Borla ATAK Cat-Back Exhaust Review: Camaro ZL1 (2017-23)

The Borla ATAK cat-back exhaust is the loudest, most aggressive bolt-on system Borla builds for the 2017-2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and it is engineered specifically for the car's supercharged 6.2L LT4 V8. ATAK stands for Acoustically Tuned Applied Technology — Borla's name for a straight-through design voiced to be as loud as a street car should get without droning on the highway. In our Tampa, FL shop, the sixth-gen ZL1 rolls in making 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft from its factory Eaton TVS R1740 supercharger, and every owner wants the same thing: an exhaust that finally lets that engine breathe and bark. Here is our full review — sound character, fitment, real-world power, and how it stacks up against the quieter Borla S-Type and a CORSA valved axle-back.

What Is the Borla ATAK Cat-Back for the Camaro ZL1?

The Borla ATAK cat-back (part number 140727CFBA) is a 3-inch, T-304 stainless steel exhaust system that replaces everything behind the catalytic converters on the 2017-2023 Camaro ZL1. It uses a merge X-pipe, patented straight-through multi-core mufflers, and dual 4-inch carbon-fiber-tipped outlets, and it retains the car's factory NPP dual-mode valves for on-demand volume control. ATAK is the most aggressive of Borla's three sound levels — Touring is the quietest, S-Type sits in the middle, and ATAK is the loudest — so this is the system for the owner who wants the ZL1 to announce itself.

Borla builds every system from premium T-304 stainless (superior to the T-409 and 400-series steels used by budget brands), with ultra-smooth mandrel bends for maximum flow and CNC-controlled fabrication for an accurate, no-cut bolt-on fit. The carbon-fiber black-anodized tips on this SKU give the ZL1's rear diffuser a menacing, blacked-out look that pairs perfectly with the car's aggressive aero. Because it is a true cat-back, it leaves your catalytic converters in place, which keeps the install straightforward and emissions equipment intact.

How Loud Is the Borla ATAK on a ZL1?

The Borla ATAK is the loudest cat-back Borla offers for the ZL1, delivering an aggressive, wide-open-throttle bark that is noticeably louder than the factory NPP exhaust while staying drone-free at a steady highway cruise. That is the whole point of Borla's Acoustically Tuned Applied Technology: the straight-through, multi-core mufflers are voiced to amplify the LT4's supercharged snarl under load, then settle down when you lift off the throttle. Cold starts are a proper event, and roll-on acceleration produces the deep, layered V8 tone the ATAK line is known for.

Because the system retains the ZL1's factory dual-mode (NPP) valves, you keep the car's Tour, Sport, Track, and Stealth exhaust modes. In Stealth or Tour, the valves stay closed for quieter neighborhood-friendly starts and cruising; in Track, they open fully for the meanest sound. The ATAK is louder than the S-Type at every valve position, so if you have neighbors who already dislike your ZL1, the ATAK will not win them over — that is a feature, not a bug.

In our Tampa shop, the reaction we hear most from ZL1 owners after fitting the ATAK is how much richer the supercharger content becomes: with the restrictive factory mufflers gone, the blower's high-rpm whine layers over a deeper, harder-edged V8 note. If you want the same voice with the volume dialed back a notch, that is exactly what the S-Type delivers — and it is why we always ask a customer how and where they drive before recommending one over the other.

Does the Borla ATAK Add Horsepower to the LT4?

A cat-back exhaust like the Borla ATAK frees up a modest but real amount of power on the supercharged LT4 — expect single-digit rear-wheel horsepower and torque gains, because the primary flow restriction on a 650-hp ZL1 lives in the catalytic converters and heads, not the mufflers alone. Where the ATAK earns its keep is exhaust velocity and weight: the 3-inch mandrel-bent tubing and straight-through cores reduce back-pressure versus the restrictive factory mufflers, and the all-stainless system is lighter than the OEM setup, which helps throttle response.

Context matters here. The sixth-gen ZL1's LT4 already makes 650 hp and 650 lb-ft courtesy of an Eaton TVS R1740 1.7-liter supercharger, direct injection, and a liquid-to-air charge cooler — enough to launch a roughly 3,853-lb coupe to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds and through the quarter-mile in the low-to-mid 11-second range on stock tires. On a factory-blown engine like this, the exhaust system's job is to reduce restriction and let the supercharger do its work, not to conjure 50 horsepower out of thin air.

If your goal is chasing big dyno numbers, the cat-back is step one of a system: add long-tube headers, high-flow cats, an upgraded supercharger pulley, and a custom tune, and the exhaust becomes the outlet that lets those parts work. For the vast majority of ZL1 owners, though, the ATAK is bought for sound, looks, and the lifetime-warranty peace of mind — the small power bump is a welcome bonus, not the headline.

Borla ATAK vs S-Type vs CORSA Axle-Back: Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Borla ATAK if you want the loudest, most aggressive sound; choose the Borla S-Type if you want that same premium build with a slightly more livable daily volume; and choose the CORSA valved axle-back if you want a lower-cost, install-friendly upgrade with CORSA's patented drone-cancellation. All three retain the factory NPP valves and use carbon-fiber-tipped, stainless construction. Here is how they compare on the specs that matter most for a ZL1:

Best Cold Air Intake to Pair With the Borla ATAK

The single best complement to a Borla cat-back on a ZL1 is a high-flow cold air intake, because a freer-flowing intake lets the supercharged LT4 inhale as easily as it now exhales. An intake sharpens throttle response, adds an audible supercharger whine, and typically frees a few horsepower on its own. We stock three proven options for the 2017-2023 ZL1, from a show-quality forged carbon fiber piece to value-driven performance intakes.

Fitment and Installation on the 2017-2023 Camaro ZL1

The Borla ATAK is a direct bolt-on for the 2017-2023 Camaro ZL1 6.2L equipped with the factory NPP dual-mode exhaust, and it requires no cutting, welding, or tune to install. It uses the factory hangers and clamps to the OEM catalytic converters, so a competent DIYer can complete the swap in roughly 2 to 3 hours with basic hand tools and a lift or jack stands. Because it is a cat-back, it does not touch your emissions equipment and does not throw a check-engine light on its own.

One important note: like most performance exhaust and intake products, some of these systems are not CARB-approved and cannot be shipped to California addresses — always confirm your state's requirements before ordering. If you are local to Tampa, FL, our shop can professionally install your Borla system and dial in the fit while you wait. Questions on fitment for your specific ZL1 build? Reach out to the NLP Performance team before you buy and we will confirm the right part number.