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The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is the 22nd Chevrolet chosen to pace “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing®” and the seventh Camaro. Adding to the rich heritage is the fact that 2011 will mark the 100th anniversary of the first Indianapolis 500, as well as the centennial year of Chevrolet.

The pace car, along with the matching festival cars, features a Summit White exterior accented with orange stripes and door graphics. The interior is trimmed in orange leather, including front seat headrests embossed with the Indy 500 logo, along with white door panels and instrument panel trim. The instrument panel trim features extensions of the orange exterior stripes. The color combination is similar to the design used on the 1969 Camaro Indy pace car – replicas of which have become among the most popular Camaros in the collector world.

Equipped with a 400-horsepower (298 kW) V-8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, the actual pace car for the race requires no performance modifications to perform its duty in front of the racing field.

All 50 of the Festival Committees cars will be SS convertible models fitted with the 2SS equipment package, offering the following standard features: Four-wheel disc brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers and hydraulic assist, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, Competitive/sport mode that enhances on-track performance, Performance Launch Control (with the manual transmission) that optimizes hard-acceleration launches for quicker, more consistent performance, Twenty-inch polished aluminum wheels and performance tires, Head-up instrument display and Center console with auxiliary gauge package. Along with the 2SS equipment, the cars feature the RS package, which includes HID headlamps and unique tail lamps.

The regular-production versions of the 2011 Camaro Convertible will begin arriving in Chevrolet dealerships in February 2011.

Deliveries of the new 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible start next month but you can build your dream version now, virtually.

Once you load up all the options, which for simplicity are divided into four different sections--Packages, Powertrain, Exterior and Interior--the configurator will dish out the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. A few clicks of the mouse and you’ll be looking at a sticker approaching the $50,000 mark.

Some of the cooler options include the 21 inch aluminum wheels with black accents, Hurst short-throw shifter and racing stripes.

If you missed our earlier story on the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, click here. Otherwise, follow the jump below and get cracking building your dream drop-top modern-day muscle car.

As part of their program to annually release a special-edition Camaro, Chevrolet has introduced the Synergy Series 2011 at SEMA 2010. Designed with new approaches on accessory parts and customization, the show car was exhibited to showcase the model to be produced in the first half of 2011.

The Camaro Synergy Series 2011 model contains a mix of exterior and interior accessories – including combinations not available on any other production model, including an exclusive gray interior with red accent stitching throughout. It is based on Camaro Chroma, a show car first exhibited at SEMA in 2009.

The performance of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Synergy Series is guaranteed by an LS3 6.2L engine and six-speed manual transmission (with 2SS only), Brembo brake calipers in red (with 2SS only), and Pedders lowering kit (licensed Camaro accessory, not included in production package).

While the original Synergy was offered only in a single color (Synergy Green), the 2011 edition will be offered in four colors – Cyber Gray, Victory Red, Summit White and Black – as well as 2SS (V-8) and 2LT (V-6) trims with the RS package.

The Camaro Synergy Series 2011 model will begin production in the first quarter, in limited quantities.

The Los Angeles Auto Show this week will see the long-awaited 2011 Camaro Convertible getting its first public outing before going on sale in February of 2011 with an estimated starting price $30,000. Today, General Motors released more photos and details as well as a couple of new videos of the soft-top variant of the Camaro, which has been in the works ever since the introduction of the coupe model but was constantly delayed due to the firm's financial troubles.

GM says the conversion from coupe to convertible comprised of four strategic reinforcements to enhance the body structure including, the addition of a tower-to-tower brace under the hood, a transmission support reinforcement brace, underbody tunnel brace and, front and rear underbody "V" braces. The company's goal was to match the coupe as closely as possible in ride quality, handling and overall performance.

Additional safety structural reinforcements include a hydrofromed tube in the A-pillars, an inner reinforcement bracket in the windshield header, a reinforced front hinge pillar and reinforcements inside the rockers.

"To compensate for the reduced structure of an open car, engineers often will make the suspension softer, making the convertible a boulevard cruiser," said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. "Instead, we took the more difficult, but better path of bolstering structure rather than softening the suspension. We didn't change a strut, bushing or spring rate from the Camaro coupe."

According to GM, the result of the structural changes to the convertible body give it better torsional stiffness than the BMW 3-Series convertible.

The Camaro Convertible comes equipped with a standard power-folding top that retracts in about 20 seconds. Furthermore, a folding, one-piece tonneau cover is standard on 2LT and 2SS models and optional on 1LT/1SS.

Other changes over the coupe model include the relocation of the radio antenna to the boot and the trunk lock cylinder from between the taillamps to an area between the rear seat back cushion and driver's side interior panel.

The soft-top four-seater will be offered in similar model configurations as the Camaro coupe, meaning buyers will have a choice of two engines, a 312HP 3.6-liter V6 delivering 29 mpg highway and an 6.2L V8 with 426 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission will be standard, with an optional six-speed automatic.Finally, nine production exterior colors will be available available, with tops offered in black or tan. All models will be equipped with rear parking assist as standard.

