Latest news with #ZL1


Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
America's Most-Stolen Vehicle Proves Thieves Love the Camaro ZL1's Horsepower
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-the most powerful version of Chevy's discontinued muscle car-is America's most-stolen vehicle, according to a new report from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), a research arm of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Relative to its numbers on the road, the ZL1 had a theft rate 39 times the average for all vehicles surveyed. All-wheel drive variants of the Acura TLX were the second-most prone to theft, according to the report, followed by the standard Camaro, the GMC Sierra 2500 (in crew-cab, four-wheel drive form), and the front-wheel drive TLX. Those rankings are based on whole-vehicle theft claims filed with insurance companies for the 2022-2024 model years. "Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower," Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at the HLDI and IIHS, said in a statement. "This also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro." If its high horsepower makes the Camaro ZL1 a more likely target for thieves, a software vulnerability might make it easier to successfully steal, according to the HLDI. The organization cited media reports that thieves can clone the key fob for newer Camaros using diagnostic ports. Chevy standardized a keyless pushbutton ignition for the sixth-generation Camaro, which was sold from model years 2016 to 2024, but the HLDI noticed a sharp increase in theft claims for these cars beginning in 2023, peaking in March 2024 with 18.3 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years (a measurement of one vehicle insured for one year), compared with about 1.3 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years for the previous 2010-2015 model. General Motors launched a service campaign in March 2025 aimed at reducing theft risk for 2020-2024 Camaro models, in the form of a free software update performed by dealerships. A similar campaign helped tame a rash of thefts of Hyundai and Kia models that began in 2021, according to a previous HLDI report. Meanwhile, Tesla monopolized the podium for least-stolen vehicles. The dual-motor Model 3 had the lowest incidence of whole-vehicle theft claims, followed by the Model Y and single-motor Model 3. the fourth and fifth least-stolen vehicles-the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Tesla Model S, respectively-also had charge ports. That's not a coincidence. Across multiple studies, the HLDI has found that EVs are more likely to be garaged or parked near buildings for charging, making them less attractive to thieves. Plug-in hybrids like the RAV4 Prime are also likely to parked at a charger overnight (assuming owners are using them correctly, that is). Including the all-plug-in top five, the top 20 least-stolen vehicles included eight all-electric models and two plug-in hybrids, all of which had whole-vehicle theft claim rates that were more than 85% lower than average. It's another potential advantage to buying an EV, albeit one we really don't want to have to think about. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


UPI
7 days ago
- Automotive
- UPI
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ranked most stolen car in United States
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the most frequently stolen car in the United States. Photo by Mauricio Duenas Castaneda/EPA Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has become the most frequently stolen car in the United States, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, or HLDI. The HLDI's analysis shows that in relation to the number of Camaro ZL1s on the roads, it has a whole-vehicle theft rate 39 times the average compared to all other vehicles. The regular Camaro has also become a top target for thieves, with a whole-vehicle theft rate 13 times the average of all vehicles. The targeting of Camaros is a recent development, according to HLDI, which reports it hasn't historically appeared near the top of its vehicle theft claim frequency rankings. However, its two latest reports for 2025 rank the ZL1 two-door, Camaro two-door and Camaro convertible among the 10 2022-24 passenger vehicles with the highest theft and whole vehicle theft claim occurrences. "Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower," said Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at HLDI and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in a press release. "That also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro." Aside from the horsepower, Camaros also have a technical issue that allows thieves to clone the key code for newer models by accessing the car's on-board ports. General Motors launched a service campaign in March for 2020-24 Camaro models, under which owners can bring their vehicles to dealerships for a free software update that should reduce the theft risk. In the other direction, the 20 least-stolen vehicles include eight electric vehicles and two plug-in hybrids, which all have whole-vehicle theft claim incidences that are more than 85% lower than the all-vehicle average. HDLI studies have shown electric vehicles are not as attractive to thieves because they're more likely to be in a garage or parked near buildings to facilitate charging.


