Chevrolet has announced an update to its iconic Camaro pony car set to be unveiled next month.

The Camaro ZL will be the most powerful Chevrolet convertible ever, with a supercharged 6.2-liter engine rated at 580 horsepower (432 kW).

The output will outshine models including the Aston Martin DB9 Volante, the Mercedes SL63 AMG, the Porsche 911 Turbo S and the Ford Shelby GT500.

Chevrolet has released details of the 45th anniversary edition of its Camaro sports car, set to be unveiled at a Camaro fan event April 15.

The enhancements for the Camaro, the most popular sports car in the US, cover both performance and design and coincide with the birthday celebrations for the vehicle, first launched in 1966.

The 2012 Camaro will feature an improved version of the current model’s 3.6 liter V-6 engine, which adds an increase of 11 hp (8kW) to bring the total to 323 hp (241 kW).

General Motors said that in just three minutes, all 100 of the Neiman Marcus special edition 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertibles it offered through the US-based luxury retailer’s annual Christmas Book catalog sold out yesterday.

The record sale took place a few hours after the car was showcased on NBC’s “Today Show”.

The new owners, who claimed their Neiman Marcus edition cars via a special telephone reservation process, will receive their cars this spring.

The Neiman Marcus edition is painted in an exclusive Deep Bordeaux exterior color, accented by subtle, “ghosted” rally stripes.