We all remember how fast the Camaro Neiman Marcus Edition sold out - if you don't, check out the story here. Now it's time for the General to promote the far more affordable standard model that will get its first public outing at the LA Auto Show next week, with sales scheduled to start in Spring of 2011. Mesmerized by the social media hype, GM released a new batch of pictures on its Facebook page.

The new soft-top pony car from Chevrolet will be offered with two engines choices: the 312 hp 3.6-liter V6 engine, with direct fuel injection, and the more potent 6.2-liter V8, delivering 426-horsepower for the SS version. Prices are set to start at $30,000, with the destination fee (850$) included, for the base V6-powered model.

By Csaba Daradics

If there's one way to convince buyers of the advantages of smaller displacement engines with fewer cylinders, it's to do it through motorsports. And now General Motors is marking its return to the IndyCar Series with a new twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V6 racing engine powered by renewable E85 ethanol fuel that will essentially replace the older V8 program. The new, purpose-built Chevy IndyCar engine will be co-developed by General Motors and Ilmor Engineering.

Previously, Chevy took part in Indy-style competition as an engine manufacturer in 1986-93 and 2002-05 with V8 engines, winning 104 races, powering six driver champions, and achieving a total of seven Indianapolis 500 victories.

"Our vision is to design, build and sell the world's best vehicles – and racing is one of the best ways to showcase what we can do," said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations. "Re-entering IndyCar racing will help us take our advanced engine technology to the upper bounds of what's possible. And it will also provide a dynamic training ground for engineers, who'll transfer the technologies we develop for racing to the products we sell to our customers.

GM's IndyCar V6 turbo will have a displacement of just 2.4 liters and feature will an aluminum block and cylinder heads. According to the company, the V6 will be a fully stressed chassis member supporting the gearbox and rear suspension. GM said more technical details and specifications will be released at a later date.

"Our return to IndyCar as Chevrolet enters its centennial year is natural," says Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. "At the same time this engine program will be a showcase for the efficient and powerful engine technologies that parallel new Chevrolet vehicles like the Camaro, all-new Cruze compact and Equinox crossover."

Hennessey Performance has released another performance upgrade for Chevy's new Camaro SS, called the HPE600, based on 2010-2011 LS3 or L99 powered versions. It encompasses, among other things, a TVS2300 Supercharger System, which raises output to 602 hp and 595 lb-ft (807 Nm) of torque.

The Texas-based tuner claims that the HPE600 is capable of completing the 0-60mph (96km/h) sprint in the mid 3-second range and run the quarter mile (~400 meters) in 11 seconds.

Check out the video after the jump to hear that specific, spine-chilling Hennessey grunt.

This über-Camaro features other high-performance parts, like cold air induction system and upgraded injectors, and on the official website Hennessey states that many more additional appearance and performance options are also available.

By Csaba Daradics

General Motors announced today that the Chevrolet Cruze Eco, which goes on sale in January 2011 for $18,895, delivers an EPA-estimated 42 mpg (5.6 lt/100 km) on the highway and 28 mpg (8.4 lt/100 km) in city, delivering a better fuel efficiency than hybrid models like the Ford Fusion Hybrid or Toyota Camry Hybrid.

The Detroit automaker's engineers achieved this by making the powertrain more efficient, further reducing the car's weight and improving the Cruze's aerodynamic coefficient.

The Cruze Eco is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, delivering 138 hp and 148 lb-ft (200 Nm) of torque. To get the most out of it, GM optimized the torque range and made the peak value constant between 1,850-4,900 rpm. Furthermore, the transmission's gearing has been adjusted for the model's 17-inch wheel and tire combination. Low gears have aggressive ratios, while the sixth is a "tall" gear, better suited for highway driving.

The announced fuel economy concerns the model with the manual transmission , but there's also a 6-speed automatic available, with EPA-estimated fuel ratings of 26 mpg (9.05 lt/100 km) city and 37 mpg (6.53 lt/100 km) highway.

The Cruze Eco underwent a thorough mass-optimization process as well. It tips the scales at 3,009 lbs (1365 kg), meaning it's 214 lbs (97 kg) lighter than the Cruze 1LT. Weight-saving measures include the use of lighter wheels and tires, as well as reduced weld flange length and sheet metal gauge thickness.

Aerodynamic improvements are just as important when aiming for low fuel consumption and the Cruze Eco is a rolling proof of this. According to GM, "aerodynamic improvements over non-Eco manual-transmission models contributed approximately six mpg to the Cruze's EPA-estimated 42 mpg highway fuel economy." Engineers used lower front air dam extensions, rear spoiler and underbody panels that smooth the airflow beneath the car. They also lowered the ride height.

The technical tour de force is completed by the air shutter incorporated in the lower front grille that closes at higher speeds to reduce drag and opens at lower speeds to optimize engine cooling.

Below you can see how the Cruze Eco stacks up to non-hybrid and hybrid competitors.

By Csaba Daradics