How The New 2020 Chevrolet Camaro LT1 Compares To LT And SS
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We’ve already taken a close look at what’s new for the 2020 Camaro. This time around, we’re taking a closer look at the new Camaro LT1 model for a better understanding of how it slots into the Camaro lineup.
For starters, we know the Chevrolet Camaro LT1 model is a response to slumping Camaro sales, and is aimed at attracting shoppers considering more affordable V8 sports cars – namely the Dodge Challenger R/T and Ford Mustang GT. With a starting price of $34,995 the LT1 is priced beneath the V8-powered Challenger and Mustang models, and is about $2,000 less than a 2019 Camaro 1SS.
Before diving into what makes the Chevrolet Camaro LT1 different from other Camaros, it’s important to understand that the point of this model is to provide an even more affordable option to those who want a Camaro with a V8 engine. This means only certain features and options are available for the frugal LT1 model, while others require buyers to bump up to 1SS and 2SS models.
| Model: | 1LT I4 | 1LT V6 | LT1 (1LZ) | 1SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | Turbocharged 2.0L I4 LTG | Atmospheric 3.6L V6 LGX | Atmospheric 6.2L V8 LT1 | Atmospheric 6.2L V8 LT1 |
| Transmission: | 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic | 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic | 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic | 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic |
| Horsepower @ RPM: | 275 @ 5600 | 335 @ 6800 | 455 @ 6000 | 455 @ 6000 |
| Torque @ RPM: | 295 @ 3000-4500 | 284 @ 5300 | 455 @ 4400 | 455 @ 4400 |
| Suspension: | FE2 (2) | FE2 (2) | FE3 | FE3 (3) |
| Magnetic Ride Control: | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available | Available |
| Rear axle: | 3.27 only | 3.27 manual / 2.77 auto | 3.73 manual / 2.77 auto | 3.73 manual / 2.77 auto |
| Brakes: | Regular 4-wheel disc brakes (1) | Regular 4-wheel disc brakes (1) | Brembo 4-piston brakes – front only | Brembo 4-piston brakes – front & rear |
| Tires: | All-season tires | All-season tires | All-season tires | Summer-only tires |
| Wheels: | 18-inch wheels | 18-inch wheels | 20-inch wheels (square pattern: 8.5-inch front & rear) | 20-inch wheels (staggered pattern: 8.5-in front & 9.5-in rear) |
| 1LE Track Performance Package: | Available | Available | Not Available | Available |
| Emblems: | Traditional gold bow tie emblems | Traditional gold bow tie emblems | Black bow tie emblems | Black bow tie emblems |
| Mirrors: | Power-adjustable body color | Power-adjustable body color | Power-adjustable body color | Power-adjustable body color |
| Appearance: | LT front end | LT front end | LT front end | SS exclusive front end |
| Radio screen (diagonal): | 7 inch | 7 inch | 7 inch | 8 inch |
| Standard Seats: | Front Sport Bucket | Front Sport Bucket | Front Sport Bucket | Front Sport Bucket |
| Optional Seats: | Recaro Performance Seats | Recaro Performance Seats | Recaro Performance Seats | Recaro Performance Seats |
| Heated/Ventilated Seats: | Not Available (4) | Not Available (4) | Not Available | Not Available (5) |
| Bose Sound System: | Available | Available | Not Available | Not Available (6) |
| Air Conditioning: | Single-zone automatic (7) | Single-zone automatic (7) | Single-zone automatic | Single-zone automatic (8) |
- Brembo 4-piston front brakes available, like on LT1
- FE3 Suspension Available with LT 1LE Track Performance Package
- FE4 Suspension Available with SS 1LE Track Performance Package
- Available on 3LT trim
- Available on 2SS trim
- Available on 2SS trim
- Upgradable on 2LT, 3LT trim
- Upgradable on 2SS trim
The Chevrolet Camaro LT1 is offered with a few options, including the sueded microfiber-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. However, there are notable options that are not available, including the 1LE Track Performance Package, Magnetic Ride Control, heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone automatic climate system, or the 8-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus color touchscreen, and Bose premium speaker system.
Instead, the Camaro LT1 makes do with a single-zone automatic climate system, an FE3 suspension, non-heated or ventilated seats, and a 7-inch touchscreen radio. In other words, the new Chevrolet Camaro LT1 takes the LT-trim Camaro, complete with most of its features and with its exterior appearance, stuffs the 6.2L LT1 V8 from the Camaro SS, and calls it a day. And it seems to be exactly what the sixth-gen Camaro was missing to fend off the entry-level rivals from Dodge and Ford. Here’s to hoping it’s enough to swing Camaro sales upward.
