What happened with the Convertible Reveal at the Detroit Autoshow?

[picard2112]

What's the deal?....everything I read said that the production version would debut there?....Anybody know anything?

[R6P]

Originally Posted by picard2112

What's the deal?....everything I read said that the production version would debut there?....Anybody know anything?

Don't think that was ever the plan, just a rumor.

[Amn_Bly]

Please current me if i am wrong, but in a recent issue of motortrend it was stated that the beloved convertible will be held off another quarter and most likely a 2012 model. So who knows maybe 2012 holds the z28 AND convertible for us all.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Amn_Bly

Please current me if i am wrong, but in a recent issue of motortrend it was stated that the beloved convertible will be held off another quarter and most likely a 2012 model. So who knows maybe 2012 holds the z28 AND convertible for us all.

Correct. It will begin production in Early 2011. We may see the final version at some of the major auto shows later in the year.

[MontyCarlo]

I'm getting the feeling that in the pony car war, GM's choosing to just let Ford have the 2011 model year uncontested, and the Camaro will save up the good stuff for 2012.

[ViperTomcat]

Originally Posted by MontyCarlo

I'm getting the feeling that in the pony car war, GM's choosing to just let Ford have the 2011 model year uncontested, and the Camaro will save up the good stuff for 2012.

That would be incredibly stupid on GM's part to let Ford have a run of the 2011 MY and not contest it.

[Grandeos]

I was shocked the Convertible wasn't at the NAIAS this year, but i'm still pretty sure the Convertibles will be on the road sometime this year. Doesnt make sense to go silent for a whole Model Year. Maybe it'll debut at the New York show ????

[Big Brunsy]

Strill trying to figure out how a convertable is safe but yet T-Tops aren't

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Big Brunsy

Strill trying to figure out how a convertable is safe but yet T-Tops aren't

IIRC, T-tops/removable roof panels are not classified as convertibles, which are held to different rollover standards than coupes. So the T-tops would not be able to meet coupe requirements without significant added costs for stronger/exotic materials...so they didn't do 'em.

[irocnroll]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

IIRC, T-tops/removable roof panels are not classified as convertibles, which are held to different rollover standards than coupes. So the T-tops would not be able to meet coupe requirements without significant added costs for stronger/exotic materials...so they didn't do 'em.

So a glass Targa top, like that of the Corvette is safer than a t-top with a center reinforcement? Makes total sense.

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by irocnroll

So a glass Targa top, like that of the Corvette is safer than a t-top with a center reinforcement? Makes total sense.

No a Corvette was designed from the beginning to be a targa, and since it's frame is the actual structure and the body is decoration it meets rollover standards.. The Camaro on the other hand the body IS the frame, and would need complete redesign to strengthen it for a T-top or Targa top...

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

No a Corvette was designed from the beginning to be a targa, and since it's frame is the actual structure and the body is decoration it meets rollover standards.. The Camaro on the other hand the body IS the frame, and would need complete redesign to strengthen it for a T-top or Targa top...

Couldn't have said it better!

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Amn_Bly

Please current me if i am wrong, but in a recent issue of motortrend it was stated that the beloved convertible will be held off another quarter and most likely a 2012 model. So who knows maybe 2012 holds the z28 AND convertible for us all.

They can bring a 2012 model out anytime after January 2011.. Remember the Camaro came out as a 2010 in early 2009

[MontyCarlo]

Originally Posted by ViperTomcat

That would be incredibly stupid on GM's part to let Ford have a run of the 2011 MY and not contest it.

I don't think it's a good idea to save the good stuff for MY2012 either, but it sure looks like that's what they're doing. To ensure the Camaro's sales dominance over the Mustang for 2011 would require something major to steal attention away from Ford's upgraded engines - something so major that the gist of it surely would have leaked out to us by now. Something like a Z28 hitting dealership floors by this summer. If something that big were in the works for MY2011, we'd surely have some blurry camera shots and a bunch more cryptic comments from Fbodfather and #3 by now, so I'm forced to assume we won't see anything more drastic than some tweaks to the interior, electronics, wheels, etc.

[DarthNacho08]

Originally Posted by MontyCarlo

I don't think it's a good idea to save the good stuff for MY2012 either, but it sure looks like that's what they're doing. To ensure the Camaro's sales dominance over the Mustang for 2011 would require something major to steal attention away from Ford's upgraded engines - something so major that the gist of it surely would have leaked out to us by now. Something like a Z28 hitting dealership floors by this summer. If something that big were in the works for MY2011, we'd surely have some blurry camera shots and a bunch more cryptic comments from Fbodfather and #3 by now, so I'm forced to assume we won't see anything more drastic than some tweaks to the interior, electronics, wheels, etc.

yea, they don't have to do anything huge for the 2011 MY, the car is still new enough that it will sell well without major updates, however, by the end of the year, we should atleast have something more solid than just rumors about updates for the camaro

[DGthe3]

Shortly after the rumor started that the 'vert would be in Detriot Fbodfather came in and denied it:

Originally Posted by fbodfather

MMMMMMMMMMMM.....no it won't......

