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FIRST DRIVE: Camaro Convertible Concept
Written by: Marshall Pruett   
05/30/2007 - 07:00 PM
Oakland, CA
 
The author tip-toeing around the the speed-governed Auto-X track. (Photo: GM) » More Photos


What's it like to drive a $6,500,000 car?

Frightening. VERY frightening.

What made it so frightening was the less-tan-subtle reminder I received before climbing in to the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept for a spin on the Auto-X pylon course set out by the GM High Performance team.

"Take it easy out there." "Yep, not a problem." "No, I don't think you understand. TAKE IT EASY OUT HERE. You're driving the only one of these in existence (thanks…not feeling the pressure at all) and it cost six point five miiiilllllllion dollars… (that last part came out in slow motion in my mind-not sure if that's how he said it. I'm sure it wasn't.)

OK, back to the point-after a few of the previous test drivers had exercised their right foot a little more than they should have, a stern warning awaited the rest of us lined up to chauffer GM's orange-hued sporting future around the similarly colored pylons that marked the 35mph course.

So what was it really like to drive? That's a hard one to call. The Camaro Concept wasn't built for folks like me to thrash around a track-it was only ever intended to drive on and off a car show platform. Beyond that, its purpose was to sparkle and stun, giving an idea of what future Camaro's will look like.
A sexy beast from any angle. A truly 'Bitchin' Camaro' (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

Knowing this, I'm appreciative at how functional the convertible was to actually drive-the massive V-8 engine (of a final size and power output to be determined) was as ready to swallow the marker cones as were the 305mm wide rear tires. Those temptations were managed by a hair-trigger lot of GM show car employees watching me with eagle eyes.

With the sounds of 'six point five miiiilllllllion dollars' still in my head, I took a different approach to the Camaro Concept review; forget the cones and the course, sit back, cruise, and feel what the next generation of Camaro could be like. After all, the running gear, steering, massive tires, and other driving appointments weren't installed with the final version of the car in mind-this concept represents what the car might be like.

In my brief time with this dead-on imagining of the future Camaro, I say this isn't what it could be, it's what it should be.

Curvy, aggressive, wide, low, raked, sharp, with a slightly sinister sounding exhaust note. That's what GM has conjured up here. This is the modern retro hotrod that on looks alone evokes memories of adventures and stories that if told in public, would probably carry a minimum sentence of 5-10 years. Not so for the base model 'modern retro' attempt by Ford with their lumpy Mustang. Move to the Mustang GT and other specialist versions, and the car competes with the Camaro. Dodge has done a better job with their base model Challenger, but the soft lines and seeming loss of styling ideas aft of the b-pillar still leave a lot to be desired.
The softball-sized shifter is but one of many smart interior appointments (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

Of
course, I'm just talking about looks here-not the meatiest of subject matter when picking a hotrod. Or maybe not. At the heart of tapping into the soul of muscle car history, what's beneath the skin has never been the great challenge, has it? Manufacturers have naturally had philosophical design differences over the years, but the recipe of a big V-8, a tranny that can handle that power, and a rear end and tire combo to transmit it to the ground is a fairly well mapped out thing by now.

So what makes these new 'old' cars different? That's simple: the iconic looks that conjure sneers, smiles, and devilish grins.

Provided GM doesn't lose sight of the clear winner it has produced in the Camaro Convertible Concept come production time, Ford and Dodge will have to get angry, very angry, tap into that aggressiveness and work harder to reshape their retro-mobiles to capture the crowds dreaming of the mischief they can cause in their new Camaro.



VIEW THE VIDEO to see a few quick laps around the pylons in the Camaro Convertible Concept.


CLICK HERE to view our Camaro Convertible Concept photo gallery.

CHEVROLET CAMARO CONVERTIBLE CONCEPT SPECIFICATIONS
Vehicle type: two-door, four-passenger rear-wheel-drive convertible
Wheelbase (in / mm): 110.5 / 2806
Length (in / mm): 186.2 / 4730
Width (in / mm): 79.6 / 2022
Height (in / mm): 53 / 1344
Track (in / mm): 63.8 / 1620 front; 63.3 / 1607 rear
Powertrain: V-8 engine with manual transmission
Suspension: four-wheel independent: MacPherson strut front, multilink rear, progressive rate coil springs,
Brakes: four-wheel disc, 14-in rotors with four-piston calipers
Wheels: cast aluminum; 21-in front, 22-in rear
Tires: 275/30R21 front, 305/30R22 rear

Thanks to our friends at ChaseCam for use of their awesomely versatile PDR100 in-car recording unit.

» More Photos

Marshall Pruett is Automotive Editor for SPEEDTV.com. Pruett also covers the SPEED World Challenge series and provides other racing features and commentary. Marshall grew up at "Pruett's Olde English Garage," his father's shelter for abused foreign cars, and spent his childhood being dragged across the West Coast to help with his dad's amateur racing exploits. A rather predictable fascination with cars and working for racing teams soon followed.

He's since retired from that career in motorsports, but continues to build street cars and race cars for a variety of auto manufacturers. He can be reached at marshall.pruett@speedtv.com