Chevy announced today the most-powerful convertible ever built with a bowtie — the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 convertible — will debut at next month's LA Auto Show. Because when the good Lord created burnouts, he wanted you to smell 'em too.
When it comes to power, this firebreathing 6.2-liter-engined, 580 HP, 556 lb.-ft. of torque-bearing beast is already the cream of the Chevy convertible crop, but how does it stack up against the competition? Here's how:
2013 Chevy Camaro ZL1 - 580 HP / 556 lb.-ft.
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster - 563 HP / 479 lb.-ft.
2011 Ford Shelby GT500 – 550 hp / 510 lb.-ft.
2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S – 530 hp / 516 lb.-ft.
2012 Mercedes SL63 AMG – 518 hp / 465 lb.-ft.
2012 Aston Martin DB9 Volante – 470 hp / 443 lb.-ft.
Chevy's also added some additional structural reinforcements to the ZL1 convertible not found in the plain-Jane-mullet-mobile — mostly to cut down on wind noise — including a hydroformed tube in the A-pillars, an inner reinforcement bracket in the windshield header, a reinforced front hinge pillar and reinforcements inside the rockers.
Otherwise, expect basically the same technical specs we saw from the 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1. Except, you know, you'll be able to see out the back of this one.
Hot damn! I don't think I've been this excited about a convertible in a while.