Mid-Engine C8 Corvette

[FUNX650]

I heard an interesting theory on this...

This writer thought that GM may
decide to make this mid-engine
Corvette a Cadillac instead

This kind of makes sense, when you
consider what the starting base price
for this car will probably be ($90,000+).

This way you can develop the mid-engine
technology, and you don't alienate your
loyal Corvette buyers.

This rumored Cadillac mid-engine rivalry
with Chevrolet's Corvette division has been
around for awhile...and it's concepts/theories
are still alive and well.

And...Just to note:
Some Corvettes have been in
the $90,000.00+ stratosphere
for quite a few years now.


Bob

 

[ScottB]

The C6 ZR1 was not simply GM/Chevrolet testing a super vette ... it was also to see if the market would bear a 100k+ vehicle from GM. It sold very well and proved there is a market for a super high performance car from GM. The media helped with showing it against true supercars and building its reputation as a competitor.

This mid-engine offering will likely stay in the Vette line, but I too feel that Zora has a great sound and feel to it. I think the ZR1 moniker should be reintroduced in the C7 Stingray line "if" they can provide something more wicked than the current Z06/Z07 package.

 

[Klasse Act]

Yes yes yes

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

 

[GSKR]

The new zo6 today looks beautiful.That caddy front end looks horrible.

 

[FUNX650]

The new zo6 today looks beautiful.

:iagree: ...
{You'll get no argument from me!}


Bob

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Some of you have mentioned that Corvette buyers are traditional, and like the traditional engine location (and even having pushrods).

Since Cadillac has been dragged into this, we might remember that Cadillac (as well as Buick and Oldsmobile), for many years has faced the aging demographic and high average age of their customers. The trend forced Cadillac, after some years of dipping their toe in the water, to a wholesale shift in their product portfolio starting with the 2003 CTS and the "Arts & Science" styling, in an attempt to bring in a younger customer base and prevent their customer base from literally dying out.

Perhaps the Corvette customer base is aging, or simply that GM feels that the Corvette customer of 5 or 10 years from now is going to consider the current architecture cliched and look for something else, and that the shift to a mid-engine layout will prevent that.

We HAVE been in kind of a weird retro phase for the last 10-12 years, with the Mustang, Camaro, Challenger...even the Ford GT to some extent. We have a member here who works for GM who said the CEO told them in an all-hands meeting "stop making cars that suck" or something like that.

The retro-car thing is kind of like the entertainment trend of making movies out of old movies, old TV shows, etc. It's like no one has any new ideas. So maybe Chevy simply said...we're going to have a new idea of the Corvette...that we've been kicking around for 50 years...

 

[frankprozzoly]

I hope it doesn't look like that bottom image. That looks like a C6 meets a last generation NSX. I would think it would have more radical lines than a C7. We shall wait and see. Maybe the test mule is wearing generic body panels to completely throw off us speculators.

I'm hoping the Corvette has some of the awesome design elements as the Ford GT, LaFerrari, McLaren P1, or Porsche 918. These cars are art

That's exactly what I see too

 

[Btrahin]

This rumored Cadillac mid-engine rivalry
with Chevrolet's Corvette division has been
around for awhile...and it's concepts/theories
are still alive and well.

And...Just to note:
Some Corvettes have been in
the $90,000.00+ stratosphere
for quite a few years now.


Bob

You're right, vettes have been pushing 100K for a long time now for the Z06's and other high performance trims. But hasn't the Corvette always been an "everyman's" sports car? The great thing about them is you don't have to be a millionaire to afford one. I just think if they push the base price too high, they're going to lose A LOT of sales.

Also, I think everyone assumes this Zora concept is destined to be a "Corvette", but I just don't see it. I see it as a possible competitor to the Ford GT, with a limited production run. Just my 2 cents.

Great points everybody!

 

[Setec Astronomy]

You're right, vettes have been pushing 100K for a long time now for the Z06's and other high performance trims. But hasn't the Corvette always been an "everyman's" sports car? The great thing about them is you don't have to be a millionaire to afford one. I just think if they push the base price too high, they're going to lose A LOT of sales.

What makes you think that switching to a mid-engine configuration is going to push the price higher? The Corvette currently has a LOT of high tech engineering, I don't see the engine layout having a huge effect on the price. Besides, GM has made affordable mid-engine cars before (Fiero).

 

[Btrahin]

What makes you think that switching to a mid-engine configuration is going to push the price higher? The Corvette currently has a LOT of high tech engineering, I don't see the engine layout having a huge effect on the price. Besides, GM has made affordable mid-engine cars before (Fiero).

That's a good point. I guess I'm just assuming that there is a lot more $$ going into the R&D phase of this car, but perhaps it isn't much more than any other new model.

 

[MarkD51]

The new zo6 today looks beautiful.That caddy front end looks horrible.

