Ever since order books opened for Chevy’s 2019 Camaro, we’ve been getting an increasing number of emails, messages and comments from our readers about a Camaro 1SE.
“Curious as to if anyone has heard about a Camaro 1SE??? Saw my local dealership is getting one”, read a message from one reader.
“Just heard from my dealer that there is a new Camaro 1SE coming for 2019, what’s that all about?”, read another.
At first we were just as confused as you, but having delved into the matter and understood what’s really gong on, we’ve decided to set the record straight: there is no such thing as a Camaro 1SE… although there technically is. Allow us to explain.
Like most companies that develop, produce, market and sell complex products with thousands of parts and various levels of features, GM has several ways of referring to its vehicles internally and externally. Without boring you with the intricate details, let’s just say that GM has two ways of referring to its models internally:
- By model code, with one code typically encompassing a particular body style and powertrain combination
- By package equipment group (PEG), which is more commonly known as trim level
And that brings us to the 2019 Camaro; specifically, to the Camaro ZL1.
Since the launch of the sixth-gen Camaro, the range-topping ZL1 in both Coupe and Convertible forms has been identified in GM’s vehicle ordering system by the ZL1 package equipment group code. This was the case for the 2017 and 2018 model years, but things changed for 2019 Camaro refresh, since GM changed the equipment group identifier for the ZL1 range from ZL1 to 1SE. It’s this change that’s been causing all the commotion, confusion, and rumors about a “new” Camaro 1SE.
| Model Year | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | ZL1 | ZL1 | ZL1 | ZL1 | ZL1 | ZL1 |
| Body Style | Coupe | Convertible | Coupe | Convertible | Coupe | Convertible |
| Model Code | 1AL37 | 1AL67 | 1AL37 | 1AL67 | 1AL37 | 1AL67 |
| Equipment Group Code | ZL1 | ZL1 | ZL1 | ZL1 | 1SE | 1SE |
So, a Camaro 1SE does exist, but only when it comes to identifying a ZL1 package equipment group internally within GM systems. The bottom line is that it is not a new model, it’s not a special new performance package, and it’s not a unique new feature.
If you read nothing else in this while write-up, it’s this: a Camaro 1SE is the model code for the 2019 Camaro ZL1. Nothing more, and nothing less.
PS: for those who asked earlier, a ZL1 with the 1LE track performance package is still a 1SE… but it’s a 1SE with the A1Z package, with A1Z being the RPO code for the ZL1 1LE package.
Comments
Good to know. I was wondering about this since my dealer got all excited about a Camaro 1SE.
So then why did they change it from ZL1 to 1SE internally? Nothing better to do?
All the other trim levels are labeled coreesposning to their code like LS, LT, SS.
this is GM complicating things that don’t need to be complicated. Good grief.
There’s always a method to their madness. Package Equipment Group codes have not always been directly corresponded to their trim levels. In 2018 Silverado, a standard LT is a 1LT while the Z-71 LT is a 2LT.
Where they come off the rails are non-Chevy PEGs. A 2018 Sierra, for example, has 1SA, 3SA, 4SA and 5SA. The LaCrosse is 1SB, 1SL, 1SP and 1SV. And I could go on…
My guess is that the 1SE is the PEG code for the previous model’s front end and we should see it go back to ZL1 when the car gets its new face similar to the SS redesign.
So AL meant Alpha LWb?
Nope, it’s just a model code they assigned to the sixth gen model.
The vehicle/program code names (which is what it seems that you’re thinking of) typically aren’t related to the model number…