Originally Posted by ViperTomcat

That would be incredibly stupid on GM's part to let Ford have a run of the 2011 MY and not contest it.

You make it sound as if they can snap their fingers and have the cars rolling down the assembly line. The convertible was delayed due to GM's bankruptcy and a supplier issue (also a bankruptcy). And your statement completely ignores the fact that they went the entire 2010 MY without contesting the mustang convertible and have done pretty well.

[Dboy23]

I heard from someone that works at GM that it should be available to order in 3-6 months, probably closer to the 6.

[Amn_Bly]

As for those saying GM is waiting to put anything "new" out in the pony car war, i believe it maybe a good thing to wait and see how the 2011 mustang runs/ sales are before they decide to "bring out the big guns". I can see why as if they had the z28 already out, ford would have one upped it in 2011, as they did with the SS. So for those saying it is a stupid idea to wait, i believe the opposite as to see how their competition, in performance, is going to sell.

[v6sonoma]

If they build it. It will come. lol

[pony]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

You make it sound as if they can snap their fingers and have the cars rolling down the assembly line. The convertible was delayed due to GM's bankruptcy and a supplier issue (also a bankruptcy). And your statement completely ignores the fact that they went the entire 2010 MY without contesting the mustang convertible and have done pretty well.

My questions is: 1) Why has a production version been privately shown to dealers already as reported on C5 if it's not ready?
2) Oshawa plant line was reported to be down in January for convertible retooling as reported here on C5; are they waiting for one to actually roll off the line before showing anyone?
3) Bankruptcy has nothing to due with the fact that this car IS going to be produced (suppposedly in less than a year) Why hasn't there been a Auto show reveal yet? (Unless it's going to be delayed)

I'm guessing most of this is marketing statagy (for whatever reason) versus actually having a production version ready for showing. Just my 2 cents (again)

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by pony

My questions is: 1) Why has a production version been privately shown to dealers already as reported on C5 if it's not ready?
2) Oshawa plant line was reported to be down in January for convertible retooling as reported here on C5; are they waiting for one to actually roll off the line before showing anyone?
3) Bankruptcy has nothing to due with the fact that this car IS going to be produced (suppposedly in less than a year) Why hasn't there been a Auto show reveal yet? (Unless it's going to be delayed)

I'm guessing most of this is marketing statagy (for whatever reason) versus actually having a production version ready for showing. Just my 2 cents (again)

The production version of the Volt was seen last summer and the car isn't out until the end of this year, and there has been plenty of work done on the car since. The assembly line for the coupe was in place for about a year before the first production car came off the line. It takes time to calibrate the robots and train the workers. Yes, bankruptcy delayed the car. When the supplier of the convertible mechanism goes bankrupt it slows things down, particularly when GM had just finished their own bankruptcy. But this was at an earlier stage, before confirmation of a production date so saying they couldn't really say how long it would be delayed. As it was, it would probably be going into production in the very near future. Now it is slated to enter production early next year (before the end of March 2011)

Delaying the convertible isn't really of any benefit to GM. There is obvious demand for the car so they will sell it as soon as they can.

[MontyCarlo]

Was the convertible mechanism supplier's bankruptcy caused by GM's bankruptcy, since the process with GM involved forcing a lot of suppliers to accept something less than the cash they were owed?

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by MontyCarlo

Was the convertible mechanism supplier's bankruptcy caused by GM's bankruptcy, since the process with GM involved forcing a lot of suppliers to accept something less than the cash they were owed?

I don't know. That could be it, or it could just be that very few people were buying convertibles when the auto market went to hell. Its a relatively minor German company so info is pretty scarce.

[sask-man]

Ford certainly watched all the reviews of the Mustang/Challenger/Camaro and did do some upgrades for 2011, most notibly the 5.0 engine bumping HP up a lot to just over 400. Stiil has that live axle??? but in the HP game, they have stepped up to the table. I'm not a Ford guy, but the 5.0 will atleast be a more serious contender now!

I too have heard that the convertible should be available to order in and around Aug/Sept 2010 and that GM has said they have NO plans at this time to begin work on the Z-28 option. With sales of the Camaro as they have been and the money maker it has become (even to GM's suprise), they may rethink that in a bit as they make more $$$ on the V8 than on the V6's and it's all about the $$$ for GM!