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Does the LT one have heated mirrors?
No, they are not heated on the 1LT, LT1 and 1SS. Heated is only on 3LT, 2SS and ZL1.
For those that love to mod (I am in this category), buy an LT1, dump a few grand into it, make it your own and enjoy your personalized ride. I have a feeling that this trim level will be a huge hit.
going to drop in super charger once the car is paid for LOL
if its only $2000 less why not just buy a 1ss makes more sense to me that would be only about $30 dollars more a month in payments.
Timothy. I see both sides of it. Some people might have a budget in mind and perhaps have already suffered from budget creep. Perhaps that $2,000 was even further out of their already expanded budget. Perhaps the new pricing puts the car into the window where more people will buy it. I’m glad to see GM trying to compete better with Ford with a more affordable V8 powered performance vehicle.
Well that’s why this exists…because not many people are buying that 1SS/2SS. This is exactly what many people have asked for. I would own one in a second, but I am still making payments on my 2010 2SS. I think this is a brilliant move by GM. I just hope it pays off, because with the current sales numbers I fear another end is coming soon for the Camaro.
I have an idea why not design a new car? I mean the Camaro looks the same since it came back, it’s still a 67-69 clone wannabe. GM should move it up a bit as far as styling goes since the C8 will be into a different market somewhat it leaves room for the Camaro to be more like the second gen Camaro was, I personally think they hit the wall as far as design goes this car is heading into a dead end real fast.
And please make one you car see out of. Last GM product was a 2006 MonteCarlo. Driving a Mustang now and love it!!!
“Brilliant move” _ That would mean exceptional, game changing. While I like the idea of the LT1, it is not going to move the needle much, if at all. It will sell a few more units, but some of those will be stolen from the SS.
Now it would be my choice over the boy racer SS, but the fact that the 1LE package isn’t available equals a no sale for me. I track my cars.
Taking your car to the track and pushing it into the 9th percentile is great fun and safe. Playing on the street in those extreme regimes is just stupid no matter what your ride is.
“While I like the idea of the LT1, it is not going to move the needle much, if at all. It will sell a few more units, but some of those will be stolen from the SS.”
That’s not what the date shows. These sales have typically gone to Challenger R/T and Mustang GT base. These people wanted a Camaro SS but could not swing the higher price. Now they can come back.
This segment, which is already not a high volume space, is all about a few units here and a few units there. The strategy is to eliminate reasons for people NOT to buy your offering… which is what they’re doing.
So no, these sales will go to Camaro… and they will be new to the Camaro. Those who have the funds to spend more for the SS will do so, as they have been.
Those who have the funds to get the 1LE package and all the necessary items to track their cars will have no problem going to LT 1LE or SS 1LE. The LT1 is here to purely satisfy the street people.
Alex, can you produce sale numbers for V8 equipped Camaro’s. I bet they don’t amount to many. And in my area, the left over previous model year Camaro’s still sitting on the lots always seem to be SS’s.
While the LT1 is clearly a Boulevard Cruiser, Road racer/track rats see a car lighter than the SS variants and they would prefer to build on it, rather than a heavier car with more doodads that they don’t need. The extra bucks saved could go to a staggered set of wheels and race rubber and race pads.
I also doubt that an LT1-1-1LE would rob any sales from turbo-4 or V6 1LE’s as they probably have no real significant buy rate.
I do agree that the LT1 could steal a token amount of sales from the Mustang and Challenger, but I don’t see much cross shopping of any of the Ponies. Mustang buyers are just that. Same for Challenger buyers. There are darn few Pony buyers who don’t already have a preferred choice in the race. And buyers without prejudice like myself are few and far between.
I would add that the marketing strategy regarding the exclusion of the 1LE pkg for the LT1 is a stumble, but probably of little sales consequence, as V8 models are cars chasing a rapidly fading market.
I still contend that the biggest problem regarding slow sales of the Gen-6, is the Gen-5. Owners of those Camaro’s are probably pretty reluctant to give up their Gen-5 for a Gen-6, as it is still a very desirable car that still looks great, eye candy for sure, even classic. I still swivel my head to take one in whenever I see one.
It would be hard to give up one for a newer one that doesn’t offer much more, and I suspect that a lot of Gen-5’s will be keepers.
love my gen 5 ss1
you can add the 1LE suspension for 1500 plus install
They still don’t seem to understand why they have slumping Camaro sales. I bought a new GM car on the average of every 2-3 years since 1962. My last GM car was a 2006 Monte Carlo. All my cars have been a two door coupe which are becoming hard to find. Since the 2006 Monte Carlo, I have bought 4 new cars from other car companies. Make me a Camaro I can see out of and feel safe driving and I will be back but not until.
