Car blog and news: First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Monday, April 4, 2011

First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Chevrolet, First Drive

All Convertible, Little Compromise

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chevrolet doesn't need any help selling its Camaro. It handily throttled the Ford Mustang in sales last year despite only being able to offer customers a single coupe bodystyle compared to the Stang's more expansive coupe, convertible and GT500 range. In fact, General Motors says the Camaro is jumping off of dealer lots with nearly no incentives and 90 percent retail sales. Still, buyers have been clamoring for a droptop version of the mighty Bowtie since the Camaro Convertible concept hit the scene in 2007. This year, The General has finally obliged by taking out the knife.

The history of the Camaro is littered with topless wonders that looked like a stack of cool cash while parked, yet most drove like a wet noodle when you stepped on their skinny pedals. The minds that pull the strings at GM have made it clear that in the coming years, what was once the king of the muscle car heap will turn its attention more toward the sports car crowd, and to that end, they've striven to deliver a Camaro Convertible capable of all of the same driving dynamics as the coupe. Have they pulled it off? We took to the streets of San Diego to find out.

Continue reading...

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible: First Drive