Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept Preview – 2007 Detroit Auto Show: General Motors took the wraps off the new Chevrolet Camaro concept during last year’s Detroit Auto Show and the response was clear: Build it. GM decided that’d probably be a swell idea, considering that even if a tiny fraction of that interest turns into sales, the 2009 Camaro will be a success. That’s even more likely to occur now that the Camaro Convertible Concept has debuted. The concept sported a soft top, but given the amount of pain GM has gone through to develop a retractable hard top roof, we’re betting that the actual 2009 production model will show up with a hard top.

As if there were any question that GM would build a convertible version of its Mustang fighter. Indeed, this concept is more about stoking the fires of Baby Boomer interest until the production version debuts next year. With a concept slathered in Hugger Orange Pearl tri-coat paint, they sure got everyone’s attention. What’s possibly more relevant about the Camaro Convertible Concept, however, are subtle body changes that indicate a move toward production status.

Can you hear the wind passing through the cockpit? If not, it’s probably because you’re listening to the sweet notes of a rumored Corvette-derived engine. That would be the 6.0-liter powerplant, making 400 horsepower and just as many smiles, driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. There will be the now-common Active Fuel Management, of course, and the V6 engine/automatic transmission for those who can’t afford the V8 experience. And Mustang fans, take note: the Camaro is built on a four-wheel independent suspension system.