580hp Camaro ZL1 convertible revealed

Has Chevrolet heeded none of Sir John Dalberg-Acton's legendary, chilling advice? That all power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely?

One can merely speculate as to whether the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 convertible's 580hp corrupts; whether that stratospheric power output will liquidise rear tyres, raze poorly fixed hairpieces and vaporise your spine. That's right, dearest Internet badgers, the new Chevy Camaro ZL1 drop-top now produces 580 horses and 556 torques. It is Chevy's most powerful drop-top ever. Ever.

That absolute power puts it clear of heavyweight contenders like the Aston Martin DB9 Volante, Mercedes SL63 AMG, Porsche 911 Turbo S and even the Ford Shelby GT500. It even shades the herculean power output of the recently revamped Bentley Continental GTC, and boasts sufficient firepower to propel its coupe brethren around the Nürburgring in 7m 41s: some 40 seconds quicker than the old Camaro SS.

Video: ZL1 Coupe laps the 'Ring

Chevy tells us the ZL1's architecture was design to accommodate a convertible from the very start, and thus promises "coupe-like" dynamics. It's also fitted a raft of braces to counteract the resultant negatives from lopping the head off: a ‘tower-to-tower', transmission support, underbody tunnel and front ‘X' and rear ‘V' braces now adorn the chassis. 

The new ZL1 convertible also gets Magnetic Ride dampers, which can be adjusted up to 1,000 times per second, as well as ‘traction management' as seen on the ZR1 ‘Vette, which includes ESP, launch control and of course, traction control. This could prove pivotal in assuring your continued longevity on Earth.

No performance times have been supplied, except the promise that the convertible will "preserve nearly all the acceleration, road-holding and performance capabilities of the ZL1 Coupe", itself having recently been treated to a 580bhp upgrade.

ZL1 chief engineer Al Oppenheiser said: "This is a car that is guranteed to put a smile on your face every time you drop the top, or hit the gas." Not least because of the sound of the Chevy's all-aluminium, supercharged V8 is rather delectable.

It'll get its public debut at next month's Los Angeles Motor Show, so check beck for more info then. For now, click through for more pics, including recently uprated 580bhp ZL1 coupe in development.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe