When Chevrolet->ke199 officially introduced the Camaro Convertible to the public late last year, there seemed to be no denying the fact that as soon as the car went on sale, aftermarket companies would dive at the chance to become the first ones to release a tuning package for the Camaro Convertible.

Well, you can now take that race off the board after Hennessey Performance->ke1863 unveiled their new performance package for the Camaro Convertible SS called the 'HPE600'.

Truth be told, the 'HPE600' isn't exactly a new Hennessey product as the American aftermarket company already used it on the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro. The result for both cars was pretty much dead on, with both having a modified output of somewhere north of 600 horsepower.

While some people might scoff at the notion of Hennessey being the first tuner to release a modified Camaro Convertible, the truth of the matter is that its irrelevant and inconsequential in the greater scheme of things. If for nothing else, the HPE600 for the Camaro Convertible just might become the measuring stick as to how other aftermarket companies will approach their tuning work for the Camaro SS.

Details on the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible 'HPE600'after the jump.

chevrolet-camaro-convertible-hpe600-by-hennessey

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: chevrolet-camaro-convertible-hpe600-by-hennessey
Pros
Cons

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible 'HPE600' by Hennessey

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible 'HPE600' by Hennessey
  • Engine/Motor: V8 engine
  • Horsepower: 602 horsepower
  • Torque: 605 lb/ft of torque
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior and Interior

Aesthetically and aerodynamically speaking, the Camaro SS was pretty much untouched with the exception of some new interior items, including special floor mats, embroidered headrests, and an individually numbered plaque. But if you want to have some exterior touches added on the car, Hennessey is offering a number of options to suit your taste. You can opt for a carbon fiber package that includes CarbonAero front splitters and side sills, Hennessey’s own carbon fiber door sill plates, a blue hood stripes aesthetic package, a KW Variant 1 suspension upgrade, and a set of the company’s 20” three-piece alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tires.

Performance

Using the Camaro’s stock 6.3-liter V8 engine, Hennessey equipped it with a TVS2300 supercharger and, together with high-flow fuel injectors, a cold air induction system, a recalibrated ECU, and a sport exhaust system, the whole program gave birth to Hennessey’s new pride and joy, the HPE600. As a result of all the tweaks and additions, the Camaro Convertible SS’s output jumped from 426 horsepower and 420 lb/ft of torque to 602 horsepower and 605 lb/ft of torque. The resulting boost translates to a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a quarter-mile run of 12 seconds at 118 mph.

Pricing

All in all, the HPE600 Supercharged Camaro Convertible will be sold at $56,495 (the base model of the Camaro costs $40,500 while the Hennessey upgrade costs $15,995). Hennessey is offering a three-year/36,000-mile powertrain warranty for the HPE600 program. If you want the whole program, complete with all the aerodynamic features, the price jumps up all the way to $74,950, including tax and other fees.

Competition

The problem with being the first of its kind is that there’s no point of comparison to which you can base your product. And as far as we know, this is the first tuning program directed exclusively for the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible so, yeah, it’s tough to get a nice comparison. While we expect more tuners to come out with their own programs for the convertible muscle car in the coming months, we’re going to leave this one dry – for now.