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Driven: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible

We are not typically enamored by convertibles. Loud, jouncey, even wiggly, they sometimes end up being a compromise when compared to their hard-topped relatives. But what happens in the case of the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible? This piece of American near muscle seemingly dispenses with the awkwardness and even top-heaviness seen in other ragtops, which begs a question.
2016 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible 30 photos
Photo: Mark Elias
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Is it the right car to go topless in?

Start it up

Like its corporate cousins, the Cadillac ATS and CTS, the 2016 Camaro rides on GM’s Alpha platform, which by its very nature makes it smaller than the outgoing fifth generation model. It’s lighter, and narrower too. By shaving off nearly 200-pounds, engineers at the General have been able to live by that old adage of less is more. In this case, less engine size and less weight can give way to more fuel economy and performance from smaller engines than before.

In the case of our RS 2LT, this two+two is powered by an optional 3.6-liter 335 horsepower direct-injection V6 that puts out 335 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque. It also incorporates active fuel management to cut off two cylinders once this RS gets to cruising speed. We emphasize two+two because in regards to two full size adults sitting back there, it ain’t gonna happen, no way, no how. (Unless the driver is a dom and the rear seaters are subs.)

The V6 is mated to an optional eight-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shift levers. Purists need not get their knickers all in a knot, as a six-speed manual transmission is also available for those who like to row it themselves.

The EPA says that thanks to the 3.6-liter V6’s active fuel management system, the Camaro RS can achieve 19 city / 28 highway with 23 mpg combined. It rides on a MacPherson Strut front suspension with dual lower ball joints, twin-tube struts and direct acting stabilizer bar in front, while a multi-link setup with twin-tube shocks and active stabilizer bar brings up the rear.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible
Photo: Mark Elias
Included as part of our 2LT Camaro’s standard package is the Technology package with nine-speaker Bose audio system and eight-inch touchscreen display. Apple’s CarPlay is already on board, and Android Auto will soon follow. They all combine to work with OnStar’s 4G LTE WiFi hot spot. Other choice bits were a standard rearview camera, keyless entry, heated and ventilated eight-way power and six-way passenger seats, and automatic climate control.

The Convenience and Lighting package ($2,800) was also a part of it and include lane change warnings, heated external mirrors, illuminated door sills and interior trim lighting, a configurable TFT screen driver instrument display, head-up readout, wireless android charging and an all-important blind-spot monitor with lane departure warning.

Finally, the RS package ($1,950) added an extra dose of aggression to the already shark-like exterior, and included a new grille with xenon headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a decklid spoiler and LED taillamps.

What if the 3.6-liter V6 doesn’t quite float your boat? Buyers can take advantage of a 2.0-liter inline turbocharged 275-horsepower four-cylinder, or the Big Daddy 455-horsepower 6.2-liter LT-1 engine. Once again, owners can choose a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Head to head? Not quite.

As seen before, the Camaro’s natural competition consists of the latest version of the original pony car, the Ford Mustang EcoBoost, and the Dodge Challenger V6. The Mustang is available as a factory convertible, while the Challenger only goes topless via the aftermarket.

Aggressive looks inside and out.

Improving on the fifth generation that signaled the revival of the brand, our 2016 Camaro Convertible improved on a set of already-good looks. With a more aggressive front appearance and sharper than ever cutlines, it’s sleek and swoopy in an entirely new way.

They have even managed to keep the silhouette of the coupe within the dimensions of the convertible top. But good looks do sometimes come with a price and this 2016 Camaro is no exception. With a high waistline and a low-slung roof, limited visibility out the side glass is still a bit of an issue and care must be taken when merging into traffic due to large side blind spots.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible
Photo: Mark Elias
The interior of our topless wonder is a vast improvement over the previous version, now featuring multifunction air-conditioning vents where a performance gauge cluster was previously located. They were mounted too low to be of any help in the first place, so good riddance, we say.

The large eight-inch display now acts as the car’s control center with its connectivity suite acting as a window on the Camaro’s world. The black dashboard was nicely set off by the Kalahari (tan) leather seats, which, with their ventilation feature are absolute must-haves during the heat of a typically steamy summer.

The Camaro’s convertible roof is a quietly understated feat of engineering genius. Multi-layered and able to keep most external blasts of noise at bay while at speed, it can be raised and lowered at speeds up to 30 mph. A hard tonneau cover deploys automatically once the roof is stowed. Trunk cargo space starts out at approximately 7.3-cubic feet with the roof up. When stowed, expect a little more than 3.0-cubic feet.

Wheeling it

With 335 hp of V6 power under the hood, this Camaro can get out of its own way in no time flat. The eight-speed automatic is a flawless performer although the gearing, when paddled with the steering wheel mounted shifter levers, does seem too close together to make a difference in either fuel economy or performance.

The console mounted drive mode selector let us switch between normal and sport modes, which caused a remap of the throttle for more enthusiastic driving. While not equipped with a “live” suspension (magnetic ride control, as seen on the Corvette, is available in the V8 SS version), the sport kit that was included as part of the RS configuration still offered flat cornering through most sweeping turns.

Our car was equipped with the Dual Mode Performance Exhaust system, which might enhance this ragtop’s oomph, at higher speeds, but sounds like a child’s motorboat sputtering noise in the bathtub during low speed jaunts around town. Perhaps a bit of tuning in the basso range would be appropriate.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible
Photo: Mark Elias
The interior makes for a comfortable place to work during local drives and long haul runs of several hours, made possible by well designed and bolstered front chairs with heating, and thankfully, air-conditioned ventilation. It’s just what the doctor ordered while making the scene in sunny South Florida.

Apple’s CarPlay connectivity suite transferred most of the Apple-sourced apps from our iPhone 6s to the Camaro’s eight-inch screen, and even provided a “home button” to go back to. We especially liked two things about the system: how anytime we received a text or SMS message, our personal assistant, Siri, volunteered to read and then respond to any missive without us having to remove our hands from the wheel. In the case of using Apple Maps, we would tell Siri where we wanted to go, and from there the entire map would display on the car’s full 8-inch display, as though it was the integrated navigation system in this particular Camaro. Sorry, but it does have a few kinks: if you have a favorite third-party app like Waze, it will not interface with the CarPlay system.

On the other hand, while we could hear most of our phone calls using the CarPlay handsfree connections, several of the people we called complained of poor audio clarity. This could have been the result of driving through a poor coverage area.

The Bottom Line

With enough pep to do it without growing a pair (of cylinders), the 2016 Camaro builds on the new generation’s strengths and then tosses off its top in the process. The result is what we’d call decent exposure.
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Editor's note: 2016 Camaro RS Convertible Base Price: $36,800, as tested, $47,320.

Includes: Convenience and lighting package, with seat memory, illuminated sill plates, interior lighting spectrum, wireless android charging, 8-inch driver information display, lane change alert, head up display, heated steering wheel; $2,800. RS Package, with 20-inch wheels, run-flat tires, HID headlamps, LED taillights, unique front grille. $1,950; Engine, 3.6-liter, 335 hp V6 engine, $1,495; Eight-speed automatic transmission, $1,495; Dual Mode Performance exhaust system, $895; Chevrolet MyLink audio system, $495; Garnet Red Tintcoat paint, $395; Destination fee, $995.

 

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