Think the horsepower wars are over? Think again. In the latest round of muscle-car wars, Chevrolet launched the first volley with its 580-hp Camaro ZL1, and Ford retaliated with its 650-hp Mustang Shelby GT500. Now Chevrolet is taking another swing by unveiling the convertible version of the new ZL1 at the Los Angeles auto show.
“You are looking at the most powerful convertible Chevrolet has ever built,” said Chevrolet marketing vice president Chris Perry. “We’re continuing our tradition of offering world-class cars that outperform the competition at an incredible value.”
Like the hardtop version, the Camaro ZL1 convertible employs a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that produces 580 hp and 556 lb-ft of torque. It can be hooked to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
Performance figures for the convertible aren’t yet available, but we know the coupe will be incredibly quick. Equipped with an automatic, the ZL1 hardtop hits the 60-mph benchmark in a claimed 3.9 seconds, completes the quarter-mile drag in 12.0 seconds at 119 mph, and tops out at 184 mph.
