ABU DHABI: There was a time when automakers fitted only manual gearbox on the high-performance cars. But the evolution of technology has changed it all. Today, automatic transmissions are no less than manual, in fact, they are at par or beyond.

The latest high-performance vehicle benefitted from an automatic transmission is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. Until now the performance car came with only a manual stick with six gears. But this new year, the company has blessed it with a new 10-speed automatic gearbox that claimed to be faster than the traditional manual gearbox.

The Chevrolet engineers decided to test the newly fitted gearbox at General Motor’s Milford Road Course. And during its run around the lap, it was found that the new Camaro ZL1 1LE with 10-speed auto gearbox was half-second quicker than the manual model.

The chief engineer at Camaro, Mark Dickens said, “This transmission is optimized for speed. With unique Track Mode calibrations and 10 gears, you are always in the perfect gear when rolling on or off the throttle. You may not be a professional race car driver, but now you can shift like one.”

Apart from offering quicker gear shifting, the new auto gearbox features exclusive gear calibrations, a performance-oriented traction management system, and an electronic limited-slip differential. No wonder the new automatic transmission is a practical alternative to the traditional one. And with 659 PS of power mill under the hood, the Camaro ZL1 1LE is certainly ready to take on every challenge that comes its way. The track-tuned car produces a peak torque of 881 Nm.

The director of Passenger Car and Crossover Marketing at Chevrolet, Steve Majoros said, “Adding an automatic transmission is another example of the Camaro portfolio delivering what customers want. This ultimate 1LE is another appealing option that is true to its racing heritage.”