Lucas Bell 
The words muscle car are going to conjure up specific thoughts in the mind of any gearhead. Smokey burnouts, ferocious runs down the drag strip, and the noise of a V8 engine are what we associate these machines with. Of course in this era of turbocharging and downsizing, not every muscle car on sale today carries a V8. Cars like the Mustang EcoBoost and the Chevrolet Camaro 1LT allow owners to get a feel for the segment at a more affordable price point. Or at least that is what the MSRP would lead you to believe. MC&T readers may recall a lease deal on offer from GM at the end of 2020, which made the V8-powered 2021 Chevrolet Camaro LT1 cheaper than its four-cylinder stablemate. As the new year dawns, that deal has gotten even better.
According to the folks at CarsDirect, Chevrolet’s dealer leasing bulletin is currently offering Camaro LT1 coupes for just $274 a month for 39 months, with just $274 due at signing. This lease pricing is based on a vehicle carrying an MSRP of $36,590 including delivery, and allows owners up to 10,000 miles per year. These prices make the LT1 cheaper to lease than any of the four-cylinder Camaro offerings, despite it’s significantly higher MSRP. This is the result of the Camaro LT1’s higher residual value, as well as the lower interest rate found on the V8-powered model.
As the name suggests, the Chevrolet Camaro LT1 is powered by the 6.2L LT1 V8 engine, which produces 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. That is significantly more grunt than the 275 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque provided by the 1LT’s 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder. The V8 powertrain allows the Camaro LT1 to do 0-60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, before completing the 1/4 mile in 12.2 seconds. Not bad for the cheapest V8-powered muscle car on the market, with or without the lease offer.
If you are in the market for a new muscle car, it may be worth checking out the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro LT1. It might not be the flashiest muscle car on sale today, but at least it is powered by a gem of a V8 engine. It is worth noting that Chevrolet always includes a $1,500 credit into their pricing bulletins, which assumes that you already drive one of their products. As a result, prices may not be exactly as depicted when you talk to a dealer. This offer is slated to be offered nationwide through February 1.
Awesome reporting of a great deal. Acting fast would be prudent