Even though it’s only Monday, the renderings of the 2014 Corvette C7 ZR1 released today by Jalopnik seem to be the topic of the week, as message boards, comment sections, and Facebook pages have been set ablaze by initial reactions to the new design language of the treasured sports car. In light of this event, we thought it would be a good idea to sort through all of our gathered intel on the vehicle, and report to you on what else you can expect from the next generation Corvette.
Design
Jalopnik is seemingly swearing on their respected reputation that the illustrations they released earlier today of the C7 ZR1 Corvette are completely accurate. Going off that, the heir to the C6 looks to be incredibly evolutionary, while sticking to the traditional front engine layout the Corvette has followed since the name has been around. The car looks more pissed off and unapologetic than ever before, but perhaps to a fault as it seems to be generating polarizing views from readers.
Despite the mixed response from enthusiasts opining on the images, the C7 will without a doubt turn more heads at any given moment than the C6 ever could wish to. And with the car’s brash looks, we can only hope that all of those flashy vents and extractors around the exterior are completely functional, rather than just for show this time around.
Engine
Some websites have reported that the base Corvette C7 will continue to cradle a 6.2-liter V8 engine just as today’s model is currently doing, but we will insist against it, as sources have repeatedly told us that GM’s all-new 5.5-liter small block V8 will be the ‘Vette’s go-to engine going forward. In fact, it is expected that the C7 will debut the new engine to the market — that is if the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado doesn’t beat it to dealerships first. Hopefully the new engine has four valves per cylinder.
Look for a pair of turbochargers to increase the power rating of the 5.5-liter for higher output models like the impending ZR1. As for a rumored smaller displacement twin-turbo V8 capable of revving to the moon and back, we have nothing new to report. Additionally, we are also not ruling out the possibility of a twin-turboed V6, either. Look for an eight-speed automatic and a seven-speed manual as possible transmission choices.
Interior
The cabin of the current-generation Corvette has been the butt-end of jokes for too long, especially compared to offerings from the likes of Porsche, let alone when even comparing it to its own kin like the Chevy Cruze. And GM knows it. So with the C7, the company plans on holding nothing back, and will showcase the latest in infotainment technology inside the car. Expect a touch-sensitive center console, and a configurable LCD display instrument panel. Sure, it’s not exactly analog, but we see it as a step in the right direction.
Check back to GM Authority daily for the latest on the C7 Corvette, along with loads of other news surrounding General Motors.
Comments
So the 5.5 is a go? I heard that they’ll just gonna modify the 5.3. If it will be a twin turbo with similar technology as the ecoboost, then I don’t see why they should offer it in the Silverado half ton, it’ll have plenty of power to be in three quarter and one tons.
Lex, yes. 5.5L has been a go. They’ve been using the C6.R Corvettes as test beds for the engine since the 2010 race season. We’re expecting only a naturally aspirated 5.5L to be offered in the Silverado.
So will 5.5 replace 5.3 or 6.2 or both? I hope 5.5 will be powerful enough so there wouldn’t be a need for 6.2 in half tons.
Hopefully it replaces both. GM is looking for more uses out of less engines, anyways.
I may be in a minority here, but if the C7 interior can’t outshine, say the Volts or ‘Bu, I will be very disapointed.
The body will grow on me I guess. But the car design is looking less American and more of a marriage of Japanese and European with a American name plate. Looks like Corvette is trying to look more like Dodge Viper
Hmmm, I would have to see it in person.
Hi
If corvette got v6 engine it will lose its prestige, come onnnnn, its american legend and hope it get only v8 option only for all choices!!
Do not spoil it GM.please….
I don’t see how that would hurt its image. Think about it for a sec, when people talk about the Camaro they don’t say that’s one hot V6 Camaro they just say thats one hot Camaro!. The only thing i see this changing is more people will be able to buy one. also when did it become okay for the corvette to be a ober expentive sports car ?
Corvettes have always been a premium car costing twice as much as a regular Chevy. If you really want to see what expensive looks like, go to a Porsche dealership and price out a 911 Carrera S. You can almost buy TWO grand Sports for the price of a 911. If Chevy EVER tries to make a “low priced” Corvette, it’ll be OVER.
If this is the C7, my $$$$$ will go elsewhere.
Do you have a C6 ?
please bring back atomic orange! (or offer it in primer gray, and I’ll do it myself!)
i like it, and hope it does well. either way NO V6s GM!!! and for the uninformed, the Gen IV V8 is cheaper to produce than ANY of GM’s v6s and probably even the 4 cylinders. having a V8 in the Vette does nothing for making it more expensive. there is no more specialty in building and producing a Corvette V8 then there is in producing the same V8 for the Fullsize truck lines.
GM sells a MILLION+ V8s a year, it’s OHV V8 is the single most popular single engine design in the WORLD. if GM were to use it as a more expensive engine option it would be nothing more than a marketing ploy. the economy of scale in producing the engine alone pretty much gauntness it’s the cheapest engine GM makes.
if GM had half the marketing ability just about every other automaker has in their little finger, they would make 3.0-7.0 V8s and install them in everything and laugh all the way to the bank on their ability to sell small – large V8s in EVERY market with fuel economy ratings from 30mpg+ to low 20mpg. but as GM fans we all know, GM no longer leads. they just fumble along with occasional hits from time to time.
I hope in the name of loyal diehard corvette fans like me that this is not the real deal. It looks like garbage Made in Japan wannabe sports car. Please GM If this is It! I am no longer a fan and I have been one all my 50 years.
The more I look at this photo the more sick I get. It really looks like a cheap matchbox car. To get rid of the round taillights is a corvette no no and I believe GM knows this. It just looks like every other cheap looking sports car on the road today. Corvette always seperated it self from all other sports cars as far as styling; you could alway tell it was a vette coming down the road from a mile away. I guess I’ll just have to wait for the C8 vette and hope GM keeps it traditional. PISSED OFF CORVETTE FAN.
That’s another thing. Why does GM have to keep the C7 ‘traditional’?
I know that every generation of Corvette almost always upsets purists of the previous generation, but surely you can’t think that having ‘business as usual’ can be workable for the C7 or C8 or future models.
Porshe , Ferrari Keep it traditional. Corvette has kept it traditional for nearly 60 years. Certain cues of an iconic sports car need to be left alone. Porshe and Ferrai don’t stray to far from certain styling cues. This car is not a Corevette and if GM goes with this version! It will be the end of one the worlds greatest sports car. I have grown up with 6 of the now 7 generations, this is just wrong, this is not a Corvette.
Yes, the traditional Porsche Cayenne, Boxster, 914, 968, 944, 928, 924, Panamera, Caymen, Cajun….yeah it’s just ALL tradition at Porsche.
There’s only one problem with anything being called a ‘tradition’. A tradition is ANYTHING you’ve done more than once; that inculdes even having bowel movements.
GM is under absolutlely no obligation to uphold a tradition with the Corvette or ANY of their cars at any time.
But even you said “It will be the end of one the worlds greatest sports car.” WTF? Yeah, it would, once they uncouple themselves from being an affordable, mid-life crisis mobile and move upmarket.
The C7 needs to be revolutionary, not evolutionary. No more of this carpet salesman end-of-year reward stuff, it needs to be taken seriously beyond it’s already proven powertrain; and you aren’t going to win the hearts of the new buyers with new money if you keep chasing after the “traditional buyer”; bluntly, because they are dying.
I’m just a passionate Corvette fan. Young people should be proud of the Corvette heritege and WTF! if it wasn’t for us traditional buyers there would be no Corvette. I guess this the end! Hail the onslaught of garbage look alike made in Japan wannabe sports cars. I’m old school and F$$king proud of it. You need to reconize the Vette to know it is a Vette.
OH! and by the way GM is obligated to keeping the Vette traditional. What do you think it has been doing with the Vette these past 59 years? GM makes this statement clear every time a new Generation is anounced.
And you think the yank, white, middle-class is going still be around in 59 years?
The writing is on the way. The demographics of the Corvette buyer are dying and the Corvette will die with them. Unless you want to Corvette to die by being stagnant while you try to preseve it inside a glass jar, then the Corvette is already dead.
I agree with you. You mention the proven powertrain, which is truly incredible (Pushrod haters be damned!) but don’t forget the proven chassis. With its incredible ‘Ring times I’d say the chassis is pretty amazing too.
What do you have against the Corvette? Tell me why the camero went RETRO, Tell me why the mustang went RETRO; iconic tradition thats why and these cars are selling big time can you explain that? Don’t get me wrong; I don’t want the vette to go retro, I want it to evolve slowly like it has been. I hope I live to be 100 ; If I do I want to be able to see my iconic vette coming down the road and reconize it as a CORVETTE. You my friend should be proud of the heritege that is the all American Corvette not some Japanese look alike.
I have nothing against the Corvette. I only feel the Corvette needs to move upwards into the global market and away from the false notion of an “American looking car”; it doesn’t exist in the exact same way a car can’t “look Japanese” or “look German”.
This “preservation” is costly to the Corvette’s reputation if it’s to be taken seriously on the worlds stage. Sure, its powertrain is indestructable and speaks volumes of the engineering that shapes it, but what about it’s shoddy construction, it’s “plastic fantastic” image, it’s blue-collar low-tech preception?
Consider the C4, when it launched it was as the most advanced sports car ever made. The problem was the GM neglected to take it upmarket when it could thrive. The higher-than-thou price range where the 911 has sat for ages and where the C4 could have been. The C4 may have out-gunned the 911, but it never had the panache, even to this day.
It’s the same desire to “preserve heritege” that was used 10 years ago by automotive reactionaries to deride the CTS because it didn’t “uphold the American automotive tradition”. Far from it, the CTS is the best thing to happen to Cadillac since it’s founding. For the first time in decades after neglect and public indifference for just as long, Cadillac is slowly moving back into the public realm and away from the dust and pink fins.
Those same reactionaries will try to fight against the ATS because it too doesn’t fit their outdated world-view; the Johnson-era America that they think still exists or is workable.
If I can use a comparison, I want the C7 to be to Chevrolet what the CTS was to Cadillac.
As for the Mustang and Camaro, those aren’t global their present bodystyle will die in North America.
Also, what about the ZR1? It’s uses *GASP* forced-induction!! The first on a Corvette! Surely that must be some kind of blasphey against “Corvette heritege”. Only the Japanese use superchargers.
So would you rather see the Vette move into the “starting at $100,000” range?
As for Mustang and Camaro, both are expected to become globally-available vehicles with their respective next generation models. The Camaro, in fact, is already sold in Europe, although in smallish numbers.
Yes, the Vette should move into the 100k range, it needs to move upmarket and become a true supercar, at 100k, if sure the volt could crush cars costing much much more, cars made by ferrari and lamborghini, not to mention the other improvements that will come with that price tag. And I believe if you can afford a 60k car, then you can probably afford a 100k one, and if you cant, then why not buy one thats a few years old for 60k, isnt it better to drive a like new superior product than a brand new inferior one.
About the Mustang and Camaro, he said that the current bodystyle will die in NA, which it will, as I expect both designs to be vastly different for the next gen due to being a global car.
Your logic is wrong on so many levels; and here’s why. Lamborghini Gallorados, and Murcielogos catch on fire ALL the time–and for no reason! (well shabby hand-built build quality IS the reason) as well as Ferrari 458 Italias. In fact with the Ferrari it’s so common that it’s a common joke on just about every non-denominational car forum, and even a few magazines.
Don’t get me wrong. 100 thousand dollar exotics are awesome pieces of automotive engineering. But a “superior” product? No, not really. And in most cases not even exceptional. They are just “cost is no object “ toys for the rich, and car crazy. they also need ridiculous amounts of maintenance, and are fairly unreliable (esp. when contrasted against a Vette, never mind an average car).
The amazing thing about Corvettes and many American performance cars, is that they have always approached or eclipse the performance of cars costing 2,3,4,5-10 times as much, while remaining affordable with everyday drivability. With no more maintenance than your average grocery-getter.
The Vette has no business going up scale and hopefully never will. In fact the Vette and the GT-R have more in common with regards to msn statement than any exotic does with a Vette. They are both cars aimed directly at enthusiast who want the fastest, best handling car you can get, with no regard to wasteful unnecessary BS. ie expensive ass leather covered dashes, or Alcantera wrapped steering wheels or headliners…really?!? Alcantera isn’t even real suede! it’s fake! Yet idiots pay more for it, just because they saw it in a race car?!?
I have not liked all generations of the Corvette . But I ALWAYS respected them. Because for what they are and where, they have ALWAYS fought above their weight class. And most times with no intention of doing so. They just performed on that level. I think it’s funny that a supercar comparison CAN’T be done without including a 60 thousand dollar Vette somewhere. THAT’S impressive. Not a ‘money is no object’ dream car . If money was no object, it SHOULD be that fast, look that good, and turn heads. Sadly many of them can’t even do that.
The corvette is an amazing car and it only costs 60k, imagine what they could do with 40k more, I dont care at all about leather dashes or any stuff like that and would never pay for that, you mentioned the GTR thats where I would like the corvette to be, the GTR starts at 90k, if the corvette can compete with the GTR costing 60k, then it should be able to blow it away at 100k. I love how the corvette team does not wwaste one dollar, but we can all agree the corvette as some issues, I think by going upmarket those issues can be resolved. And I think better handling is always good, whether you need it or not.
I’m not so sure. Beating a GT-R isn’t hard. Its’ a car whose design philosophy is: “if there’s a problem, solve it with technology” the side affect of that is the car ends up heavy, uncommunicative, and overly complicated. The Corvette is more about simplicity and elegant solutions (hard to imagine when talking about a Vette) for instance; the rear leaf sprung independent rear suspension. The ignorant see that as a short coming, not realizing that it not only cuts down on un-sprung weight, but allows for a highly effective, compact, and simple rear suspension design. That’s the essence of an elegant engineering solution.; never mind the hydroformed, back bone chassis, or even GMs pushrod OHV small block–which is lighter, and physically smaller than the foreign engines it competes with, yet makes as much or easily MORE hp that ANY of the Foreign cars it competes against. It also has the added benefit of being 2-3 times larger in displacement internally, while getting BETTER MPG than the competition as well. AGAIN simple and elegant engineering.
Another thing people ALWAYS forget when comparing the GT-R to just about every car out there is this: ATTESA–The part time AWD system the GT-R uses to make the most of it’s power on launches and when the suspension is overwhelmed in a extreme handling situation. That is the ONLY reason the GT-R appears so be such a giant killer. (although in reality it just makes for awesome 0-60 times)
The GT-R strives to be the most Technologically infused super GT on the road. The Vette? The most honest American sports car on the road. The Vette has rarely strayed far from that mission. It is what it is and makes no apologies for it. The side affect is that it’s so overwhelmingly capable from a performance stand point. That it’s ALWAYS compared to cars costing far more that it does. To me, if the Vette can be directly compared to any other car, I would say it has far more in common with Nissan’s Z car. A stylish traditional sports car with a nice dollop of power. The only philosophical difference is that the Vette being American; is powered by a big ol, American V8. Which gives it a much higher performance envelope as well as potential.
Bumping up the price is not necessarily going to make it any better. Just more expensive. Chances are, the more expensive, the more DILUTED the car will become. The Vette would loose focus of what made it great in the first place.
I liked what you said about simple solutions. It’s true. People who bash the Corvette’s pushrod design don’t really understand how incredibly efficient a design it is. (Not to mention that same tech won at Le Mans). I was thinking about what car guy Jay Leno said. In every test of a Corvette he mentions how “bulletproof” the drivetrains are. the reason? They are made of fewer parts-thus there are fewer parts that can break. Simple.
And another minor point to people who go crazy for double overhaed cams-don’t you realize with all that hardware sitting up high it could potentially alter the center of the cars gravity, affecting handling? A pushrod motor is tight and compact and sit’s low in the engine bay (I suspect it’s the reason why Corvettes have such low slung hoods.
Anyway that’s my 2 cents.
Bring on the C7!
The low hood is a direct result of the small block’s pushrod design. Look at a Hyndua Genis, or 350/370Z, or any other front engined OHC car’s hood line. Sure they slope, but none of them are actually as low like the Vette.
And speaking of benefits of the compact size of the pushrod V8; for all those clamoring for a mid-engined Vette, it’s already here. Because of the small size and subsequent placement in the engine bay, the Vette has been a Front-Mid-Engined car for a while now.
compare it to just about every exotic car out there and even a non sports car and the Vette also hase be
better weight distribution. for instance the C6 Z06 has a 49.3%/50.7 %front to rear weight bias without a driver, which changes to a 49.7% front, 50.3% rear weight bias with a 180 pound driver in it.