I always thought the Caddy XLR was a pretty sharp car. As you know, made in Bowling Green.

 

[MarkD51]

You're right, vettes have been pushing 100K for a long time now for the Z06's and other high performance trims. But hasn't the Corvette always been an "everyman's" sports car? The great thing about them is you don't have to be a millionaire to afford one. I just think if they push the base price too high, they're going to lose A LOT of sales.

Also, I think everyone assumes this Zora concept is destined to be a "Corvette", but I just don't see it. I see it as a possible competitor to the Ford GT, with a limited production run. Just my 2 cents.

Many of these cars, like the Viper become world market. I once seen a brand new red Viper when they first came out with the most horrible ill fitting body panels, looked like a kit car, being shipped off to Saudi Arabia. For a shiek, it's like buying a Philly Steak Sammy.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I always thought the Caddy XLR was a pretty sharp car. As you know, made in Bowling Green.

The XLR was sweet! I still occasionally watch youtube vids about that car... I'm hoping they have the guts to put the Elmiraj into production. That car is killing it. It's like the Eldorado resurrected

 

[Klasse Act]

XLR-V was the first Caddy to have a $100K MSRP...then, soon afterwards, marked down to $75K. Its taken some time but Caddy is building up its rep, the new CTS-V is a beast ============

I think it would cool as hell to have the Stingray, Z51, GS, Z06 and maybe a future ZR1 and then the ZORA. I hope the ZORA has AWD and about 800 hp....dropping the mic =============

 

[ScottB]

The Ford GT (Gt40) has a very long term racing heritage that was revived with the previous model Gt40 model. I am sure its a little smack in GM's hind for sure, but the Corvette has a modern racing heritage it can hang its hat onto. Vette has also been built without fail for 60 years now, no small feat for any model, and certainly offers some bragging rights. With modern CAFE standards increased by Obama, soon we will see the bigger V8 replaced. The former 7.0 liter Z06 motor has already been replaced with forced induction.

So ... how to keep the Corvette built, desired enough to own, and with performance that would excel the current Z06 and former ZR1 ??

The Zora will likely fit that quite well. Mid-engine for weight savings and superb handling. Likely running smaller and lighter turbo engine (perhaps a six). Add in some great aerodynamics and GM might just succeed in keeping the Vette alive for another 10 years. It won't be cheap due to the technology and materials needed to build and handle at its best. You cannot go backwards .. once you dance with supercars, well you need to keep dancing with them.

Now hopefully GM doesn't decide to share the platform with Cadillac allowing different engine and softer handling (XLR) .... Cadillac has found its role in GM and the V-Spec sedans are exactly what works against other competitors that offer a high end, low production, performance variant, while keeping cost in check. IMO it would simply dilute the differences in each division of GM and remind others of the pre bankruptcy excess that created a company needing tax payer bailout. The XLR never sold as intended, and local dealers didn't keep them in stock to avoid floor planning a vehicle of that cost with such little demand. A cool ride indeed .... The Vette name and moniker will easily sell more long term for GM.

 

[GSKR]

The potential promblem with selling a high priced American sports car such as a corvette I think there has to be a cap on the price.American cars value tanks after the first year.Where other car enthusiast have no problem spending upwards 150,000 on a porche or Nissan GT-R etc.They know there not gonna get hit as hard as a American car.

 

[GSKR]

You can buy a 2015 vette with 6000 mi for 42000 from 59000 new.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I hope the ZORA has AWD and about 800 hp....dropping the mic =============

The Zora will likely fit that quite well. Mid-engine for weight savings and superb handling. Likely running smaller and lighter turbo engine (perhaps a six).

I guess you guys didn't follow the further links from that article, they say that ultimately they expect the engine to be a DOHC V-8, and that a hybrid version is expected with the (electric) motor powering the front wheels.

 

[Desertnate]

I guess you guys didn't follow the further links from that article, they say that ultimately they expect the engine to be a DOHC V-8, and that a hybrid version is expected with the (electric) motor powering the front wheels.

This makes a lot of sense. GM has a whole raft of really good V-8's to work from without having to design an engine from scratch. Many of the super cars/hyper cars like the i8, P1, NSX, and 918 are going with some sort of hybrid wizardry to produce amazing results. The LMP1 cars in the WEC are putting down some amazing performance numbers with their hybrid power trains and I think we are just seeing the beginning of that trend all over the auto industry. Can you imagine something like that in a truck? You could gear an electric motor to provide gobs of torque to get the load moving from a stop, and then once at speed momentum and electrical power is generated from the gas engine.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Many of the super cars/hyper cars like the i8, P1, NSX, and 918 are going with some sort of hybrid wizardry to produce amazing results.

It's really an ingenious way to do it. You achieve AWD without having to connect the (gas) powertrain to all four wheels. No transfer cases, additional driveshafts, etc.