First look: Callaway's raging roadster

THE US-based sports car company that supplies engines to Holden Special Vehicles is making a play for the title of the world’s fastest cabriolet.

Just three months after releasing the red-hot supercharged C16 coupe, Callaway Cars will officially reveal the convertible version at the New York auto show on 4 April.

The Callaway C16 Cabrio will be one of the fastest convertibles in the world, accelerating from rest to 100km/h in around 3.6 seconds and devouring the quarter mile in little more than 11 seconds. Top speed is more than 200 miles an hour (320km/h).

Though it cannot match the outrageous Pagani Zonda’s top speed of 352km/h, the C16 Cabrio is about 0.2s faster than the Italian thoroughbred in the 100km/h sprint. Both are faster than the Ferrari F430 Spider and out-accelerate the Mercedes SL-based Brabus V12 bi-turbo, but fall short of the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster, which clocks the sprint in just 3.4 seconds.

Queensland-based Corvette conversion company Performax International is looking at doing a batch of five Callaway coupes for sale locally at the end of this year.

“We’ve had enquiries from potential buyers so we are investigating if we are able to get them approved under the ADRs (Australian Design Rules),” said Performax general manager Nick Vandenberg.

“Our engineers are doing a bit of work to see if we can get it over the line. Accreditation looks like it should be OK.”

Based on the Chevrolet Corvette like its coupe sibling, the Callaway C16 Cabrio is propelled by a supercharged version of the 6.0-litre LS2 V8 used by HSV, boosting power to 420kW. And, if that is not enough, there is an optional Performance Package that cranks up the power to 462kW and a whopping 794Nm of torque.

Drive is through a six-speed manual gearbox or a paddle-shift Tiptronic-style transmission.

Left: C16 coupe.

Like the coupe and every other Callaway offering of the past two decades, the C16 Cabrio was designed by Canadian Paul Deutschman, who restyled every panel of the Corvette’s body. The Cabrio is distinguished by 1950s-style built-in headrests.

“With this car, we’ve maintained the C16’s class-leading performance while creating a gorgeous Cabrio version, based on one of the best sports car platforms available anywhere,” said company founder Reeves Callaway.

Inside, the C16 Cabrio is similar to the coupe, with Callaway doorsill panels, steering wheel and dash pad. There is an optional German leather and Alcantara interior package featuring seats made for Callaway by Recaro.

The mechanical upgrade is similar to the coupe, featuring adjustable Eibach coil-over suspension with 10-position compression and rebound adjustment for either road or track, and beefed-up brakes with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers.

Nine-spoke wheels designed by Callaway and produced by Dymag have forged magnesium centres and carbon fibre rims. They weigh almost half as much as aluminium wheels, measure a massive 20 x 12 at the rear and 19 x 10 at the front and are fitted with unique Z-rated Yokohama AdvanSport tyres – 285/30-series at the front and 325/25 at the rear.

The C16 Cabrio will sell in North America for $US128,765 (about $A162,000) – $US8900 more than the coupe. Each car is built to order and carries a serialised build plaque.

Read more: Callaway turns tricks on Corvette for LA show