2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Nurburgring lap

American manufacturers, GM in particular, are certainly taking this whole Nurburgring malarkey seriously.

First the Dodge Viper ACR, then the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and now the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 have all set lap times around the Green Hell that only a few years ago would have been the preserve of mega-dollar exotica.

To put the new Camaro ZL1's 7min29.6sec effort in perspective, it's a similar time to the likes of the Porsche Carrera GT and the Nissan GT-R's 2008 time that caused such a stir between itself and Porsche.

While the Camaro's time is slower than the likes of the Corvette and Viper, it's still an extremely impressive effort for a large, heavy muscle car with an automatic transmission.

Then again, that automatic is part of the secret to the Camaro's success, as the ZL1 is equipped with GM's new 10-speed auto.

Just why you need 10 speeds when you have a 477kW/868Nm 6.2-litre supercharged V8 under the bonnet is beyond us, but it does allow the driver to keep the engine precisely in its sweet spot, the revs dropping only around 1000rpm on most shifts.

Other Camaro highlights are Magnetic Ride dampers like those in the HSV GTS, huge Brembo brakes and massive Goodyear tyres measuring 285/30 ZR20 at the front and 305/30 ZR20 ar the rear.

And if you like to work on your tan while tearing up the track, it's even available as a convertible. Sadly, until GM decides to build the Camaro in right-hand drive, the availability of the ZL1 in Australia will be limited to private imports.