The Hill
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hill
The 20 most-stolen cars in America, according to insurance data
(NEXSTAR) – Sports cars and SUVs made by Chevrolet, Acura and GMC are among some of the most-stolen vehicles in America, according to a new report. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), a supporting organization of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), has released the findings of its latest research into whole-vehicle theft claims among 2022-24 model years, revealing which cars thieves tend to target through 2024. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was determined to be the most frequently stolen — by a lot. The theft rate of the ZL1 was 39 times higher than that of the average car, according to the HDLI. 'Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower,' Matt Moore, the IILS-HLDI chief insurance operations officer, explained in a release issued Thursday. 'That also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro.' Aside from being a more desirable car in general, the HLDI says a 'glitch' allowed thieves to electronically clone a Camaro's key fob signal by accessing one of the car's ports. But officials have previously warned that certain devices can clone a key fob signal simply by being nearby. 'These devices are about the size of a cell phone and are a programming tool that picks up the signal of a key fob nearby which the device then clones,' the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) told Camaro owners in 2024, when announcing the arrest of an alleged car thief. At the time, LAPD detectives advised keeping key fobs in protected cases, or even wrapping them in foil. The HLDI says some Camaro owners are also eligible for a software upgrade which can fix the issue. Other cars from newer model years that were identified as the most-stolen in America include the Acura TLX 4WD, which is 21 times more likely to be reported as a whole-vehicle theft than the average car, and the regular Chevrolet Camaro model, which is 12 times more likely. The 20 most-stolen cars in the U.S. (model years 2022–24) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Acura TLX 4WD Chevrolet Camaro GMC Sierra 2500 crew cab 4WD Acura TLX 2WD GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD Dodge Durango 4WD Land Rover Range Rover 4WD Ram 1500 crew cab short-wheelbase 4WD Chevrolet Silverado 2500 crew cab 4WD Ram 3500 crew cab long-wheelbase 4WD Honda CR-V hybrid 4WD GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab 2WD Dodge Durango 2WD GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab 4WD BMW X7 4WD Mercedes-Benz S-Class long-wheelbase 4WD Jeep Gladiator crew cab convertible 4WD Cadillac Escalade ESV 4WD To come to its findings, analysts with the HLDI studied each model's frequency of whole-vehicle thefts, which the organization determines by 'comparing the dollar amounts of theft claims with what insurers pay for the same vehicles when they're totaled in a crash.' The organization writes that insurance claims regarding theft usually don't indicate whether the whole car or parts was stolen. Meanwhile, earlier this year, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) identified its own list of the most-stolen vehicles in 2024, albeit among any model year. Their findings identified the top five as the Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Honda Accord, and Kia Optima. To determine its lists, the NICB has historically used information submitted by law enforcement agencies to the NICB. More information from the HLDI's report, including some of the least-stolen car models, can be found at the organization's website.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Classic Oldsmobile 442 Nearly Outruns Modern Camaro ZL1 in Surprising Drag Strip Duel
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious A recent drag racing video has ignited the interest of muscle car fans after a classic Oldsmobile 442 nearly beat a modern Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Island Dragway, proving that old-school power can still hold its own against high-tech horsepower. Captured by ImportRace and shared on YouTube, the footage shows the modern Camaro ZL1, a supercharged V8 beast rated at 650 horsepower, line up against a second-generation Oldsmobile 442, likely a 1970 model. Despite being separated by more than five decades of engineering, the pair delivered an intensely close showdown. In the race that caught enthusiasts' attention, the Oldsmobile 442 launched with authority, nearly lifting its front tires off the ground in a dramatic takeoff. It blazed through the quarter-mile in just 10.80 seconds at 121.49 mph. The Camaro ZL1 crossed just behind at 11.45 seconds, although it managed a slightly higher trap speed of 123.41 mph. Though the ZL1 eventually caught up in top-end speed, the Oldsmobile's brutal low-end torque and aggressive launch nearly stole the show—showcasing how well a properly tuned vintage muscle car can compete with today's factory supercars. In another earlier matchup on the same day, the ZL1 faced off against a classic Camaro, winning convincingly with a time of 11.39 seconds compared to its rival's 13.20-second pass. Despite the Camaro ZL1's advanced technology and refined suspension, the Oldsmobile 442 reminded spectators that raw power and muscle-era tuning still deserve respect. As GM has officially ended Camaro production, races like this keep the legacy of American performance alive, proving that sometimes, the underdog isn't the one with less horsepower—it's the one with more history.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Unleashing a Legend: 2013 Camaro ZL1 Hennessey 750 Convertible Roars With Rare Power and Drop-Top Style
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious A rare and barely driven 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible modified by renowned tuner Hennessey Performance is turning heads on the collector market with just 7,436 miles on the odometer—and a staggering 708 horsepower under the hood. Starting life as a factory ZL1 with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, this Victory Red convertible was transformed into an HPE750 by the Texas-based performance powerhouse, Hennessey. The upgrade, which reportedly cost around $25,000, brought extensive modifications including a new camshaft, ported heads, custom pulleys, and an upgraded heat exchanger. The result is a dyno-verified output of 708 hp—up from the factory-rated 580 hp. Performance isn't the only standout. This Camaro wears aggressive styling cues, from carbon fiber hood vents to blacked-out trim, custom badging, and staggered 20-inch wheels wrapped in sticky rubber. The cabin complements the bold exterior with Alcantara-trimmed sport seats featuring red stitching and Hennessey embroidery, along with a touchscreen infotainment system and retro-inspired auxiliary gauges. Shifting duties are handled by a TR6060 six-speed manual transmission, sending power to a 3.73-geared limited-slip rear end. Beneath the surface, a strut tower brace, stainless headers, and upgraded exhaust system refine both handling and soundtrack. Braking is managed by Brembo-supplied power discs at all four corners. Originally built for straight-line muscle, this version shows that open-air performance and track-capable dynamics can coexist. Despite its ferocity, the car remains in near-showroom condition, making it a standout example of modern American muscle. With the ZL1 Hennessey 750 Convertible, Chevrolet and Hennessey prove that even in a world leaning toward electric performance, there's still plenty of thunder left in the old-school V8—and room for the wind in your hair while you're at it. See it here.