Friday, November 19, 2010
2011 Camaro convertible at LA Show
Years after General Motors introduced its hot-looking Camaro, the company has finally moved the Camaro convertible version of its popular muscle car to the front of the line.
U.S. pricing for the "Camaro convertible" starts at $30,000 (including destination).
It’s all fun and games at the Chevrolet stand during the Los Angeles Auto Show, where a bright-red Camaro convertible wears a Hot Wheels tattoo and show goers can get high-speed photos of themselves jumping for beach balls.
Although there will be no Hot Wheels special edition of the new Camaro convertible, we were told, the Camaro/Hot Wheels cross promotion will reap some concrete benefit: free Camaro convertible Hot Wheels toys provided by the El Segundo, Calif., toymaker, which created them especially for the auto show. The pairing of Hot Wheels with the drop-top Camaro is certainly appropriate.
The 2011 Camaro convertible certainly is an attractive toy, easily recalling Camaro’s vaunted ragtop past without looking retro or contrived.
The convertible will be available at Chevy dealerships in February 2011, with prices starting at $30,000.
For 2011, General Motors will add a new level of excitement to this iconic sports car with the introduction of convertible models.
“The launch of the new convertible opens Camaro design and performance to a new set of potential customers,” said Chris Perry, Chevrolet's marketing vice president. Of course, no one ever expected Chevy not to produce a Camaro convertible version of the Camaro. It competes directly with the Ford Mustang, which also has coupe and convertible versions. The other big competitor is the Nissan 370Z, which also comes in coupe and Camaro convertible models.
In taking the top off the Camaro coupe, GM engineers had to strengthen the car's body, so the convertible model has an “enhanced body structure” designed to keep it rigid even when hitting bumps in the road.
The reinforced structure gives the Camaro convertible the feel of driving the coupe, GM says.