Chevy is showing the first regular production Camaro convertible ahead of its debut at the LA Auto Show. The smart-looking droptop will start at about $30,000 with the 312-hp V6 and head somewhere north of $40 large. The hot Camaro convertible will be the SS model with the 6.2-liter V8 that produces 426 hp when mated to the six-speed manual transmission (the six-speed automatic's engine is rated at 400 hp). Most options and packages match the Camaro Coupe, so I have included the detailed 2011 Camaro press release after the convertible release which should have all the info you need.
Source: Chevrolet - Press releases after the jump.
Press Release:Opening Soon: 2011 Camaro Convertible
The 21st century rebirth of the Chevrolet Camaro opens a new chapter when the 2011 Camaro Convertible premieres at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on Nov. 17.
The Camaro Convertible will arrive in Chevrolet showrooms in February 2011. Starting price will be $30,000, including $850 destination. (Full details will be released later this year.)
“The Convertible will make the all-new Camaro, already a smash-hit, even more desirable to a greater range of drivers,” says Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing.
The Convertible model will be available in the same basic model offering as the Camaro Coupe. The standard model will have a 312-hp Direct Injection V6 engine featuring 29 miles per gallon on the highway. The SS model will feature the 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 426 hp. A six-speed manual transmission will be standard, with an optional six-speed automatic.
Camaro is America’s most popular sports car, seizing leadership in U.S. sales with the coupe model that launched in spring of 2009 as a 2010 model. The right to purchase one of the first Convertibles was recently sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction for $205,000, with all proceeds donated to charity.
About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is a global automotive brand, with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. In the U.S., the Chevrolet portfolio includes: iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly" solutions, such as the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco model that is expected to deliver up to an estimated 40 mpg highway, and 2011 Chevrolet Volt that will offer up to 40 miles of electric driving and an additional 300 miles of extended range with the onboard generator (based on GM testing). Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security, and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response, and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions, and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
Press Release 2:
2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO: THE FUN CONTINUES
Camaro was welcomed back onto the highways, boulevards and cruise nights of America last year with enthusiasm. In a still-recovering market, it outsold its primary pony car rival 11 months straight, with sales of more than 90,000 (through April 2010)
Customers continue to turn their new Camaros into personal statements, outfitting them with the wide array of appearance, convenience and performance options and accessories offered through Chevrolet dealers. The RS appearance package, with its High-Intensity Discharge headlamps accented by LED-illuminated “halo” rings, is the most popular option.
For 2011, the Camaro rolls on with evolutionary changes. They include:
- An increased horsepower rating for the 3.6L V-6 VVT – 312 (232 kW) vs. 2010’s 304 horsepower / 227 kW rating – while still offering an EPA-rated 29 mpg on the highway.
- The Synergy Green Metallic exterior color will be offered on all Camaro models for a limited time; also, the Synergy Green instrument panel and door trim panels on 2LT and 2SS models will be available.
- Head-Up Display is now standard on 2LT and 2SS equipment packages. The system projects vehicle speed and other data onto the windshield for easy, at-a-glance viewing that doesn’t require the driver to take his or her eyes off the road.
- OnStar with a six-month Directions and Connections subscription is standard on all models.
Camaro’s 3.6L direct injection (DI) V-6 delivers more power through increased efficiency, while maintaining fuel economy and lowering emissions – including a 25-percent drop in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions. It is standard on LS and LT models, producing 312 horsepower (232 kW) and 278 lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm). Despite a compression ratio of 11.3:1, the 3.6L DI engine is designed to run on regular unleaded fuel. It is EPA-rated at 29 mpg on the highway.
No changes were made to the Camaro powertrain to achieve the higher horsepower ratings for 2011. They are based on additional testing that demonstrated the Camaro’s air intake and exhaust systems are less restrictive than the similar 3.6L DI engine on which the original rating was based.
Two 6.2L V-8 engines are offered in the Camaro SS, including the L99 on automatic-equipped vehicles and the LS3 on manual-equipped models. Both engines are derived from the LS3 that debuted on the 2008 Corvette, with an aluminum block (with cast iron cylinder liners) and aluminum cylinder heads. Horsepower for the L99 is 400 (298 kW) at 5,900 rpm and torque is 410 lb.-ft. (556 Nm) at 4,300 rpm. The LS3 develops 426 horsepower (318 kW) and 420 lb.-ft. (569 Nm). Output on the L99 is lower than the LS3 because of a slightly lower compression ratio (10.4:1 vs. 10.7:1) and design features of the Active Fuel Management System. The L99 is paired exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission.
All Camaro models can be equipped with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The Aisin AY6 six-speed manual is standard with the 3.6L engine, and a Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic is optional. A Tremec TR 6060 six-speed manual is standard on the SS, and the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic is optional.
Both automatic transmissions feature aggressive first gear ratios that deliver strong launches, but also provide tall overdrive ratios that decrease engine rpm and provide better fuel efficiency. Each also includes driver shift control, allowing the driver to take control via controls located on the steering wheel after selecting the “M” mode on the console-mounted shifter. Performance Algorithm Shifting (PAS) is included with the 6L50 and 6L80. It lets the electronic transmission controller override the automatic gear selection during high lateral acceleration maneuvers.
