REPORT: Chevrolet's Camaro convertible delayed, Z28 facing cancellation
by Chris Paukert on Mar 20th 2009 at 9:55AM 
Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept - Click above for a high-res gallery
The crew at the freshly-minted Detroit Bureau is reporting that while the Chevrolet Camaro has started rolling off off production lines, there are some serious hitches with future model plans that could result in a substantial delay – or outright cancellation – of two hotly-anticipated models.
According to Paul Eisenstein (veteran auto journalist and founder of TheCarConnection), the Camaro convertible and Z28 are both in jeopardy. As the story goes, budget crunches for both General Motors and its suppliers could grenade products that were seen as foregone conclusions.
At the moment, TDB says that saving the droptop is the most pressing issue, as the German supplier responsible for the convertible top is having money problems. GM is seeking alternate suppliers, but that process is likely to take six months or more, meaning that the model will likely miss most of the 2010 convertible's prime selling seasons (Spring and Summer).
The high-performance Z28 is a different story, however, with GM's own costs reportedly being the culprit. TDB quotes Gene Stefanyshyn, the car's Vehicle Line Executive, as saying that as it sits, the model "would cost too much" – about $50 million. Thus, the Z28 could either come to market carrying a prohibitively expensive price tag or face some "creative engineering," and it's likely to do the latter – if it can be saved at all. For now, TDB is calling the Z28 "cancelled" with a potential resurrection still in the cards.
Assuming these revelations are true, Bowtie faithful, if you were planning on holding on to your purse-strings for a while longer, you may just want to get in line now for an RS or SS hardtop and consult the aftermarket. Us? We're going to hold out hope and drop a few dimes on our sources at The General just in case.
Gallery: Chevy Camaro Convertible Concept
[Source: The Detroit Bureau]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
fixitfixitstop 10:04AM (3/20/2009)
Forgive me for saying this, but isn't the SS more than enough as it is? An adequate improvement over SS performance would easily push the Z28 price to over $40k.
Reply
Serge 10:12AM (3/20/2009)
With a 550hp 550lb-ft torque LSA under the hood, aerodynamic tweaks and tricks, possibly lighter materials (fenders, hood, trunk), and a leather covered interior will all be worth it... IMHO anyway.
henrykrinkle 10:33AM (3/20/2009)
@Serge:
500+hp, aerodynamic, lightweight, leather, expensive.....doesn't Chevy already have a car like that?
Rboyett 10:56AM (3/20/2009)
@henrykrinkle
Exactly.
Serge 10:58AM (3/20/2009)
Good point... but does it have room for 5?
Taglane 12:48PM (3/20/2009)
Camaro seats 4.
skine 2:45PM (3/20/2009)
im not sure if you seen the camaro configurator on the website ...but i did ...and i played around with it ...with the top of the line SS ...body appearance package ..stripe kit and wheel upgrade ...it was easily over 42,000 ...not sure about you but i think that is way too much ..thats shelby price range...and the SS will get whooooped by the shelby ...so im thinking if the z28 did eventually come out ..it will be in the 50k range ....
Serge 4:51PM (3/20/2009)
@skine
Dude, the unnecessary optional DUBs are like $5,000... that's what makes it so expensive. The red 2SS RS with red/black leather is $35,000... that's all you need.
tekd 8:39AM (3/21/2009)
Exactly what I was thinking, canceling the Z28 might very well make sense since making it would likely put it up close to the vette in pricing, which isn't likely to be of any real benefit to GM.
The lack of the convertible is a bit of a shame, but if you launched it too early you'd probably take away from hardtop sales anyway so it's not a huge deal that it's delayed. It's not like convertibles sell in huge #'s anyway.
Josh 1:00AM (3/23/2009)
@ Serge:
That's exactly the point. Their only V8 model's pricing is already bordering at 'too much', what would a super-V8 (Z28/COPO/whatever they're going to make), bring to the table besides an outrageous price tag?
Serge 10:08AM (3/20/2009)
Damnit... the convertible and Z/28 are really cool. I was not going to get mine until fall anyway. They'll announce how much the Z/28 is, if it's made at all. But a red 2SS RS seems like a good idea too...
Reply
hyundai car salesman 10:33AM (3/20/2009)
Looks like you might not be able to patiently wait at stop lights where you live hoping for a Hyundai Genesis coup to come by so you can drag race it. What are you going to do if you can't get your Camaro? Just keep your Cobalt?
Mazda FTW! 10:43AM (3/20/2009)
The SS should be moe than enough to take down the Genesis Coupe buddy
Serge 10:48AM (3/20/2009)
@hyundai car salesman
I never said I wait for people to race a red lights... but there is always some competition, especially if it's someone I know. However, from the looks of things I don't need a Camaro to beat that "sports car"... my 2000 Cadillac Eldorado will do just fine :)
Taglane 8:41PM (3/20/2009)
If you want a Z28, buy a stock SS and add a few goodies. I've seen the SS's engine @ Indy 2008. It looks really modifyer-friendly.
As for a vert. No need to worry. We'll get one.
Hyundai Car salesman is a failbag. Makes me not want to buy a Hyundai just by his douchebaggedness. And it might just be me, but I would never cross-shop a GC with a Camaro. That's JUST ME.
Mazda FTW! 10:11AM (3/20/2009)
Maybe GM Performance should offer some catalogue parts which will improve performance on the SS for this year (with maybe even a Z/28 looks package) and then if GM is doing better next year or the year after, they can go release the actual car. Heck, that would create a lot of anticipation for it too. Why bring out the SS and Z/28 at the same time. The market should be just fine with a 305HP V6 and a 425HP V8!!!
Reply
Luis 10:14AM (3/20/2009)
And the surprise is? I am happy my tax dollars are going to the $50 million development of a product that will not turn a major profit.
Reply
Mazda FTW! 10:23AM (3/20/2009)
Give it a break sometime. This is a car blog. Not a townhall discussion forum.
mr 11:30AM (3/20/2009)
MFTW - as the blog post reply police, why do you think product planning isn't a valid part of automotive discussion? If GM doesn't start making sound marketing decisions, they very soon won't be around to build cool cars.
How many people replying in protest would have bought a Z28 or another GM car due to the Z28's existence, anyway?
why not the LS2LS7? 12:15PM (3/20/2009)
mr:
He's talking about the "my taxpayer dollars" part, not the product planning part.
Some people think every article is a great reason to post a "our government is corrupt blah blah blah" comment.