Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

• Looks like: A droptop version of last year's Camaro concept
• Defining characteristics: 1960s muscle-car styling, 364-cubic-inch V-8 under the hood, a Beach Boys album in the CD player — kidding, kidding
• Ridiculous features: Chintzy dashboard controls, tiny side mirrors
• Chance of being mass-produced: Count on it; a production Camaro will hit the road in 2009 or 2010

Hot on the heels of last year's Camaro coupe concept, GM has introduced a Camaro convertible that will likely hit showrooms before the end of the decade. Sporting the hardtop's brash styling and beefy V-8 engine, the Camaro heralds Chevy's return to muscle-car mania and '60s braggadocio — something young drivers might lust for, had Ford not already quenched the yearning with its most recent Mustang. Not to worry, Chevy: Lead-footed males are not in short supply. The concept car's 6.0-liter LS2 V-8 — which helps the Corvette shred rubber faster than a pizza boy behind schedule — should make for plenty of chest thumping 'round the engine bay. It connects to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. A cylinder deactivation feature cuts fuel to four cylinders during low-demand situations, which will help the Camaro achieve its purported 30 mpg or better on the highway. Like the coupe, the convertible has styling similar to Chevrolet's original 1967 - 1969 Camaro. Like most concept cars, the interior comes with plenty of oddities sure to be ironed out by production time. A three-spoke steering wheel sits in front of two square gauges, and metallic auxiliary portals — displaying oil temperature, gas and other vitals — perch behind the gearshift. The seats are upholstered in leather and suede-like Alcantara. Dark gray five-spoke wheels are 21 inches in diameter up front and 22 inches in back, and the four-wheel-disc brakes measure 14 inches across. Expect the production Camaro to employ a smaller engine — perhaps GM's 3.9-liter V-6 — in base trim levels. It's possible that the automaker's 5.3-liter V-8 could power a midlevel Camaro Z28, which would leave the 6.0-liter V-8 in the concept car to power the Camaro SS. It would make for an interesting matchup with the Mustang GT500 and whatever Dodge concocts for its upcoming Challenger.

— Reported by Kelsey Mays, Cars.com; photographed by Chase Agnello-Dean, Cars.com; additional images courtesy of the manufacturer