There are very few cars that close to 50/50 from the factory.
have you been overseas, and heard what they like about American cars? just about everything that the “world stage crowd” claims is wrong with american cars. they LOVE the size, the flash, the big V8s, and ease of maintenance and simple straight forward construction and design philosophy.
the reason why American cars don’t do well from a sales perspective, is that they don’t fit what the realities of owning a car are in eruope. (or Japan for that matter) Cars are cheap here. NOT SO in Europe OR Japan. Fuel is cheap here, again not overseas.
we also have no weight taxes, engine size taxes, parking restrictions, narrow horse and buggy back roads, or a population that can barely afford a decent apartment let alone an average car.
we NEED cars in America. overseas cars are a nice conveince at best, and pure luxury for most. we here in America are so used to seeing nothing but the most expensive and best from overseas, that we don’t even realize that what passes for average her, is off the charts luxurious to the what regular people drive over there. (i will admit their cars are more sophisticated in the handling department, but the HAVE to be, ours don’t)
also, Supercharging IS an American thing. we’ve been doing that since the 30s. heck Thunderbirds and Studebakers came from the factory with superchargers in the 50s. TURBOCHARGING is the Japanese way…well at least in the late 80-90s it was. (wait, GM was doing that on the F-85 Oldsmobile, and Chevy Corvair in the 60s too) if it wasn’t for the stupid engine displacement taxes, they’d happily continue with n/a high revving engines. (actually still do)
Well there go. T/C and/or S/C is neither an American or Japanese “thing”. It’s mearly an option that powertrain engineers have when designing an engine to fit an purpose; whoda thought?
sure evolve but dont become a 911
Grawdaddy, you get no argument from me on that. Your comment about the ZR1 came off as if u was teasing GM for doing something foreign automakers do. I was just illustrating that F.I. Isn’t anything new for American automakers.
Well that’s the thing, they can step up a bit and try something else; and they did with the ZR1.
I’m sure the ultra-corvette purists were moaning the loudest about having a supercharger in a Corvette while screaming “tradition” at the top of their lungs.
I don’t see it that way. Adding a supercharger to the Corvette just adds another page to it’s already lenghy and successful history. It still looks the same (the hood window will forever be a subject of debate), it’s just that by using a blower, the Corvette will still have the viceral, inhuman, axemurderer strenght it’s famous for te world over….except now it’ll whine a little. 🙂
That’s why I have no objections to a turbocharged Corvette either. It’s how the Corvette stays relivent.
No argument from me on that point either.
Being a Corvette fan, I can assure you no Vette purist have issues with F.I. The issue that gets under Vette loyalist skins is the talk of any power plant but a V8 ie 4 cylinders, v6s, F.I. variants of either…the V8 is a Vette mainstay. it’s as much a part of Corvette DNA as being made of fiberglass and having 4 wheels. Just like Porsche doggedly sticking with their terrible handling, engine behind the rear axle monstrosity 911; which I and just about everyone else loves by the way— GM needs to refine, perfect, and prove their basic design philosophy.
To Corvette purist this means NO mid-engined Vette, no complicated drive trains, and overly intrusive electronic nannies. Tech is more than welcome, but it needs to know it’s place and be there because it improves performance; period. None of this “hey look at my 450 dollar a bulb headlight” BS. If there s some new high tech feature it needs to be proven, useful, and performance enhancing. Like the current metallurgical suspension option, or heads up displays, and the new launch/traction control systems.
My issue with Corvette detractors is that just about everything they don’t like about the Vette is exactly whats so great about the Vette. Like the push-rod small block, the uncomplicated design philosophy, the lower price, even the supposedly “cheap interior”. The Corvette has never been and never was a ‘snobby look how much money I’ve got’ type car. It was and has ALWAYS been a blue collar, everyman affordable, American take on a sports car. It’s never been pretentious about it’s place in the world and frankly GM nor the fans of the car have ever been either. The fact that it handily kicks ass on cars 2-3 times as much was just a smug bonus.
In one of the car magazines last month, the Z06 and ZR1 out performed every car they compared them against. And all of the other cars cost much more and were exotic. Yet they still denied it the #1 spot in an all out performance test, because of things that did nothing to keep the Vettes from dominating the field.
I have no problem with criticism directed to the Vette in the interest of refining an improving the car. But when there’s obvious hate directed at the car because it can’t be stomached that a cheaper, simpler and just better working car puts in question the design philosophies of supposed thoroughbred machinery, that makes the commenter ‘suspect’ and biased.
Well what if V8’s are viable in the future? We can’t hang everything on the LS, although it is working to cure cancer as we speak.
There’s nothing wrong with asking the question “what if a V8 is not something that can be had in a Corvette?” It’s imortant to think of these questions now instead of being done on the seat of ones pants in the future.
What about a I6 if things got tough? The blue flame was there way back when, and if the purists whine, GM can always point to ‘tradition’.
So, would a straight 6 Corvette be less than a Corvette? Could a Corvette be offered in lower trims with an I6 and a V8 for higher trims? What if demand was too great for an I6 and the take rate for the LS dropped.
You might not think it is possible, but you won’t know unless you play with the situation in your head.
Grawdaddy, I get that you are playing Devil’s Advocate, but no, no I6, no turbo, 4, no v6, whether twin turbos, quad turbo’d, or turbo and supercharged. That’s not what makes the Vette a Vette. That’s like an front-engined Lamborghini, (which they’ve done, and promptly found they couldn’t give away) or Porsche with V8 front engined sports car (oh wait the did that too and it flopped).
When you bring out a product that resonates well enough in the market to carve out its own niche, you don’t go f’ing around with the formula and fundamentally changing what made that product great in the 1st place. You just improve, refine, and evolve it. An automaker should always be searching for the perfect expression of that recipe. Exactly like Porsche has done with the 911.
That car has been out for 49YEARS! 49 years of flat six behind the rear axle, pendulum lift, throttle over steering, frog sitting on a lily pad profile, ignition on the left of the steering wheel, never the fastest but always the most reliable goodness. And never once did Porsche give up on the basic philosophy. Never mind mid-engined and even front-engined is better for handling, or that the placement and design of the engine inherently limits major displacement increases nor the fact that for 30 of those years the basic body shell didn’t even change! They kept it relevant and it remained a success because they respected what made it great and improved upon the formula year after year.
