all, it is also one of the first and only performance cars with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It also gets to 60 MPH in 3.5 seconds (automatic) and 3.7 seconds (manual) thanks to its 650 HP/650 lb-ft engine.
Trim Levels
The range of trim levels and engine options has grown quite a bit since its launch. For 2021, the Chevy Camaro had eight trim levels and four different engine options. The engine options include four-cylinder, V6, and V8 engines. As you’d expect, the larger the engine, the better the performance. The entry-level engine, which is available as standard in the 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT trims is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. While that engine might sound puny, it still makes a respectable 275 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque.
Slotting above it is the 3.6-liter V6 engine that makes 335 HP and 284 lb-ft of torque. Trim levels that can get this engine are 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT. Moving on to the third engine option – it’s a 6.2-liter V8 LT1 making 455 HP and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine is the successor to the legendary LS3, and just like that motor, it is available as standard in the LT1, 1SS, and 2SS. Last but not least is the most powerful of the lot – a supercharged V8 which we discussed earlier. This engine is available in the ZL1 trim level.
2021 Camaro LT1 — A Good In-Between?
General Motors has done a commendable job offering the Chevrolet Camaro in so many variations. It’s almost like there’s a trim level and engine option for every type of buyer, making picking one more difficult. For obvious reasons, the supercharged V8 in the top-spec ZL1 trim level does stand out the most. That said, it is held back by its somewhat exclusive price. Don’t get us wrong, it’s still pretty good value especially when compared to other sports cars that offer similar performance, but with a starting price of $63,000 it isn’t exactly affordable.
Speaking of affordable, the Chevrolet has its four-cylinder and V6 at the bottom of the list. With prices starting at around $26,000, they seem quite appealing. The performance both these engine options offer is respectable as well. That said, they aren’t V8 engines. Even if these engines offered the same performance (which they don’t) as the V8, they would still lack in terms of character. And like we said earlier, the V8 engine is what makes it a Camaro. That’s exactly where the LT1 comes in. It is the most affordable trim level with a V8 and frankly, an incredible in-between.
What Makes the 2021 Camaro LT1Special?
The 2021 Camaro LT1 made it to MotorTrend’s affordable sports car list. The list comprised the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata (starting at $27,825), 2021 Subaru WRX (starting at $28,420), 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI (starting at $31,000), 2021 Hyundai Veloster N (starting at $33,255), 2021 Honda Civic Type R (starting at $38,890), 2021 Ford Mustang EcoBoost High-Performance package with EcoBoost Handling package (starting at $39,085), and the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (starting at $39,690).
While the 2021 Camaro LT1 (starting at $37,895) wasn’t at the top of the list, it did manage to make it to the middle of the list. Additionally, MotorTrend even went on to call the 2021 Camaro LT1 one of the best driving V8 sports cars and that’s high praise when you realize it’s up against the competent Mustang GT. The 2021 Camaro LT1 uses the lower-spec version of the two V8 engines the model is available with.
That said, it still produces a 455 HP and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine sends its power to the rear wheels. While the 10-speed automatic has slightly quicker acceleration, most reviews including MotorTrend’s recommends opting for the six-speed manual gearbox. The LT1 also comes equipped with performance suspension and Brembo brakes. The V8 engine also allows for a 0-60 MPH time of 4.1 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 12.2 seconds.
The 2021 Camaro LT1 is the most affordable trim level to offer a V8 engine. With a starting price of $37,895, it costs less than the average price of a new car sold in 2020. If you were wondering, the average price was $40,000. And like we said earlier, that makes it a really good value proposition because it comes equipped with the desirable LT1 V8.
2021 Camaro LT1 Engine
The 6.2 LT1 found in the Camaro first made its debut in 2014 in the company’s Corvette. This engine featured some big changes when compared to the older small block but still shared certain similarities. The LT1 featured many modern features including direct injection, VVT, and Active Fuel management. The similarities with the older engine, meanwhile, come in the form of its cam-in-block architecture and 4.40-inch bore centers.
While this engine shares its name with the unit from the C4 Corvette, it’s completely different. This engine has a displacement of 6.2-liters, while the LT1 from the ’90s was a 5.7. The Gen 5 aluminum cylinder block is new, but the architecture is based on the Gen 4 unit. Changes were made to accommodate revised engine mounts and knock sensors. It also has improved seals and oil-spray piston cooling.
The LT1 in the 2021 Camaro also has lightweight pistons which allow the engine to rev faster. Interestingly, the top of the piston features a bowl shape which helps promote the mixing of air and fuel. Being a Gen 5 small block, the engine in the 2021 Camaro LT1 also features dual-equal camshaft phasing, which is essentially VVT. This system works with the Active Fuel Management system to improve fuel efficiency and performance.
Speaking of Active Fuel Management, this system is capable of greatly improving the LT1’s fuel efficiency by shutting off half of the 8 cylinders. That way, drivers can enjoy all the benefits of that raw V8 power, but also have a fairly economical car for daily use.
2021 Camaro LT1 Problems
As the 2021 Camaro LT1 is fairly new, there aren’t many problems reported specifically about it. That said, Camaros with the same engine in different trim levels from a few years before have had some issues.
Crankshaft Bearing Failure
While it’s not widely reported, there have been a few instances where the crankshaft bearing has failed. According to reports, owners experienced a strange whirring sound which was followed by a knock.
Not long after, there was a noticeable performance decline. This occurred because of the crankshaft bearing failure which then hot spotted the crankshaft. There’s no real timeline as to when this could occur as some reported this problem at just 70 miles, while another suffered from it at 52,000 miles.
Carbon Build-up
Another widely reported problem concerns carbon build-up on the intake valves. There have been reports of excessive carbon build-up that would cause a significant decline in performance once the car crosses the 50,000-mile mark. The main cause of this is the direct port injection. Owners are installing oil catch cans to deal with this problem. Some owners also recommend decarbonizing the engine every 30,000 miles.
Cylinder Deactivation Problem
While this problem isn’t as commonly reported as the other, 2021 Camaro LT1 owners are experiencing a displeasing chirp when the engine goes from running on 8 cylinders to 4 cylinders. While this tech has been around for a while, it’s a fairly complex system and its benefits are quite noticeable. However, some cars are having trouble making it work smoothly. As a result, many owners are going out of their way to deactivate this feature permanently.
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