Chevrolet announced today the brand’s most-powerful convertible ever – the 2013 Camaro ZL1 – will debut for the La Auto Show next month. If it continues on sale in late 2012, it is going to deliver more performance and technology than many exotic cars and ultra-luxury convertibles.
“The Camaro ZL1 convertible will likely be probably the most powerful and most capable, convertibles offered at any price,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “This is usually a car which is sure to put a smile with your face anytime you drop the top – or hit the gas.”
Like the coupe, the Camaro ZL1 convertible includes a supercharged 6.2L “LSA” engine, SAE-rated at 580 horsepower (432 kW) and 556 lb.-ft. of torque (754 Nm). That’s enough to exceed the output of 2+2 convertibles of the many performance icons, including:
*2012 Aston Martin DB9 Volante – 470 hp / 443 lb.-ft.
*2012 Mercedes SL63 AMG – 518 hp / 465 lb.-ft.
*2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S – 530 hp / 516 lb.-ft.
*2011 Ford Shelby GT500 – 550 hp / 510 lb.-ft.
The Camaro ZL1 convertible’s power is complemented by advanced powertrain and chassis technologies created to deliver exceptional performance on the road or track. In reality, it’s a similar balance of acceleration, handling and ride quality that enabled a Camaro ZL1 coupe recently to lap the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife course in 7:41.27 minutes.
From The first day, the architecture for that fifth-generation Camaro was created to allow for a convertible model, giving the ZL1 convertible coupe-like driving dynamics. Four strategic reinforcements enhance the already-stiff physiology to quell the cowl and leader shake common in convertibles. They include:
*A tower-to-tower brace under the hood
*A transmission support reinforcement brace
*Underbody tunnel brace
*Front “X” brace and stiffer cradle along with rear underbody “V” braces.
Additional structural reinforcements inside ZL1 convertible are designed to improve noise and vibration characteristics, whilst reducing unwanted ride and body motions. They include a hydrofoamed tube from the A-pillars, an inner reinforcement bracket in the windshield header, a reinforced front hinge pillar and reinforcements in the rockers.
The suspension from the ZL1 convertible uses the third-generation of Magnetic Ride. New, twin-wire/dual-coil dampers in any respect four corners enable faster response, with damping levels now adjusted nearly 1,000 times per second – about one adjustment per inch of vehicle travel at 60 mph – making the system exceptionally responsive to changing driving and road conditions.
The Camaro ZL1 convertible will likely offer Performance Traction Management as standard equipment, which can be exclusive to Vehicle. First introduced on the Corvette ZR1, it is an advanced system that integrates magnetic ride control, launch control, traction control and electronic stability control, to improve both launch-acceleration performance and corning.
It makes sense a convertible made to preserve the majority of the acceleration, road-holding and performance capabilities with the Camaro ZL1 coupe, which matches on sale noisy . 2012.