And for the most part everyone does just that with their sports cars, EXCEPT GM. they hymmm and haaa, and get distracted, and ignore the customer base, and play catch-up and me too with whatever direction the winds seem to blow. Then wonder why the car losses market share. Until the C5, the Corvette lacked focus. Now it’s focused like a laser, and with each generation gets better and better. Refinement is the name of the game.
p.s. an I6 would also suck cus they are just too tall and long. BMW is the only manufacture still soldiering on with that configuration. Why, because, that’s part of THIER formula. And they are internally and publicly committed to it; no matter what. Once again, another car company committed to a formula that made their car a success. And reaping the cash brand loyalty that comes with it.
A straight 6 need not be ‘tall’. You can always put it at a slant; Chrysler did for years. Lenght is another matter though.
But I’ll keep playing the Devil’s Advocate here and ask the next question. What about when oil supply peaks and the global demand keeps climbing? What if there is oil rationing for only essential ICE vehicles?
Surely you can’t suggest that it’s “V8 only Corvette’s” right until we run out of oil. A V8 may be how “it’s always been done”, but so where pop-up headlights, and natural aspiration, and T-tops, and chrome,
Heck, BMW said they would never sell a FWD BMW, but times have changed. The Boxster was laughed at by millions of people, but it’s Porsche’s best seller, with the Cayenne not too far behind. We now have the ATS when before the last compact Cadillac was the Cimmaron.
There should be a backup plan. The Corvette should have a way out so that it can survive if ICE engines are rejected by consumers/society or if peak oil manifests itself.
So I’ll ask 3 more questions:
Is it more important that the Corvette nameplate live onwards into the future irrespective of it’s powertrain?
Should the nameplate be retired if V8’s can’t be sold due to lessened or non-existant demand?
Should GM ignore changes in global demand and just keep churing out Corvettes with V8’s no matter what even if peak oil hits?
My thoughts on Grawdaddy’s questions.
1) I think the Corvette nameplate should live on as long it inspires it’s original concept of a great pleasure car. Corvette was never meant to be family car, truck, or SUV.
2) I think that other engines should be explored. My above answer also applies here. While I agree that a four cyl would be out of the question. I have no problem with a 6cyl., the Chevy Turbo Thrift would be to high profile. The Chrysler Slant Six or Porsche’s flat six would lower hood and the flat six would lower center of gravity of car, GM’s V 6 like used on Buick GNX would be great.
3) The days of the V 8 engine are number, as gas keeps going up in price our great cars will be museum pieces instead of driver’s.
Ronald, if the V8s days are numbered (and haven’t we been hearing that since the 70s?) then why is it still around, and going strong I might add. Don’t forget, the single best selling engine design on the WHOLE planet is the GM small-block. The V8’s days are numbered, hardly.
8 cylinders or 1, the configuration of the motor has as much to do with economy as it’s placement in the car. And with modern tech and factors such as weight and gearing are far more important to economy.
I feel if fuel economy or the environment is your concern, stop worrying about the Vette or sports cars in general and look at vehicles that actually matter. Like everyday family cars, fullsize SUVs and trucks. Heck you’d make more of a difference trying to clean up our heavy trucking industry.
Look I have absolutely no problem with trying to make the Corvette as efficient as possible. But when compared to 80% of the cars on the road and 99.9% of all other sports cars, the Vette is more like a Prius then a gas guzzler. A Bone stock Corvette gets 26 mpg or better! Heck, a 6 speed LS1/6/2 Vette can get 28-30mpg on the highway! EVERY v6 family sedan on the road right now does worse. And NO other sports car of that caliber puts down those types of fuel economy numbers. That’s with a 5.7-6.3L V8 pushing 350-430hp! Even the Z06 (7.0 500hp) and the ZR1 (6.2 638hp) are both rated at 20mpg on the highway. With engines of that size and horse power that high, that’s damn impressive form ANY automaker (especially since nobody else gets that type of economy).
It’s not the engine so much, I’m thinking what factors could force GM to drop V8’s and/or the Corvette.
IF (and I mean IF) we’ve already hit peak oil and everyone is forced make do with less, cars with V8’s and larger engines are going to be seen as complete non-essentials and as wasteful. I know the LS is as powerful and as fuel effiencent as the small block has ever been. The problem is that hapless Joe Ordinary doesn’t know and as far as he’s concerned, a V8 is too much engine for post-peak times.
To him, V8’s, 10’s, 12’s are excessive. Even moreso, sports cars will get tarred with the same brush irrespective of how they are powered. There would be an awful lot of finger pointing at cars that are wasteful in excess and sports car WILL get fingered first with the simple rationalization of “nobody needs a sports car”. If enough negitive preception gets around, it won’t matter how green the Corvette or any other sports car is.
“Need” is a big word. I don’t need a Corvette anymore than I need to be taller than what I am. The present times may be suitable to own a Corvette, but we can’t assume that they we always be so; especally if we’re running out of oil or the public opinion of sports cars changes negitively.
Full-size coupes were predicted to die off, and they did. RWD’s once total prominance in all cars is limited to those who want to pay a premium or is a feature in a car that is “built to a price” while FWD reigns supreme. Just because the recipe tastes good now doesn’t mean it always will.
The Corvette needs a viable contingency plan for its own sake.
Regading the viability of the V-8. Does the number of cylinders really determine its viability? I would think stronger factors would be displacement and volumetric efficiency. Throw in a smaller V-8 with a turbo, direct injection (that is supposed to be in the works for the next gen small block), and displacement on demand (to improve VE at steady state conditions). With that combo you could get 150hp/liter (4.0 liter= 600HP) and 35+ MPG on the highway. I know the V-8 is frowned upon from uninformed political positions, but I think GM can preserve the V-8 in the Corvette.
Where does one draw the line on the definition of a Corvette? It has never had anything other than a V-8. I believe it’s a defining characteristic. Throw in a V-6 when a V-8 is available and you might as well make a 4-door variant or something else equally as absurd.