How did GM make the lower tier headlamps better looking than the higher?
With all the items not on the LT1 as compared to the SS, the car must be lighter. Is so, would it also be faster than a 2SS for example?
I bet that could be the reason the 1LE package is not available, because I am inclined to think a 1LE LT1 would be a real threat to V6 1LE and SS 1LE sales.
I applaud Chevrolet for doing this with the Camaro. Very smart idea. I would still offer a V8 Camaro with a lower trim option than this. An RS Camaro with a 5.3L V8 pushing 375hp/415tq. Very simply put the L99 heads, cams and intake manifold on the 5.3L V8, Z/28 LS7 style exhaust manifolds, Z28 cold air intake, 18″ wheels, non brembo brakes, single mode exhaust, cloth interior, rear spoiler, RS package styling, etc. with a starting price of $27,500.00. Chevrolet could take this car and offer so many things and make this the “People’s Camaro” Offering GMPP upgrades such as lights, grilles, wheels, superchargers, spoilers, suspension upgrades, RS interior packages, etc. The thing about Camaros and mustangs and cars like this is that it doesn’t always have to be some super track star car or anything like that. Don’t get me wrong the ZL1 and the 1LE cars are great cars, even the regular SS is a phenomenal vehicle, but honestly they’re completely unaffordable, and let’s face it, most people who buy a camaro, don’t really want a v6, it’s just the Camaro that is affordable. I think that an “RS-327″ Camaro and the Camaro LT1 would seriously bump up Camaro sales because now you’re offering cars that are in a price range that the average person can attain.
Also, not everyone wants a nearly 500hp car. For one, there is no where to really use that kind of power on the street and two, a lot of people who get their hands on these cars, can’t really handle that kind of power but they want a V8, hence all of the accidents. A modern day entry level Camaro with the same HP/TQ specs as the 1968 Camaro SS-396 with the L89 package 375hp/415tq backed by a 10-speed auto or 6-speed manual would be a great car. Sitting on 18×9.5” 5-spoke Chevy modern “Magnum-500” style wheels wrapped in 255/50R18 tires front and rear, a rear duckbill spoiler, houndstooth sport cloth seats with optional RS Package “Contour” seats (you know, the ones with the Camaro name written all over it) a non-Bose stereo system, it would be nice if GM would put a Pioneer setup in this Camaro at least as an option with the RS appearance package. It’s along the same lines as when GM put the LS4 5.3L in the Monte Carlo, the Impala and the Grand Prix. Beyond the fact that they were FWD, they were decent performance cars and they sounded great! They were very distinct and throaty but never obtrusive (they could have been a little louder though). But a car like that would put more butts in the seat of a Camaro. I would even add the vertical RS grille emblem in the center of the front grille, along with a blue bow tie trunk emblem, V flag fender emblems, 68-style RS graphics on the RS appearance package, etc. This car would truly get a lot of people to buy a Camaro. An affordable, approachable, entry level V8 Camaro muscle car, that puts an emphasis on truly great street performance, reliability and simplicity. Also, giving us colors like tuxedo black, cordovan maroon, fathom blue, deep red, etc.
I agree and have been a proponent of using the L83 engine in an “RS” package as the entry level V8 for a while now. Just to clarify a few things though. The L83 on E85 is 380hp & 416tq as is right now. So the mods your talking about aren’t needed, just use E85.
http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-engines/l83/
If you want to mod this engine you can’t use any 6.2l heads as the bore is too small, never mind valve shroud.
However, a cam upgrade, intake,headers/exhaust, and throttle body with an appropriate tune would certainly put you well over 400+ hp and equally increased torque. Add modest boost, below 8psi, to the stock bottom end and enjoy, lol. Many articles out there doing these mods with the LS based 5.3l. The L83 would most likely be even better.
Now if GM would only listen to our logic, lol…
Fire the idiot who designed the hideous front of the 2020 Camaro. I have owned over 20 fbodies. The last few years have been the ugliest yet made. Pull your heads out of your butts GM and make us a Camaro that can compete with Ford and Chrysler. You guys seriously suck.
I bought a brand new 2016 2500hd which is a really good looking truck. I’d love to buy another new Camaro….
GM……sales are awful for the Camaro. Redesign it already!!!!
It seems to me, one who knows something about the history of Chevrolet, that the LT1 IS what the “SS” used to be – a stripped down model, with a big (block) V8, built for performance, not style (posers), to go fast in a straight line – the Z/28 (1LE) is for those who want to road-race.
That being said, I like the idea of a model with minimal options and great performance at a (somewhat) affordable price.
