March 2011 launch for Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Following a lrecent report that GM’s plans for a high-performance Camaro Z28 had been canceled and the Camaro Convertible was on hold, comes a little good news but also some bad. The good news is that the Convertible is back on track for a March 2011 launch, while the bad news – you guessed it – is that the Z28 is looking less and less likely to ever come to fruition.

Cost cutting at GM and fears that the German supplier of the Camaro Convertible’s roof mechanism was about to go under led to last week’s claims that the car was put on hold indefinitely. However, the supplier in question is still in business and has a new agreement signed with GM.

Furthermore, GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan has confirmed to Automotive News that production of the highly anticipated drop-top is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2011. He went on to concede that this will be a few months later than the originally planned late 2010 launch.
"We always thought it would be one year after the coupe," he said. "Instead we are going two."

As for the Z28, GM was planning to add the 550hp (410kW) 6.2L V8 engine from the Cadillac CTS-V to the Camaro’s engine bay in an effort to destroy any chances of the Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Shelby Mustang GT claiming the title of ‘modern-day muscle car king’. Sadly, the Z28’s expected $50 million development price tag, impending 35.5mpg CAFE implications, and niche status meant it was virtually dead from the start.

http://www.motorauthority.com/conver...the-works.html

 

You got the platform, and a proven powerplant for a potential Z28. What about it costs 50 million to develop?? Im not arguing or talking down to GM, I am just curious.

 

Noooooo!! I didn't want to hear that about the Z.

 

This was said since the beginning of the Z/28 rumors. I don't see why now its dead, when the same requirments were there when it was developed.

I have a question though, is $50 million alot to develop a car? Or is it normal? because they keep bringing that stat up.

 

I'm assuming different tooling. Seems as though the car is done so they have already invested money into it, the only reason not to finish it seems to be CAFE and the image of being a gas guzzler. GM is trying to keep this car as green as possible.

 

Fitzpatrick confirmed the convertible date on CamaroZ28.Com Podcast #192

As far as the Z28 thing, this is just another way of rewording what has already been said, but the word "virtually" is important in the quote. The Z28 is NOT dead. People used to say that about the Camaro itself and look where we are today.

 

I think it's more than just dropping a motor into the car.
The Z28 was to have a bunch of specific parts and all of those needed designing and validation.
And the engine itself would need validation in the Camaro platform as well.

All of that costs money. Something that GM is short on right now.

 

i don't see it as dead... more as they need to wait until GM is financially a bit more stable than now... i don't think a niche 500+ HP car is on their priority list....

 

OK, I'm not going to get the first V-8 convertible in Central Texas, next February. There's nothing undesirable about the coupe.

When is the head-up display likely to become available?

How do we track how long the production line will be open? It would be horrible to plan to order in September, but miss the boat.

Still excited!
Peyton

 

Our local township needed a new bridge. It was only a 16' span. They needed blueprints drawn. Just the blue prints were 4 grand. Imagine the cost of a team of educated people dedicated to a project. I assume labor charges alone on the Z28 project is huge.

 

lol, fail at gm, 2 more years for the convertible.

i'll bet we have a new president before its out. $10, who's in?

 

As much as I would love to see a 5th Gen Z/28 on the road (and I really would like to see it one the road), the price tag on that beast would way too much for many to stomach for a Camaro. I have trouble justifying a $35,000 Camaro but the Z/28 would easily cost 10,000 more and that put it in the overpriced Challenger SR8 category. I have not doubt the Z/28 would be the fastest $45,000 car on the road, but it would be a marginal niche player at best.

On the other hand when it comes to pure speed and Camaro's, logic gets thrown out the window

 

Well, I've always thought that the SS was the speacial car, not the Z28.

 

Well remember this ..... ANY car can be an SS but only a Camaro can be a Z28 !

 

With the US Government as a major shareholder and the influence of the Obama Administration it is likely in my opinion that we will not see the Z28 for some time to come. I hope I am wrong but I don't see it happening soon with GM having to down size, kill off divisions and layoff workers to survive. One would wish that they would continue to push great products that make customers excited like the CTS-V and ZR1 but only time will tell. I suspect the Z28 development work has actually been done. There are too many similarities between the CTS-V and what many of us believe the new Z28 would look like to believe that they would have to start from square one.

Fact is no one really knows what will happen