As far as future thinking and planned obsolecense of the V-8. I would take a wait and see approach. It’s not like the small block V-8 was developed exclusively with the Corvette. Plenty of other vehicles were integral to it’s evolution. If the end of the V-8 were to come, GM will have the technology to present a workable solution in whatever engine choices they’d be left with. Even so, I don’t see it going away anytime soon.
My sentiments exactly.
and thats why they havnt gone mid engined but did anyone whine when they put a v6 in the camaro? not that i heard. in fact the six has an advantage of being lighter and giving the car a better front to back weight ratio and u cant stay retro all the time i mean look at how different the c3 was from the c2
Corvette!!!! More BANG for tthe BUCK !! 24 HOURS AT LAMONDS; WORLD CLASS SPORTS CAR: OH! DID I MENTION “MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK”??? AMERICAN ENGINUNITY CAN”T BE BEAT!!!!!EVOLVE SLOWLY: MOVE FORWARD BE RECONIZED MANY YEARS INTO THE FUTURE AS A WORLD CLASS COREVTTE: SHIT!!! I CAN SEE ONE COMING FROM A MILE AWAY: THATS A CORVETTE.
trust me you’ll be able to see this from a mile away and know its a corvette. i personaly think they should move a little bit further still
FUGLY!
So FUGLY I have to say it twice. And no I’m not a competing car maker trying to dog it.
Build the sideswipe or go the hell home.
What a lousy non inspiring design.
Looks like its been touched all over with a 10 foot pole.
What a crap design. Is the Aztek jerk been hired again.
I love it. The new C7 is going to rock our world!
I’m already to buy my first new covette and it won’t be a Made in Japan look alike C7. It will be the new C6 427 a real corvette. GM is about to distroy an ICON
How would your describe the age demographic that you fall under? under 40? over 50?
Why does it matter what age I am? My Grand son loves the corvette and he’s only 9 ; Love all generations of this Iconic sportscar. It is for all to love; so really who gives a shit what age demographic this 51 year old is in. You don’t mess what an Icon. You’ll learn this as you grow older grasshopper. Can’t wait to blast my new C6 427. IT could be the last great Vette if they put out this jalopnic made japan look a like.
Thank you for helping me prove my point. I love the C6. But I’m also enjoying the look of what will probably be the C7. And the Jalopnik rendering appears to be accurate when looking at spy shots. http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/01/2014-corvette-c7-spied-resembles-renderings/
My point is that this car, has been touted as such that it “won’t be an old guys car anymore”. http://gmauthority.com/blog/2011/09/c7-corvette-wont-be-an-old-guys-car-anymore/
Make of that what you will. The Millennial/Gen Y crowd seems to be highly interested in what’s to come, and it seems that GM is looking to over-correct what has been years of exclusive curb-appeal to the 55+ age demographic.
Well I wouldn’t say the Corvette has exclusively appealed to “old guys”. I just turned 34, and the Vette has always been appealing to myself and all of the gear heads I know. Heck, just the other night I was at a local “street race” meet up, and there were at least 6 C5 Corvettes there and not a single owner was over 30. A couple of my friends have owned C5 Z06s (one 28 the other 30) and a Air Force buddy of mine got rid of his 2004 Terminator Cobra for a 2006 C6 two years ago.
When it comes to guys who wanna go fast and actually run their cars hard, the Corvette has MASSIVE appeal to younger street racers, autocross-ers, and even drag racers. Come to think of it I’d be driving a C5 Z06 or heavily modded Z51 C6 if I didn’t feel it was important to be able to cruise around with both my boys. (so I bought another GTO when I crashed my 1st one)
I think the constant teasing and complaining about Vettes being for the older “Corvette Lifestyle club” demographic is pushed and repeatedly advocated by the car magazine/ auto reviewer crowd. In the real world, especially if you frequent venues where guys really beat on their cars, the Vette owned buy a late 20s-early 40s hot shoe is a common sighting.
I won’t disagree that more Vette owners are older gentlemen, but then again so are most Ferraris, and Porches, and BMW M whatever and so on. They simply are more likely to have the cash to spend on such things.
I also think the Corvette’s blue-collar image works against it in that “oh wow he must have money” aura expected at the valet. So mr or mrs non-enthusiast doesn’t make the connection of desirability, because they see Vettes EVERY day; where as Aston Martins, or anything else European and sporty are just not that common.
And finally, I see this C7 being able to overcome the issue with the Vette having grown stylistically tame over the last 20 years. With the exception of the Z06, ZR1, or the newer GS, they just don’t have that “wow look at that” appeal of the older Vettes. I’m a big GM fan and even I could care less about gazing over a standard body C6 when a GT500 Mustang, or just a brightly colored newer Camaro SS is nearby. If a standard Vette can’t even stand out next to those lesser cars, how in the world is it supposed to make an impact to a know nothing 17 year old when parked next to a GTR or 911 Turbo…or a lowered G37 or 370Z?!
If these renderings are legit, then the C7 seems poised to change all of that!
Somebody made a point of saying that the Corvettes of the past were playing catch-up. It looks to me like they still are. If the pictures weren’t labeled “C7 Corvette” I would have called it a Nissan.
By the way, I’m 26 and if you can’t tell, I do not like this new Corvette. Even if I did there is no way I could possibly afford to spend $100k on a car.
i dont understand you guys to me this is unmistakable corvette same silhouette and everything just more swoopy detail lines wich i really like and yes im a younger person just to let you know. if i showed this to my peers 80% would love it
The Corvette like I said; is for all generations to love; man you are so wrong.Let it be known who buys any type of upscale sports car and you’ll see that vette is for all to enjoy, If GM has any respect for the vettes history it will evolve it slowly. If I want a Nissan and God knows I don’t thats what I would buy. I want a vette Not some nissan lookalike. The Corvette is for all to love young or old your to plugged into this cheap garbage your generation seems to crave. I find it hard to believe you are a vette fan.
