camaro.com

It’s official. Auto show attendees have voted the Camaro convertible the car they “most want in their driveway” and “the best concept vehicle”. The Chicago Auto Show boasts the largest attendance of any auto show in the country, and the Camaro convertible was the car they came to see.

According to a Chevrolet spokeperson at the show, they anticipate the hard-top version will debut in the first quarter of 2009, and the convertible will follow approximately 6 months later. It is going to be hard to wait that long. So in the mean time, I have posted all my photos to the gallery page, so folks can at least satisfy their urge to drool over it until they can get their hands on one. And just in case you were wondering, yes…that is Hugger Orange on that car again. You gotta appreciate that reference to the first generation.

So here’s what we know about the new convertible, and presumably the hard-top. Chevy plans to put a 400 horse, 6.0 liter, LS2 V8 engine under the hood, with a 6 cylinder option available as well. The car features an advanced fuel management system that will reportedly provide more than 30 miles to the gallon on the highway. Apparently the system will selectively fire fewer cylinders in order to acheive the better MPG.

The hugger orange paint option is a Pearl Tri-Coat paint, featuring Gunmetal gray racing stripes on the hood and rear deck. The wheels offer an impressive 21 inch rim in front, and 22 inch in the rear. Braking is going to get some serious help from 14 inch exposed disks in the rear. The dash board features a throw-back to the first-gen round speedo and tach inside square housings on the dash, while the center console gets the 1969 inspired “four-pack” auxiliary gauges in front of the shifter.

GM reveals convertible version of the Chevrolet Camaro today. Production version will roll out in 2010. The car will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show on Sunday. Look for photos to be posted to Camaro.com once the auto show comes through Chicago!

Oz Outrage! Australians to See New Camaro First - Jalopnik

Before the new Camaro’s US release in 2008, Australians will get a sneak peak at the first production models. In fact, the cars will be cruising Australian highways before the year’s out. Why do the sons of Dundee get preferential treatment over we Yanks of American persuasion? Blame it on GM’s Holden division, which created the General’s new rear-drive platform on which the Camaro (and its own Commodore) is based. The company is turning out several hand-built prototypes, which will hit the roads down under by the end of this year. Though the production Camaro will be built in Canada, and won’t be out for two years, Yozzie and the gang may wind up next to one at a stoplight in Sydney, Brisbane or Port Macquarie (or somewhere else even). Spy photogs, get thee to the Quantas desk. [Thanks to Dave for the tip.] –