Posted Jan 4th 2007 1:31PM by John Neff
Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertibles, Chevrolet

click on above image to check out a high-resolution gallery with 24 pics

We'll save you the story on how this particular embargo was broken, but we have confirmation from GM that they won't hold it against us if we post this information and the accompanying high-resolution gallery, especially considering the car is already on the cover of this month's issue of Winding Road (albeit badly photoshopped into a strange pinkish hue) and Automotive News just let 'er rip, as well.

That said, the Camaro Convertible Concept you see here will officially be unveiled Saturday night at a star-studded occassion called the GM Style Event where the automaker's product will share a runway with A-, B- and C-list celebs. The Camaro drop-top will be wearing this lovely Hugger Orange pearl tri-coat paint job to the show and sport a pair of dark gray racing stripes as striking accessories. No doubt when the convertible arrives in dealerships shortly after the debut of the coupe there will be more colors available in its closet.

GM says the car will have a V8, four-wheel disc brakes, a proper standard trannsmission, and a four-wheel independant suspension. Those wheels appear to be well over the 20-inch diameter mark, so you can likely expect smaller rims when the car goes on sale officially in a couple of years. Nearly everything else is identical to the coupe version of the concept including the interior, and GM unfortunately didn't release any pics with the top so we can't judge the new silhouette, but you can check out our full gallery of 24 high-resolution images by clicking here and tell us what you think in the comments.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Dear sports car fans: General Motors heard you loud and clear.

GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced today that GM will build an all-new version of the Chevrolet Camaro sport coupe based on the award-winning concept that stole the spotlight at the North American International Auto Show and has ignited the passion of car enthusiasts around the world ever since – even spurring consumers to start petition drives and send in certified checks in hopes of placing early deposits.

“The overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the Camaro Concept continues to remind me of the uniquely iconic place our products can have in customers’ hearts,” Wagoner said. “Camaro is much more than a car; it symbolizes America's spirit and its love affair with the automobile.”

The all-new Camaro will begin with early production versions at the end of 2008 and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2009. “The new Camaro will be almost identical to the concept, a thoroughly modern interpretation of the 1969 model, considered by many to be the best design of the car’s first generation,” said Ed Welburn, GM's global vice president of design, who owns a 1969 Camaro SS. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport coupe will feature an independent rear suspension, and will be offered in a variety of models with the choice of manual and automatic transmissions and V-6 and V-8 engines.

Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper said the new Camaro will appeal to both men and women, and unite customers with fond memories of previous Camaros with those who first experienced a Camaro when the concept was unveiled in January.

“We intend to make the all-new Camaro relevant to younger buyers while retaining its appeal to current fans,” said Peper. “The beauty of the best Camaros is that they have always been beautiful to look at with performance that rivals expensive European GTs. Yet they were practical enough to drive every day and priced within the reach of many new-car buyers.”

In fact, the Camaro Concept design team embodies the universal appeal that Chevy envisions for the car: The core team reporting to the lead designer ranges in age from 27-35 and came from all over the world, yet they all had similar experiences growing up with a love for the Camaro and American performance cars. Their concept redefines the Camaro for both existing and new generations of fans in a contemporary way with responsive performance and modern technology.

Peper said Camaro will complement Chevy’s already-popular portfolio of performance vehicles led by Corvette and including its broad SS lineup.

An American icon
The Camaro has touched many lives – and graced many garages – with nearly 4.8 million produced between 1967 and 2002. More than 1,000 Camaro clubs exist globally, and thousands of Camaro web sites pay homage to the sports coupe. A recent report on America Online’s Top Searches of 2005 placed Camaro in the Top 10 car searches for the year.

About Chevrolet
Chevrolet is America's No. 1-selling automotive brand. With the largest dealer network in the United States, Chevy is the leader in full-size trucks and the leader in sales of vehicles priced $35,000 and above. Chevrolet delivers more-than-expected value in every vehicle category, offering cars and trucks priced from $9,995 to $78,175. Chevy delivers expressive design, spirited performance and great value with standard features usually found only on more expensive vehicles. For more information on Chevy cars and trucks, please visit www.chevrolet.com.

About General Motors
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world’s leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

Welcome to the newest section of our site! Visit this section often for updates on the progress of the 5th Gen Concept and it's future with GM! If you have news please submit it to Chris@ssz28.com

Recently Moderators and Owners of Z28.com and CZ28.com were given the opportunity to fly up to the Proving Grounds in Detroit, Michigan and drive the concept. The concept was very well documented with pictures and video footage by the Z28.com group that went up to show some very intricate detail! The concept was limited at 40mph and was definitally a concept vehicle according to those that returned with the information. The seatbelts though beautiful and very origional for this car were not even attached to anything but instead were just laying on the seats for looks. The only complaint that was recieved about the car was the shifter/transmission seemed difficult to find gears in. For more information and details of the event please visit our partner Z28.com for pictures and detailed personal reports from those who were involved!