Video: Putting the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible’s top through extreme tests

May 26, 2011May 26, 2011 Omar Rana 2011, Camaro, Camaro Convertible, Camaro SS, Camaro SS Convertible, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Chevrolet Camaro SS, Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible, Convertibles, Sports Cars

Wondering how durable the top is on the new 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible? Well, wonder no more. GM has released a video showing us the extensive tests it put the Camaro Convertible to make sure that the drop-top muscle car doesn’t disappoint.

GM said that to assure long-term durability, the Camaro Convertible’s top was opened and closed more than 22,5000 times (three times more than would be expected in a typical 10 year use) while it was under development. Some of those open and closes were performed in extreme conditions; temperatures ranging from minus-22° F to 170° F and humidity of up to 95 percent.

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“This past winter we even had our engineers driving 80 of these convertibles back and forth to work every day here in Michigan,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “They had to open and close the top five times each day no matter what the weather was like.”

Every Camaro Convertible produced also undergoes a water test at the plant in Oshawa, Ontario. Some are randomly chosen and undergo an 8-minute water test at the GM Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan. More than 7,200 gallons of water are thrown at the Camaro Convertible in a hurricane-like downpour at a pace of 900 gallons per minute.

As far as reducing interior noise, the Camaro Convertible’s top gets a three-layer top, which includes an acoustical liner made of rubber sandwiched between an acrylic square weave outer fabric and an inner reinforcing cotton layer.

Check out the video after the jump.

Refresher: The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is available in two trim levels including LT and SS. The 2011 Camaro Convertible LT is powered by a 3.6L direct-injection V6 engine that produces 312-hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. The Camaro Convertible SS models is offered with two 6.2L V8 powertrain choices including the L99 on automatic-equipped vehicles and the LS3 on manual-equipped models The L99 engine produces 400-hp and a maximum torque of 410 lb-ft while the LS3 makes 426-hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Prices for the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible start at $29,150 for the 1LT and $36,650 for the 1SS.