Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept Debuts at 2007 North American International Auto Show - VIDEO ENHANCED
Series Production confirmed for 2009
Editor's Note: 2009? 2009! The new Camaros won't go on sale until 2009! GM needs the Camaro now, today.
Will GM even be in business in 2009? (yeah, they probably will, but that's not the point)
The point is that this is the epitome of what's wrong with American car making. Based upon what looked
like a tremendous reception to the new Camaro, GM should have pulled out all stops to get 'er done, now.
They should have shit-canned the entire production of new Pontiacs and Buicks if they had to, in order to
make it happen. My god! We've got a European car company coming out with a hydrogen-powered vehicle this
year, and the new gasoline-powered Camaro won't even be available for two years. Aaargh!!!
Marc J. Rauch, Exec. VP & Co-Founder
P.S. The first car I regularly drove was my father's 1968 Camaro (when I was in high school), so yes, I have a lot of emotion and
strong opinions about what seems like a very stupid decision.
DETROIT, MI - January 5, 2007: The Chevrolet Camaro concept was the celebrated star of the American 2006 auto show season. Now, at the beginning of the 2007 auto show season, there is a new star rising:
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The Camaro convertible concept is based on the original Camaro concept, with only minor changes required to accommodate the convertible body style. It shares exterior dimensions with the Camaro concept (L/W/H: 4,730/2,022/1,344 mm), although the convertible concept's windshield surround, which features a bright anodized finish, is changed slightly to accommodate the convertible top. The Camaro convertible concept is motivated by a torquey V-8 engine that rightly sends power to the rear wheels via a manual transmission. It also features a four-wheel independent suspension system and four-wheel disc brakes.
CLICK HERE
to see a short archive video of the original Camaro
convertible.
"The best follow-up to last year's award-winning Camaro concept is a Camaro convertible," said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, global design. "The Camaro convertible concept instantly evokes an emotional response - it's a vehicle that you want to make room for in your garage."
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Additional design details include:
- Tonneau cover over the folded top
- "Halo" headlamps
- LED taillamps
- Rear spoiler with LED-lit CHMSL
- Racing-inspired fuel filler door
- Front-inlet hood scoop, inspired by the Corvette Z06
- Heritage-inspired rear fender "gills"
The Camaro convertible concept's Hugger Orange pearl tri-coat color is a contemporary update of the classic hue, which was originally offered in 1969. It is complemented with twin gunmetal gray sport stripes. The modern interpretation of the classic color and its dark accent stripes simultaneously reflect the Camaro's heritage and deliver a deep, lustrous and thoroughly contemporary appearance.
The Camaro convertible concept rides on 21-inch front wheels and 22-inch rear wheels. The wheels have a deep-dish, five-spoke design and feature charcoal center sections with bright outer edges and an orange outline on the wheel edge. The charcoal wheels complement the gunmetal gray stripes on the body.
Inspired cockpit
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The seats' fronts feature platinum-tone leather surrounding suede-like Alcantara(R) inserts, with black, sculpted seatbacks. The use of light color only on the seating surface is reminiscent of vintage houndstooth interiors, while a matching, tri-coat platinum paint is used to accent the door panels and instrument panel, giving a modern, bold feel to the interior.
"The light-on-dark interior coloring makes a strong statement that conveys the spirit of freedom and fun that is embodied by a Camaro convertible," said Micah Jones, interior designer.
As with the Camaro coupe concept, the convertible concept features an instrument panel inspired by first-generation Camaros (1967 - 1969), including an intricate "round-gauges-in-square-holes" design. The gauges have a deep, three-dimensional appearance, with white faces and red pointers. "The instrument panel - including the four auxiliary gauges mounted in front of the shifter - pays homage to first-generation Camaros, while achieving a modern appearance through its refined integration of components," said Jones.
Craftsmanship and attention to detail are evidenced throughout the interior, including the smoke satin aluminum finish on trim plates, vents, seat handles and safety belt buckles. The shifter and pedals are made of billet aluminum. The steering wheel has a detailed, deep-dish three-spoke design and the front seats are hinged at the center - rather than the sides - for an integrated appearance. A separate ignition button is used to start the engine and the speedometer and tachometer needles complete full-sweep indexing when the engine rumbles to life.
A "spine" motif runs through the center of the vehicle and on the seatbacks, including a prominent center console that stretches to the rear seat. The spine reinforces the symmetry of the Camaro convertible, as well as its precision.
An attainable icon
The original Camaro was introduced to the Baby Boomer generation, a large group of young, individualistic and mobile Americans that drove fundamental changes in the auto industry. The Camaro was personal, sporty and powerful - attributes that were typically found on more expensive, smaller and, often, foreign sports cars. The Camaro represented a real life-sized sporty car that was attainable for just about everyone. An almost endless list of optional features, colors and trim combinations ensured owners could tailor their Camaro to their exact taste.
As Boomers transitioned into larger vehicles to accommodate growing families, younger drivers embraced used Camaros as their first cars, and third- and fourth-generations of the Camaro continued to deliver affordable fun and performance to a new generation of enthusiasts. Indeed, hundreds of thousands of owners of all walks of life have found driving fun in a Camaro during the past 40 years.
The new Camaro concepts draw on their namesakes' heritage, but also the global, youthful influences of the 21st century. These influences are seen in the Camaro convertible concept's bold proportions, tailored wheel-to-body relationship and detailed interior - including the multi-dimensional instruments. It's a design that resonates with a generation of younger car buyers influenced by highly stylized "tuner" cars and import sports cars.
"Youthful buyers want a car that makes a statement in its design as much as its performance," said Brian Smith, exterior designer. "The new Camaro concepts bridge heritage with contemporary style, with a design that is simultaneously admired among import-influenced youth and traditional enthusiasts."
Along with style and performance, the timeless spirit of fun is woven into the new Camaro concepts.
"Camaro has always represented the American ethic that style and performance don't belong exclusively to the wealthy," said Smith. "Camaro has always been everybody's sports car, and these new concepts demonstrate its spirit is relevant for a new generation."
CHEVROLET CAMARO CONVERTIBLE CONCEPT SPECIFICATIONS
Vehicle type: two-door, four-passenger rear-wheel-drive convertible Wheelbase (in / mm): 110.5 / 2806 Length (in / mm): 186.2 / 4730 Width (in / mm): 79.6 / 2022 Height (in / mm): 53 / 1344 Track (in / mm): 63.8 / 1620 front; 63.3 / 1607 rear Powertrain: V-8 engine with manual transmission Suspension: four-wheel independent: MacPherson strut front, multilink rear, progressive rate coil springs, gas-pressurized dampers Brakes: four-wheel disc, 14-in rotors with four-piston calipers Wheels: cast aluminum; 21-in front, 22-in rear Tires: 275/30R21 front, 305/30R22 rear
Press conference intros include the Malibu and Camaro