You see Nissan. I see Ferrari 599 parallels. Either way, most of the young crowd have grown attatched to the JDM exotics like the Nissan GTR and Lexus LFA, or the European exotics like Ferrari, Porsche, Lambo, Audi, etc. It’s because the Corvette has evolved so slowly that this has happened. And you want it to continue being that way? Does. Not. Compute.
For the record, I love the Corvette. But that’s because I’ll look past the chinsy cabin, mild sheetmetal, and lack of refinement to know that it’s an amazing performance car that undercuts slower cars in price, while its small-block V8 sounds like heaven and can be modified to kingdom come. Most people fail to appreciate the ‘Vette, as they are drawn in by design first. It doesn’t matter if it comes out of the factory with 1,000 horsepower. If it looks like crap, only a few will notice it.
Ferrari, Porsch, Lambo, and Audi have all evolved slowly your to young to know this. The Vette is a beautiful car with lots of world class power and appeal.Put the Vette beside a Ferrari and you can see Ferrari has borrowed styling cues from the Vette; Road & Track had a artical on this afew years back showing some distinct cues all over the Ferrari. You say you love that Vette but it looks like crap; I have read some comments from people of your age group who think the Vette is bodacious looking and are proud of it being an american sports car americas one and only sports car. The Vette is priced for all not the few. It undercuts faster cars with price and performance. When i see a C6 ZR1 pull up beside me on the freeway man my heart skips a beat it is a beautiful machine. If you feel that way about the Vettes styling then you should stick with your cheesie looking Nissan and all the rest of sportscar wanna be’s and leave that to all of us who feel a passion this a great american sports car.
You say the European cars evolved slowly? You should know (because I’m taking you’ve been there) that they have constantly broken new ground. What has the Corvette done that the others haven’t — besides carrying a lower price tag?
25 years ago, Porsche came out with the 959, and subsequently created the most advanced car of its time and a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds. Then came the V10-powered Carrera GT early last decade — also one of the most highly regarded vehicles of the time. And in a few years, they’re going to release the 918 hybrid, and it’s shaping to be the most fuel efficient supercar ever built thanks to its revolutionary drivetrain.
Let’s look at Ferrari now. 25 years ago, the F40 was the fastest road car the world has ever seen, matching speeds the Corvette is only now achieving with the ZR1. Now we’ve got the 458 Italia, and is touted as one of the best cars Ferrari has built to-date.
Meanwhile around 25 years ago, Corvette introduced the first ZR1. A breakthrough for GM, but didn’t come close to the advancements seen from Porsche. Today’s ZR1 may be the best budget supercar in the past 100 years, but again, it’s not the complete package. Today, if a car is going to cost over $100,000, it needs to do more than just go like a missile. It’s gotta look and feel expensive, and advanced.
I’ve seen elsewhere that the Mopar guys may have a twin-turbo V6 Viper in mind. So, maybe that’s the way things are going. Though with 7 speeds the Vette needs a paddle shifter.
One thing to keep in mind: Porsche and Ferrari are car brands with different models to perform varying tasks. The Corvette is a Chevy, one model within a brand, and is also many things to many people. What Porsche and Ferrari can do in multiple models with multiple body styles Chevy has to accomplish with just the Corvette. One car cannot please everybody.
The Corvette is something you should aspire to own when you are young and be something worth owning, latter in life, when you have the means to do so.
That’s another topic in and of itself. Should Corvette spin off as its own brand?
A few years ago when C6 sales first tanked, I wondered the same thing.
What would they gain? The ability to quickly make changes without having to funnel everything through the GM focus group-think machine.
What would they lose? Tremendous resources of man power, brain power, and very deep financial pockets.
When the C6 fist came out in Fall of ‘04, the base price for the coupe was $290 LESS than the last of the C4s. That’s the power of amortization within a very large corporation. And it’s not just the manufacturing, there is the maintenance parts supply line and training for certified Corvette mechanics. With modern Corvettes being as loaded with specialized performance technology, owners enjoy the knowledge that when they take their Corvette in for service, the mechanic has been thoroughly trained in Corvette maintenance and repair.
As infuriating as GM can be, it does have its upside. – Scott
The more I look at the Jalopnik pictures, the less I understand what the fuss over the styling is all about. To my eye, it’s still undeniably Corvette. It is more aggressive with sharper lines, but still carries much of the design cues of the previous three to four generations. Sure the round tailights are missing, but the number placement, and orientation of those lights are still the same – only angular to blend with the rest of the theme.
As far as slowly changing vs. bold changes, it seems to me that bold changes ARE a part of the Corvette evolution. The changes between the 1st and 2nd generation were a HUGE shift forward. From 2nd to 3rd was also a big change emphasizing/exaggerating the long hood/short deck proportions. The C4 was a big shift in style to a more “tame” and smooth/flat lines. The C5 was a big engineering change with the central body structure and rearmounted transmission. The C6 was the only generation change that wasn’t as drastic, but more of a refinement – unless you call the first time for exposed headlights since 1962 drastic.
I think it’s time for a strong design change. The fact that the design is so polarizing I see as a sign of good things, of progression, of boldness – all things that make Corvette the great car it has historically been known as.
The C7 is supposed to make its grand debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. So, 9 months or so from now (late March ‘12) we’ll know for sure. One thing I’m certain about is that the C7 will have PLENTY of scoot! The Corvette engineers are the BEST! PERIOD! And I’m sure the new frame/chassis/suspension will be amazing. And GAUD, I hope the interior is KILLER! I’m so sick of hearing the endless whining and complaining about the seats because they don’t have you in a vise grip in a 120-mph sweeping turn. (it’s a daily problem for me and I’ll bet you too!) If the seats are so HORRIBLE, just replace them and enjoy the rest of the car.
