Chevrolet revived its iconic Camaro coupé in 2010 to critical acclaim. Now it’s flexing even more muscle with the new convertible version. Abu Dhabi Week gets behind the wheel to see if we can handle the power
AT ABU Dhabi Week, we like to think we’re a little bit discerning when it comes to our cars. Consequently, we’ve always been a bit dismissive of American muscle cars, considering them a little brash and unrefined. Yes, they make a lot of noise; but do they really have anything to shout about?
When we were given the chance to test-drive the new Camaro convertible for the weekend, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see if Chevrolet could change our mind.
It’s a lovely breezy morning as we wait for our car to be dropped off in the deserted Khalifa Park car lot just over the road from our offices and as we see the pick-up come round the corner, we get the first glimpse of our new ride. Gleaming in the early morning sun, sat on the flat-bed of the truck, is a shiny white top-of-the-range SS convertible – Chevrolet are certainly out to impress.
First things first – there's nothing subtle about this car. There’s no doubt it has presence, and it’s undeniably good-looking – in a pumped-up, steroid-addled, aggressive kind of way.
Just like the original, the fifth generation Camaro is a hulking, swaggering mass of metal that occupies a great deal of space on the road. With prices for the 6.2L V8 SS model starting from around AED 175,000, it’s not exactly cheap but you do get an awful lot of bang for your buck. Of course, most of that bang comes from the super-powerful lump of an engine – but that’s never really been the problem with these types of cars. Our main reservation is that the interior finish and build quality normally suffer as a result.
However, opening the huge door and sliding behind the chunky steering wheel, we’re pleasantly surprised by what we find. While not quite up to the standards of the luxury German manufacturers, the cockpit is actually a really nice place to be.
We just love the deep leather-clad bucket front seats with aggressive bolsters that keep the driver and front passenger firmly in place. The standard heads-up display is also a wonderful feature, which projects the driver’s speed and radio settings onto the lower part of the windshield.
As with most two-plus-twos, the Camaro is really only comfortable if you’re sitting in the front. The rear seats would be functional for short trips, uncomfortable for anything longer.
The Chevy’s soft-top is made of thick, durable canvas and folds in a simple Z pattern. It’s also very easy to use – you simply undo the handle above the rear-view mirror and hold down a button until the top has automatically folded into the boot. We timed it and the whole operation clocked a pretty respectable 16 seconds.
With the top down, the Camaro Convertible takes on a much more cohesive look than its fixed-roof brother. The steeply angled windshield becomes more prominent and the muscular hips over the rear fender arches define the vehicle's profile. It looks good, even if it is the size of a small river barge.
It’s hard to think of a better way to spend a cool(ish) autumn evening than riding around with the top down, the stereo turned up and the V8 gently burbling away. And the Camaro proves itself highly adept at showing off and looking good. Cruising down the Corniche and along the breakwater, the toy-car-like styling and baritone growl causes an unprecedented number of heads to turn, and every time we pull over to stop, we are peppered with questions about the car.
When you get out on the open road and put your foot down a little bit, things continue to impress. The engine makes a very deep, throaty rumble when you step on the fast pedal, and once underway it feels big and solid. It simply shrugs off rough surfaces, remaining settled except in the most extreme circumstances.
This car really is ridiculously quick and will allegedly hit 100 kph from a standing start in just five seconds, which we can well believe - the sheer power and brutish noise of the engine is intoxicating. Fortunately, the huge ABS-assisted Brembo brakes with vented discs, visible through the 20-inch alloys, are eye-poppingly effective – a good job, considering its weight and power.
Handling is also surprisingly good. Chevy’s designers have put in a lot of additional bracing, which they claim has more torsional rigidity than a BMW 3 Series convertible. The extra stiffness keeps the suspension as sporty as in the hardtop coupé, rather than soften up the settings. The trade-off is increased road and wind noise, but we’re sure we can live with it.
So, have we been won over by the American muscle car way of thinking? The Camero SS certainly ticks all the boxes – it’s fast, furious and, most importantly, fun. We think we may have been converted.
Jon Muller
