By Chris Perkins, writer and editor, GM News
The engineers at Chevrolet Performance Parts don’t just build and drive fast cars for work.
“We have a group of folks that do this outside of work,” explains Mirza Grebovic, Engineering Group Manager for GM Performance Parts. “We do this at work, we do it before bed, we do it before lunch...”
Grebovic regularly takes his Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing to the track; John Kalbfell, Senior Performance Part Design Release Engineer, has a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro at home. “Our whole group lives and breathes performance,” he says.
They’re part of the team that created the new Carbon Performance Package for sixth-generation Camaro ZL1 coupes. The package isn’t designed simply to look cool – though it does – but to also boost track performance. “Authenticity is super important to us,” Grebovic says. “If we bring this to a track day, we’d be beyond proud.”
CAPTION: The splitter and grille of the Camaro ZL1 Carbon Performance Package.
The package consists of the grille from the ZL1 1LE, a new splitter with unique carbon-fiber end caps, a carbon-fiber hood insert, carbon-fiber rocker extensions, and a large carbon-fiber rear wing with a wicker bill. Optionally, customers can add Tech Bronze wheels to the package, for an even greater visual punch.
Kalbfell’s aim was to get to a similar level of aerodynamic performance as a ZL1 1LE, while maintaining the touring capability the ZL1 is known for. The team ended up achieving aerodynamic downforce within 5% of a ZL1 1LE.
That takes a lot of effort. Both virtual – aerodynamics in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), vehicle dynamics in simulation – and real-world testing. It’s not just about adding downforce: the package has to work holistically.
CAPTION: The carbon-fiber rear wing for the Camaro ZL1 Carbon Performance Package.
“We put it in the development team’s hands, a lot of the people that worked on the original car,” Kalbfell explains, “and they did laps at Milford to make sure the aero balance was correct, to make sure the car was stable, make sure the car cornered the way they wanted it.”
This package reflects a collaboration between our aerodynamic teams in Warren, Michigan and our motorsports team in Concord, North Carolina. “We really make sure all the technology NASCAR pushes and all their learnings at high speeds do correlate to our performance vehicles from the factory,” Kalbfell says.
It’s also a reflection of Grebovic and Kalbfell’s hobbies outside of work. Grebovic bought a fifth-generation Camaro SS 1LE back in 2012 and started taking it to the track. Not simply for his own fun, but to make a better product.
CAPTION: The carbon-fiber splitter end caps and optional Tech Bronze wheels of the Camaro ZL1 Carbon Performance Package.
“I bought something that’s track-capable to go find out what I need,” Grebovic says. “What issues am I running into? What kind of customer feedback am I hearing?” Trying to answer those questions led to better products, and now, he’s seeing more GM products on track days than ever. “We really upped our game. The learnings I take from there is just hearing customer voices and going through the ownership experience.”
The Carbon Performance Package is one of so many offerings for Chevrolet vehicles in the Chevrolet Performance Parts catalog. There, you’ll find everything from winches for off-road vehicles, to big-brake kits, to complete engines. Like the 632 cubic inch, 1004-horsepower ZZ632/1000, our most powerful Big-Block V8.
CAPTION: The carbon-fiber hood insert of the Camaro ZL1 Carbon Performance Package.
Engineers like Grebovic and Kalbfell are part of a long tradition at GM. “We’ve been mentored by folks that have been in Performance at GM longer than us,” Grebovic says. “The slogan was always ‘from racers to racers.’”
The Carbon Performance Package for the 2017-2024 Camaro ZL1 Coupe is available exclusively through the 2026 Chevrolet Performance Parts catalog now.
The engineers at Chevrolet Performance Parts don’t just build and drive fast cars for work.
“We have a group of folks that do this outside of work,” explains Mirza Grebovic, Engineering Group Manager for GM Performance Parts. “We do this at work, we do it before bed, we do it before lunch...”
Grebovic regularly takes his Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing to the track; John Kalbfell, Senior Performance Part Design Release Engineer, has a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro at home. “Our whole group lives and breathes performance,” he says.
They’re part of the team that created the new Carbon Performance Package for sixth-generation Camaro ZL1 coupes. The package isn’t designed simply to look cool – though it does – but to also boost track performance. “Authenticity is super important to us,” Grebovic says. “If we bring this to a track day, we’d be beyond proud.”
The package consists of the grille from the ZL1 1LE, a new splitter with unique carbon-fiber end caps, a carbon-fiber hood insert, carbon-fiber rocker extensions, and a large carbon-fiber rear wing with a wicker bill. Optionally, customers can add Tech Bronze wheels to the package, for an even greater visual punch.
Kalbfell’s aim was to get to a similar level of aerodynamic performance as a ZL1 1LE, while maintaining the touring capability the ZL1 is known for. The team ended up achieving aerodynamic downforce within 5% of a ZL1 1LE.
That takes a lot of effort. Both virtual – aerodynamics in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), vehicle dynamics in simulation – and real-world testing. It’s not just about adding downforce: the package has to work holistically.
“We put it in the development team’s hands, a lot of the people that worked on the original car,” Kalbfell explains, “and they did laps at Milford to make sure the aero balance was correct, to make sure the car was stable, make sure the car cornered the way they wanted it.”
This package reflects a collaboration between our aerodynamic teams in Warren, Michigan and our motorsports team in Concord, North Carolina. “We really make sure all the technology NASCAR pushes and all their learnings at high speeds do correlate to our performance vehicles from the factory,” Kalbfell says.
It’s also a reflection of Grebovic and Kalbfell’s hobbies outside of work. Grebovic bought a fifth-generation Camaro SS 1LE back in 2012 and started taking it to the track. Not simply for his own fun, but to make a better product.
%20-%20ChevroletPerformance_Camaro_Grattan_57.jpg "The carbon-fiber splitter end caps and optional Tech Bronze wheels of the Camaro ZL1 Carbon Performance Package")
“I bought something that’s track-capable to go find out what I need,” Grebovic says. “What issues am I running into? What kind of customer feedback am I hearing?” Trying to answer those questions led to better products, and now, he’s seeing more GM products on track days than ever. “We really upped our game. The learnings I take from there is just hearing customer voices and going through the ownership experience.”
The Carbon Performance Package is one of so many offerings for Chevrolet vehicles in the Chevrolet Performance Parts catalog. There, you’ll find everything from winches for off-road vehicles, to big-brake kits, to complete engines. Like the 632 cubic inch, 1004-horsepower ZZ632/1000, our most powerful Big-Block V8.
Engineers like Grebovic and Kalbfell are part of a long tradition at GM. “We’ve been mentored by folks that have been in Performance at GM longer than us,” Grebovic says. “The slogan was always ‘from racers to racers.’”
The Carbon Performance Package for the 2017-2024 Camaro ZL1 Coupe is available exclusively through the 2026 Chevrolet Performance Parts catalog now.