The SS model’s Tremec TR 6060 six-speed manual is designed to handle the high torque characteristics of the LS3 engine, while providing shorter throws, smoother gear synchronization and greater overall shift feel with little or no vibration. Its specs include a solid, 290-mm flywheel and single-plate clutch. The final drive ratio for LS3 vehicles is 3.45:1.
Chassis and suspension
Camaro features fully independent front and rear suspensions, with the standard independent using a 4.5-link system that includes a unique, L-shaped upper control arm that attaches to the knuckle at one end and incorporates a ride bushing in the rear.
Two suspension packages are offered: FE2 sport on V-6 models and FE3 performance with the V-8. The front suspension has a dual ball strut system, with a direct-acting stabilizer bar that measures 22.2 x 4 mm on FE2 and 23 x 4.2 mm on FE3. Hollow bars are used for mass savings. Rear suspension features include high lateral stiffness for handling via three lateral ball joints per side. A sub-frame at the rear is double-isolated to minimize vehicle body motions and dampen road imperfections. Coil-over shock absorbers are used in the rear with a decoupled, hollow stabilizer bar. FE2 includes a 21.7 x 3 mm rear bar, while the FE3’s large bar measures 23 x 3 mm.
The front track is a wide 63.7 inches (1,618 mm) for all models, while the rear track on LS and LT models is 64.1 inches (1,628 mm) and 63.7 inches (1,618 mm) on SS models. The axle halfshafts on all V-8 models and manual transmission-equipped V-6 models are 30 mm in diameter on the left side and 40 mm on the right side. This design feature helps reduce the oscillation of torque from side to side and reduces axle hop.
Additional chassis and suspension details include:
- Four-wheel disc brakes on all models – including Brembo four-piston calipers on SS – with hydraulic brake assist
- Precise rack-and-pinion steering system, with a 16.1:1 ratio on all models
- Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control on all models
- Competitive/sport mode on SS models enhances on-track performance
- Performance Launch Control on SS models with the manual transmission optimizes hard-acceleration launches for quicker, more consistent performance
- LS and LT models equipped with standard 18-inch wheels or optional 19-inch wheels; SS comes with standard 20-inch wheels or optional 20-inch wheels; 21-inch wheels are available as a dealer-installed accessory.
Camaro’s design drapes classic proportions over a 112.3-inch (2,852 mm) wheelbase. A long hood and short deck are pushed to the far corners of the muscular fender forms and a fast, 67-degree rake windshield contributes to aerodynamic performance that includes a 0.37 coefficient of drag (Cd) on V-6 models and a slightly sleeker 0.35 Cd on the V-8-powered SS model. On SS models, a simulated air intake is located in the upper front fascia and the lower air intake is larger.
Ten exterior colors are available and include Black, Victory Red, Rally Yellow and Silver Ice Metallic. Red Jewel Tintcoat is optional. The color palette also includes Cyber Gray Metallic, Inferno Orange Metallic, Summit White, Imperial Blue Metallic and Synergy Green Metallic (for a limited time). Red Jewel Tintcoat, Rally Yellow, Inferno Orange Metallic and Synergy Green Metallic are extra-cost colors.
An RS appearance package is available on LT and SS. It includes HID headlamps with integrated LED halo rings, a rear spoiler on LT, specific taillamps and 20-inch wheels with a Midnight Silver painted finish.
Interior details
Camaro’s four-passenger cabin is a well-executed balance of heritage, modern design and attention to detail. An available ambient light package, for example, offers advanced LED light pipe technology, giving the cabin a distinctive glow.
Deep, recessed gauges, located in square housings, give a nod to the classic Camaro interior. The instrument panel gauges include both speedometer and engine rpm, with a driver information center located between the large gauges – its readouts and features controlled via a stalk on the steering column. An optional, console-mounted gauge package includes oil pressure, oil temperature, volts and transmission fluid temperature. The gauge package is included on 2LT and 2SS models, and it’s available as an accessory through Chevrolet dealers.
Cloth upholstery is standard and leather-appointed seats are included on 2LT and 2SS models. Four-way manual adjustment including fore/aft and up/down on the driver seat and two-way adjustment on the passenger seat is standard. Heated, leather-trimmed seats with driver six-way power adjustment are standard on 2LT and 2SS models.
All models include a three-spoke steering wheel with manual tilt/telescope adjustment. Cruise control and a rear defogger also are standard, while a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, redundant steering wheel controls, Bluetooth, rear park assist and USB port are part of the available Driver Convenience and Connectivity package. This package also includes remote start on automatic transmission-equipped vehicles, as well as a personal device interface module for iPods.
Camaro’s entertainment systems include a single-CD radio with six speakers that is standard on LS, LT and SS models. A premium, 245-watt Boston Acoustics nine-speaker audio system is standard on 2LT and 2SS; and it can be ordered on 1LT and 1SS models. XM Satellite Radio is standard on all models, with three months of service. All models also include power door locks and an express up and down feature on the driver and passenger windows.
