Camaro won’t drop top in cold

Chevrolet says its new Camaro convertible will not allow the driver to lower the top at temperatures below about 3 C. The U.S. automaker says this is because the hydraulic fluid used to power the top could become too thick, and overwork the pump, potentially causing a failure of the system. When you try to put the top down, a warning appears on the infotainment screen that reads “Temperature too low, top disabled.” There is a dismiss button, but it doesn’t allow you to override the warning. The restriction could also be in place to protect the fabric top, because when the temperature drops, the cloth can become stiffer and even shrink. This means lowering or raising the top could cause it to rip at the seams or at any pressure points that touch the top frame. It isn’t clear if the Camaro would also restrict the use of the top if it was already down in the first place. By contrast, the Ford Mustang convertible will let you put the top down in any weather you like, with no restrictions.