2016 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible spy pics

THE 2016 Chevrolet Camaro convertible has been spied testing a soft-top, effectively ending speculation that the sixth-generation will be offered exclusively with a hard-top. These images show a heavily-clad Camaro with B-pillar treatment and glass that differs from the coupe versions that we’ve seen testing.

The 2016 Camaro will ride on GM’s new Alpha platform, which will also be used for Cadillac models which means a high level of technical sophistication. It also brings significant weight savings, rumoured to knock off as much as 130kg from off the current car’s heft. That means a starting weight of around 1560kg for the V6 coupe, or 1643kg for the V8 SS version, with the convertible V8 shown here at 1762kg in manual form.

That aid both economy and performance from the Camaro’s new engine. That V8 will be the Gen V version of Chevrolet’s small-block V8, which made its debut in the 2014 C7 Corvette. Compared to the Gen IV V8 that’s currently found in the Holden Commodore SS and HSV models, the new V8’s biggest party-piece is direct fuel injection. It will still use an aluminium block, with the same deck height, cam placement and variable timing as the current engine. Power in the C7 Corvette Stingray starts at 338kW, so the Camaro should offer similar outputs. The dual exhaust on this test mule indicates that this car is the SS V8 version.

The Camaro isn’t locked in for Australia, but Holden has confirmed that a rear-wheel drive V8 model will be in its showrooms once production of the Australian-built Commodore ends in 2017. While it has confirmed that a Commodore replacement will keep the name, it’s also confirmed a dedicated sports car will be part of the line-up, with the Camaro and Corvette as prime candidates.