NEWS: Chevrolet Camaro convertible reportedly back on, albeit running late
 

Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Chevrolet, GM

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The on again, off again roller coaster ride that is General Motors' product development schedule once again apparently has a green light; the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro convertible. The drop-top Camaro is once again scheduled for a 2011 grand entrance, one year after the first Bowtie pony cars begin rolling off the line in Oshawa. Motor Trend reported back in November that the convertible Camaro was in trouble due to GM's cash crunch, and last week we learned from The Detroit Bureau that financial problems at a German supplier for the car's roof was threating the model's timetable. For its part, General Motors insists that the topless Camaro has always been scheduled for one year after the coupe began production, but now Motor Trend is now saying that the Camaro Convertible will probably not arrive until the first quarter of 2011 (likely as a 2012 model).

With a reported 14,000 pre-orders already on the books for the fixed-roof Camaro, GM is looking at some much needed good news in the short term. To better compete with Ford's Mustang and Dodge's Challenger, though, the General will need to make good on a ragtop variant (and perhaps a Z28, although that looks unlikely to happen). If MT's reports are accurate, the gap between coupe and convertible models is likely to be well over a year, which will be a tough pill for sunlovers to swallow. However, if the production model looks as good as the concept shown above, the Camaro could have all the inertia it needs when the top comes down.


Gallery: Camaro Convertible Concept

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[Source: Motor Trend]Chevrolet Camaro convertible reportedly back on, albeit running late originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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Sweet, some good news for once. Keep it up

2 @*&%# YEARS???!!! I've already waited too many years. So I get my 2011 Camaro convertible and get to enjoy it for one year before the world ends??? Great. I'm not waiting.

I have been with out Camaro for over 6 years and pushing it back to 2011 is just fine with me. If the car came out today, I could not order it. Chevy can count on me for a convertible.

i figured it would still be on. the prototype was in the background of the pictures of 0001 camaro.

Waiting is fine for me, too.
I won't be ready until 2012-2013 anyways.

If they don't make a Z28 that can compete with the GT500, I'm not likely to buy one, convertible or not. I've had camaros all my life, then when the 4th gen was killed I moved up to Corvettes, and much to my dismay I now have actually bought Ford products. It's not my fault though, I place the blame squarely on the shoulders of GM. If they would build cars that are competitive AND get them to market in a timely fashion, then I would never have strayed from the GM in the first place.

Here's to hoping that the Z28 indeed does come back and is a fire breathing 556HP monster.

Rich

You ungrateful people!!! ;)

We have yet to receive confirmation of Camaro arriving downunder... How do you think I feel?

My wife will be happy!

Well that's why we live in America. ;) :D kidding bloak.

I dont know what to believe anymore. One second its on another its off. Same with Z28 it seems. I think the media is just on a camaro frenzy and posting any little rumor.

:)

that's about right.

Well if you are up with the auto news and with insiders- Z28 is on the shelf, FOR NOW. Just like Chris and Jason said, "Never say never". I want a Z28 too, but if the company needs to stay afloat and GM needs to do what they need to do. We need to be happy that the car was brought back and they are coming of the line.

I miss the days when actual investigation was involved in publishing news.

The convertible was back on as a 2011 model back when I went to the Chicago Auto Show......the reports about a week ago, were wrong...it was never off again...but yet it showed up in several media outlets from "sources"....

Well, DOT released the 2011 CAFE standards today. 30.2 mpg for cars. 24.1 for trucks.

How likely is it that GM will release a 13/19 mpg Camaro that year - assuming they even have a money to spend on it?

Yea!.... and you guys are the ones who developed the thing! :lol:

Didn't I read somewhere that mileage as it applies to CAFE standards is different from the EPA ratings, and generally works out to a higher number?

Obviously the Z28 wouldn't come anywhere close to 30.2 mpg no matter how they measure it, but it ought to sell in low enough volume that the Cruze and other more efficient models could offset it.

You moved up to Corvettes, then moved onto Ford b/c GM didn't have anything competitive? What does Ford have that can touch a Corvette?

Did you buy a Ford GT?

I suppose if you needed a back seat, you could buy a Mustang GT500 and at least be in the ballpark of the Corvette in a straight line.

Not trying to start a flame war; I just don't understand the reasoning here (unless, that is, the back seat is the issue). Or you just prefer the pony car / muscle car characterstics to those of the Corvette.

EDIT: Keep in mind that even if it has a 556 hp fire breathing engine, if it is a porky pig like the GT500 (and it likely would be, going by the standard SS weights), it still won't beat a base Corvette.

The Caddy CTS-V is a stunning automobile, but the undeniable weight penalty means that its extra 120 hp over the base Vette does not really allow it to accelerate any more quickly. :)