World’s Fastest LTG Camaro Sets Another Quarter-Mile Record
If a Camaro, Mustang, Challenger, or Charger has anything less than eight cylinders under the hood, nobody gives it a second thought. But the turbo 4-bangers in the late model Mustangs and Camaros have an impressive performance aftermarket and can put some of the more potent factory V8s to shame. For this 2016 LTG Camaro, it’s setting records at the drag strip.
What is an LTG Camaro?
The LTG is the engine code for the all-aluminum DOHC turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that Chevrolet chose for the entry-level engine in the sixth-gen Camaro. These little engines are potent with 275 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 295 lb-ft at 3000–4500 rpm in stock form. But like any turbocharged performance engine, the aftermarket can take those numbers way higher. It’s not uncommon to add around 100 horsepower with some simple bolt-ons and light tuning, but if you’re willing to get your hands really dirty, you can double the stock output.
A Four-Cylinder Camaro Nobody Can Ignore
Jake A. Starr of Wellsburg, Iowa, has officially raised the bar for the 2.0L Camaro platform with his 2016 LTG Camaro with the help of ZZPerformance, who have a long history of making tuning parts for late-model 4cyl and 6cyl GM engines. A while back, Jake dipped into the high-nine-second range with his 6th-gen, and now he’s set a record for the fastest LTG Camaro in the quarter mile with a 9.768-second quarter-mile pass at 137mph, making it the fastest turbo 2.0-liter Camaro on the planet.
The number is impressive on its own, but the circumstances behind it make the achievement even more significant. The pass came on only the fifth outing with the current setup, showing just how much potential still remains in the combination. This is not a stripped-down one-hit build designed solely to chase a timeslip. It remains a legitimate Alpha platform Camaro that continues to challenge what most enthusiasts thought was possible from a turbocharged four-cylinder package.
Built To Handle Serious Power
At the center of the build is a fully built 2.0-liter engine paired with a custom turbo system built around a Xona Rotor 7164 turbo. Fuel delivery is handled through a combination of XDI injectors, an auxiliary fuel pump, and ZZPerformance’s sixth-port injection system. The valvetrain features upgraded Stage 2 cams and valvesprings from ZZP as well.
The setup was designed around airflow, consistency, and repeatable performance. The compact nature of the LTG platform also helps preserve the Camaro’s chassis balance while still delivering enough power to push the car deep into the nines with peak figures of 593 horsepower near 6,500 rpm and 511 lb-ft of torque around 5,500 rpm.
A Drivetrain Ready For Drag Duty
A serious drag package needs more than engine power, and this Camaro backs it up with a drivetrain built to survive repeated launches. The car runs what is described as the world’s first built 8L45 automatic transmission developed specifically for drag racing, created alongside Chuck at Fisher Built. Supporting hardware includes a limited-slip rear differential and SS axles, addressing known weak points within the platform and helping the car leave consistently without unnecessary drama.
The entire build was assembled and refined by ZZPerformance, but the project is far from finished. Jake plans to continue putting miles on the car at events including Sick Summer, Camaro Fest, Street Car Takeover, and Ice Cream Cruise.
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