Walkinshaw to supercharge Camaro

There’s no confirmation of a manual version or the upgraded 2019 model, let alone the supercharged 485kW ZL1 flagship, but Australian buyers of the locally converted Chevrolet Camaro will have access to an official supercharger kit.

HSV gave disenfranchised rear-drive GM V8 fans something to cheer about when it released the sixth generation of the iconic American muscle-car via selected Holden dealers last month.

Just 550 examples of the single-spec, auto-only MY18 Camaro SS Coupe will be produced, all priced at $85,990 plus ORCs and powered by a direct-injected 339kW/617Nm 6.2-litre Gen V LT1 V8.

That makes it competitive – in terms of power, not price – with its most direct competitor, the 339kW/556Nm Ford Mustang GT (from $62,990).

But it falls well short of the outputs offered by HSV’s last supercharged 6.2-litre LSA V8-powered models (410kW/691Nm), let alone the epic 474kW/815Nm LS9 in its swansong GTSR W1 limited-edition, which we named Australia’s Best Driver’s Car in 2017.

To rectify that, Walkinshaw Performance – the sister company of HSV, which ‘remanufactures’ the right-hand drive Camaro SS coupe in Australia – has confirmed it will soon offer a supercharger kit for the Camaro’s LT1 V8.

“We’re in the process of putting together a couple of [performance] packages for Camaro,” confirmed Walkinshaw Performance general manager Gary Beer.

Beer wouldn’t reveal outputs, price, timing or any other details of WP’s upcoming Camaro blower kit, but confirmed it will be supplied by respected US tuner Edelbrock, which employs the same Eaton rotors as Harrop and Magnuson.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Edelbrock, which is one of only a few globally to use Eaton rotors and is rock-solid from a product and support standpoint,” he said.

“LT1 is not new in the US, so there are a number of upgrades available for it.”

We understand WP will offer two upgrade kits for the Camaro – naturally aspirated and supercharged – from later this year.

The first is likely to include intake, exhaust and ECU modifications, which for a few of thousand dollars could increase flywheel output to 400kW.

Whether it is competitive with Tickford’s 400kW/632Nm Mustang ECU calibration upgrade, which is claimed to add an extra 61kW and 76Nm without any new hardware for just $2750, remains to be seen.

Either way, it should make the Camaro quicker than any previous LSA-powered Commodore-based HSV model, given the Mk6 Camaro already offers similar mid-four-second 0-100km/h pace because it weighs about 150kg less at 1710kg.

Meantime, a quick search of Edelbrock’s US website reveals an array of forced-induction upgrades for the LT1 V8 in the MY18 Camaro SS.

Perhaps the most likely to be offered by WP is the Edelbrock E-Force Supercharger Stage 1 Street System, which is claimed to deliver 580hp (432kW) and 548ft/lb (743Nm) at the rear wheels following a dyno tune.

Priced at $US7288, it contains a four-lobe Eaton Gen VI 2300 TVS supercharger with 10psi boost pressure, plus a new intake, high-capacity air-to-water intercooler and low temperature heat exchanger.

Including a high-flow exhaust system, fitment, tuning and WP’s driveline warranty, which covers the balance of HSV’s three-year/100,000km factory warranty, that could easily translate to $A20,000.