A drop-top version of the mighty Camaro ZL1 will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show ahead of its late 2012 launch.

Thanks to the supercharged 6.2L “LSA” engine at the its heart, Camaro ZL1 Convertible will destroy almost its rivals in terms of power. It has 580 horsepower (432 kW) and 556 lb.-ft. of torque (754 Nm).

For comparison Aston Martin DB9 Volante has 470 hp, Mercedes SL63 AMG 518 hp, Porsche 911 Turbo S 530 hp, and its closest rival Ford Shelby GT500 offers no more than 550 hp. Granted, the Aston or the Merc might be a more complete package, and the Porsche might have the best to drive, but the ZL1 has got a lot to go for.

It’s not like Camaro is just bout brute power and no sophistication to tame it. The ZL1 features advanced powertrain and chassis technologies such as the magnetic ride control. No wonder then it lapped the Nurburgring , well the coupe did, in 7:41.

The Camaro ZL1 convertible will also offer Performance Traction Management as standard equipment, which is exclusive to General Motors. Other fancy tech that enhance the driving experience include launch control, traction control and electronic stability control.

The best thing about Camaro however, will be the price. It will be cheaper than all the weaker rivals mentioned above.