2013 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible 6.2L V8 6MT RWD (432 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Chevrolet refreshed the fifth generation of the Camaro in both shapes, coupe and convertible, unveiling it on the European continent at the 2013 Frankfurt International Motorshow.

The American automaker introduced the fifth generation of the Camaro in 2009 for the 2010 model year, re-igniting the customers’ passion for pony and muscle cars. The new model came at the right time when the world started to recover from the financial crisis. As a result, the Camaro, in its shapes as convertible and coupe, got good results. Unfortunately, it couldn’t pass the 100,000 units mark/year. Still, with constant deliveries of over 80,000 units yearly, it stayed in people’s hearts and minds. In the U.S., the bow-tie brand had already introduced several updates between 2010 and 2013, but now it was time for a big refresh. Strangely, though, the car manufacturer chose Europe to show it, even though the model was more attractive to American buyers.

Even if it didn’t show its age, the Camaro needed some tweaks and upgrades both on the exterior, interior, and engine. From the outside, the facelifted model featured a broader front fascia with recessed, round headlights that flanked the broad black grille, which was also narrower than before. In addition, the automaker added a functional vent on the hood that helped cool the engine and reduced aerodynamic lift. From its profile, the low-slung shape of the vehicle remained similar to its non-facelifted version, with a three-slat fake vent in front of the rear wheel arches on the quarter panel. Customers could cover and uncover the cabin by manually unlatching the rag-top and then pushing a button to retract it behind the rear seats. As a result, when the top was down, apart from the A-pillars, there was nothing to interrupt the car’s line above the waistline. Finally, at the back, the car featured wide horizontal taillights and a lip spoiler on the trunk’s lid. The spoiler also concealed the antenna for the infotainment unit.

Inside, the automaker’s design team worked hard and reshaped the cabin. It installed a new, seven-inch touchscreen on the center stack for the infotainment system. The bolstered front seats were available with man-made leather upholstery. They were separated by a tall center console that housed an armrest with cubby storage underneath, the gear stick, and the manual hand brake. Fronting the driver was the instrument cluster with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer that flanked a TFT display. In the rear, the Camaro had enough room for two passengers on the bench seat, although legroom was not as good as in the coupe version.

Under the hood, Chevrolet installed a range of gasoline engines with six or eight cylinders paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Versions fitted with automatic transmissions featured active fuel management and cam phasing to increase fuel efficiency.