I just with that Chevy would stay true to their roots with naming these vehicles – switch the SS and LT1 bames and we’re fine.
Don’t get me started on the Blazer…
The origin of the ‘SS’ nomenclature started off as a trim option on Impalas _ Bucket seats _ console with shifter, manual or auto _ badging & hub caps. It didn’t denote V8 power.
The LT1 as I recall, originally was a Corvette engine option. A buddy had one. One morning I asked him where it was and he threw me the keys and said it was down the street. It was, down in a deep ditch. I went home and got my truck, chains, and picked up another buddy and went back and hauled it out and later took it to my shop as the hung over owner didn’t want it anymore. I sold it for him as I had a side business trading Corvettes at the time.
This will mostly all depend on what dealers order, because that’s what people are forced to buy to get the best deal; whatever is on the lot.
Thst said, dealers around here don’t have too many 1SS’, it’s usually base 2SS. With the right internal GM incentives for dealers to order and stock the LT1, at the lower price point where it can’t be loaded up with $10k in options, it may well work out.
But remains to be seen if dealers want to order anything; there are still more then a handful of 2018 Camaros still around here. With the Mustang being brought it much cheaper by the Ford dealers here, and the Challenger an option for those who want a back seat, the Camaro has its work cut out for it.
But, maybe I bite the bullet if they come as advertised. That said there’s still going to be 19’s on the lots when these 20s come out.
This comment is the hidden key to this car. The high Camaro prices are usually due to over option checking dealers. “It’s just $2,000” only applies to base 1LT vs base 1SS, which is very hard to find without even a few options checked. 1LT removes the ability for dealers to make it rediculous.
besides everything else, you can’t get a/c and heated seats, an hd radio, a cd deck, a killer sound system, 3.55 rear gears, dual zone air/c, all of this and more, you can get in a mustang, but not in a camaro.
Your post is a bit contradictory as most of what you say is options for the base 1SS and only available on the 2SS. Both are more expensive than the LT1. A/C is single zone but it is still A/C. When has a stereo “upgrade” from the manufacturer ever been as good and less expensive than the aftermarket?? Never. Gear ratio for the auto and manual is the same as the 1SS. Sorry if you don’t like the LT1, go buy a mustang and get your @$$ spanked Justin, er..johnny Bieber, lol…
I’m sorry for you, I do own a mustang and I will put it up against your crappy Camaro “ANY DAY, ANY TIME” and we see who gets spanked!!!!! I use to own several camaro and sold them all, will take a pony car any day over a camaro!
Timothy_ The Camaro is a a Pony car. The assignation ‘Pony Car’ was applied to a new class of vehicles following in the format of the Mustang, too include Firebird, Challenger, Barrucuda, Javelin, Cougar, and yes… Camaro’s.
And no, they are not ‘Muscle’ cars. To be a Muscle car, the vehicle had to be an intermediate size or smaller car with a ‘Big Block’ performance engine.
The new 2020 LT1 looks to be a move in the right direction for GM if it hopes to attract more V-8 buyers ; provided that the front end design is more improved from the terrible 2019 design and the mid-year 2019 only slightly better re-design.
To attract even more buyers I would eliminate even more features like power seats and other driving non-essentials and lower the price even more. I would add a standard locking fuel door and factory rally strips instead of the very cheap decals which are inappropriate on a high performance car.
Not sure if I am sold on this. Not much difference from a bare bones 1SS and LT1.
Also, LT1 in the Auto mode does not have track mode on a version with NPP. In a 2SS track mode offers u competition mode and full power.
Is the LT1 the same power times in 0-60 and 1/4 times. If so then it might be the one to get if it’s lighter for drag racing. Still no enough info out there on this car for power comparison to a 1SS.
I think the LT1 is a big hit in my book. I love the LT front end much better than the SS model and im not one to take my ride to the track so I wont be missing all of the suspension goodies. Great job GM, homerun!
One thing that has not been mentioned here that would affect my buying decision between LT1 and 1SS is the dash/gauges provided with LT1. From what I am able to find, instrumentation is 1LT and does not provide same cluster as 1SS. For my money, I would forgo electric seats and possibly other features to have the 1SS gauge cluster and heads up on the LT1. Basic radio / stereo is OK, but as a cruiser, you want a good look. At this value price point, people are looking for a base performance package, not necessarily for the track, but one commensurate with the relatively high price of LT1.
Just traded my ’19 1SS in for the phenomenal lease deal on the LT1. Looking forward to having the 10 spd auto for a change. Previous 3 Camaros have been 6 spd manuals. Good job Chevy. I love these cars!