Does that wheel look familiar? That's because it's the same as that used by the Camaro ZL1... or at least it looks that way.
Well what-da-ya-know? Upon browsing the GM Authority photo galleries, I noticed a certain similarity between the steering wheels of the Chevy Camaro ZL1 and Sonic Z-Spec Show Car. Upon closer examination, it appears that both cars have the same exact flat-bottom steering wheel — save for the fact that the ZL1’s wheel is covered in suede while that of the Sonic is wrapped in leather.
This isn’t a big deal until you factor in the fact that the ZL1 will be substantially more expensive than the Sonic while using the same exact wheel! We’re talking $50,000 for the ZL1 and maybe $22,000 for the top-of-the-line Sonic (if it ever sees production, that is).
Since the Sonic Z-Spec is purely a show car and Chevy seems to have no plans for producing it (yet), this may not be such a big deal. However, this interesting discovery does beg the following question: should the ZL1 have a better (more unique) wheel than what we saw at Chicago? For starters, we’ve heard many a complaint about that parts-bin center piece…
So what say you? Sound off in the comments below!
Chevrolet Sonic Z-Speck Show Car steering wheel (click to expand)
Chevy Camaro ZL1 wheel (click to expand)
Comments
I imagine the leather will hold up much better, 100,000. mile plus Cadillac CTS leather wheel looks almost new still. I hope no one is insulted that the Sonic Z and Camaro Zl1 get some of the same components, did’nt Corviar Corsa’s and Corvettes share the same wood rim steering wheel in the late 1960’s, THE SACRED MUSCLECAR ERA!
It doesn’t matter as long as it looks good. Does it look bad in either car?
Right. I guess the biggest problem is that the ZL1 will be $50,000+ while the Sonic Z-Spec — if it ever comes to market — will be in the low $20,000s.
Really? Are we nit-picking about the steering wheel on two prototypes that aren’t even on the market yet? Good observation but not quite relevant.
Cheers,
Ben
Nit-picking? Maybe. But doesn’t it seem strange that a $50,000+ pony car and a (maybe) $20,000 subcompact share one of the main elements of the driving experience? If not strange, then interesting.
I’ll let you know when the cars come to the market.
Cheers,
Ben
Cool beans! 🙂
I see what you’re getting at here, but I guess I didn’t make a stink about it because it’s all too common. Which cars of GM haven’t been parts bin cars for the last several decades? The SSR was pretty unique accept for the engine and mirrors with a from scratch interior.
I’m not saying GM shouldn’t share parts sometimes or do badge-engineering to keep down costs, but how do other companies make several cars that look little alike?
What I’m really trying to say is, with all these cheap materials and sharing, there is no way the ZL1 is worth 50k. For that, buy a damn Evo, learn to go round corners, and save the extra cash.
Yeah, but GM is certainly getting better at it, doing away with badge engineering and getting into proper platform sharing, with top hats sitting atop same/similar platforms.
That said, not sure if I agree with you that the ZL1 isn’t worth the $50k. With the LSA and the magnetic ride suspension adding at least $10,000-15,000 of cost to a 1/2SS, I’d say the $50k is a great price. And as for the “cheap materials,” which are those? The interior is getting a serious upgrade from the current model, so those cheap materials may be all gone. And the addition of suede makes it that much better. No?
Alex
Founder, GM Authority
I agree completely that GM has gotten much better at interior quality over the years, which is the reason I was so interested in the Sonic. Seeing it at the Philly Auto show, the dash is light years better than most current models as well as the new Cruze. My 80s S10 interior was painfully bad, and my newer Monte Carlo’s interior was a huge improvement, but was horribly put together. The Sonic Z looks great and I would absolutely consider one for a little weekend track car to mess about in, completely changing the probably still poor suspension first.
The thing is, at 50k, the Camaro just isn’t that good. That’s reaching near (gasp) M3 money…and while I’d never touch an M3, you have to admit that the Camaro isn’t really 50k worth of luxury, speed, or handling in today’s industry. (again look at the Evo or Sti)
I know this is a GM blog, and Chevy will always have a place in my heart, but I say take out the magnetic ride control and make the car 40k. Realistically, it wasn’t going to be seeing many corners anyway. Keep it a musclecar.
Well, just since this is a GM-oriented site doesn’t mean we’re biased. We’re journalists, after all (not forum folk — which don’t do much original reporting, you know?).
That said, what didn’t you like in the Cruze interior compared to the Sonic? The two are very similar in my book; but the Sonic Z is a different bread, so I agree with you there! And we’ll see about that suspension! I think the Z-Spec is gonna get some welcome updates in that regard… if it ever makes it to market.
That said, the Camaro ZL1 has heaps more power than the M3 — and I’d take one over the Beemer. I just love the Camaro’s styling so much!
I think the pony car you’re referring to is more a of a straight-line proposition. Perhaps we can look to the Z28 name for that?
See, a Z28 makes way more sense to me. And yes, a tuner culture focused on the Sonic would make it a great cheap track day car. My big concern for the life of the ZL1 is why you wouldn’t just buy a Vette. I guess you could base it off styling and if the ZL1 can also hit 60 in under 4 seconds just like the Corvette.
The reason I liked the Sonic better was mostly because of the dash. The one on the floor at the auto show had something that felt like a high quality fabric dash, rather than a mediocre quality plastic. It just seemed like it really worked with the stitching everywhere else. The rest of the car didn’t feel as hollow either, and most of the materials on that model were just black, while the Cruze had all sorts of faux metals and metallic plastics. The flat black works best on a cheaper car.
In short, I’ll be keeping an eye out. It’s going to have tough competition with the new Rio coming out, but if there’s no hot hatch version of that, the Chevy will be an easy pick for me.