What’s troublesome is this. The Jalopnik illustrations (which they claim to be spot-on) show a swoopy car, yes. But one can easily spot too many design elements that were picked up and borrowed from other cars of lesser stature. When cars are designed within the focus group model, you end up with a little bit of this and that for everyone and an excellent opportunity for a total mess. A car designed with a Color Forms playset will get you playset results. Harley Earl designed the first Corvette and said, “This is my new sports car concept!” He didn’t ask people at shopping centers, “So, what would you like to see in a sports car?” William L. Mitchell did the same thing with his 1959 Stingray Racer, ‘63 Sting Ray, the Buick Riviera, the ‘67, Eldorado, the Mako Shark II cars, and others. Mitchell HATED focus groups and would probably be spinning in his cold grave over the Jalopnik illustrations.
Focus groups are fine for bread and butter cars. But sports cars are about passion and lust. You are supposed to LUST for a Corvette, not “get used to it.” And that lust has to hit you INSTANTLY! You’re supposed to take one look at a new Corvette and say, “WOW!!!” In the May 2012 issue of Motor Trend on page 16 and 17 there’s a story about the Lamborghini Aventador J. For me personally, I’m a little tired of the Lambo/Countach-style thing. But when I turned the page and saw the Aventador J, one second after laying my eyes on the photo, I said out loud, “WOW!!!” I didn’t have to consider it, think about it, or get used to it. It was BAM!!! My visceral gut response fell out of my mouth without even thinking about it.
And THAT, fiberglass fans, is what the C7 is SUPPOSED TO DO TO US! We’ll see this January. Now we have something to look forward to. – Scott
Scott my man , you hit it dead on. This is what I’ve been trying to say. When I was a kid and saw a Corvette sting ray coming down the road , it was awesome, It stood from all other cars, nothing on the street looked like it. I hope this rendition isn’t the next vette. I have loved the Vette all my life, this would kill it for me.
When I was around 14 years old (1968) and new to the Corvette thing, I was into model cars. There was a guy in his mid-20s that worked at Statler’s Trains & Hobbies in Westmont, NJ that owned a Marlboro Maroon ‘67 427/435 Corvette Roadster with side-pipes. During the summer, sometimes my pals and I would ride our bikes to the store around closing time in hopes of seeing Bruce leaving work. He’d fire up that beast and let it fast idle for a few minutes while we all stood around with our mouths gaping open. One day I remember watching, looking, listening, feeling, and smelling Bruce’s Corvette and thinking to myself, “I’ll bet that’s what SEX is like!” I think that about sums it up as to what Corvettes are SUPPOSED to do to us. Save the Wave! – Scott
Then your concern is with the powertrain; something that the present Corvette has no problems with.
~~~
You people can’t keep holding the Corvette down to your ideals of yesteryear expecting future generations to follow suit. It’s unwise to hold the opinion that Corvettes from 50 years ago are to be used as a standard to judge all future Corvettes by; ESPECALLY when compeating cars in it’s segment are not held to similar, arbitrary, archaic, stunted “rules”.
If you want to keep the Corvette in a glass jag, and have it become a rigid and inflexible clone of a car from 50 years ago, then what you need is not a C2, but a DMC-12 and a lot of electricity.
Perhaps Porsche should do the same with the 911, which still looks very much like it did when it first came out. Same with the latest XK-E from Jaguar.
The trouble with most of the Asian sports cars is that they have ZERO styling heritage. When a car maintains its styling heritage it can be recognized in the blink of the eye, “That’s a 911!” “That’s a Vette!” That’s not just my opinion, GM’s former chief of styling, William L. Mitchell said exactly the same thing.
If you change it, simply for the sake of “let’s do something different” you end up lost. The best examples are the ’70s Mustang II (puke!), the 4th Gen 1992 – 2002 Camaro (boring) and the ’79 – ’04 Mustang (Zzzzz….) Except for the Mustang II, the before mentioned Camaros and Mustangs each had interesting performance versions, but they were lost in the wilderness in the styling departments and became sales failures. THAT’S what happens when you change a design into a “Me-too” just because someone thinks “change is good.”
A Corvette (or any other performance icon) MUST be instantly recognizable and make you LUST for one. Otherwise, drive a Toyota that will be forgotten in 10 years. Does anyone remember the 1984 Toyota Supra???
The problem is that the Corvette hasn’t evolved fast enough. And for all intents and purposes, the C& Corvette will still distinctively be a Corvette by tradition. Small block, front-mounted V8, RWD, American. We will all look at it and recognize it as a ‘Vette. And these “Japanese” design influences are all meant to help the car go faster. Diffusers, extractors, spoilers, etc… all cars with exceptional downforce have them. It’s practical, it’s modern, and it needs to happen.
Oh but it’s not “traditional” or upholding the Corvette “heritage”! Difusers are “Asian” and therefore don’t belong on a Corvette!!!!11
~~~
Seriously, some of the old people are almost xenophobic of new things on the Corvette. If the new things sell and can make the Corvette a better car, they’ll find some near-racist remark about how it doesn’t belong on a Corvette becasue it won’t look like a Corvette.
It might not be high gas prices that kill the Corvette name, but exteranally imposed fossilization by auto reactionaries that deliberately make the car go stale just to preserve “tradition”.
Yeah, that’ll make the youth of today yearn for the Corvette, by making it look and preform like their great-grandfather wanted it to.
Grawdaddy, I’m not sure of where you are coming from. But consider this. I’ve been attending the annual Corvettes at Carlisle Show since the mid ‘90s and every year I attend, I notice that the area where the 1st and 2nd generation cars are parked gets smaller and smaller each year and the C5 and C6 cars become more and more numerous. The newer cars are extremely popular and one of the most popular add-ons that I see are splitters, spoilers, and carbon fiber ground effects. Why? Because a substantial portion of Corvette owners have ALWAYS emulated the Corvette race cars and today’s C6.R Corvette Racing Team cars are the cutting edge of aerodynamic add-ons. The Corvette community does NOT shun defusers. Sorry if you find an occasional “Jap junk” comment but I don’t see much interest in ‘84 Toyota Supras. The Asian performance cars are always technological marvels with no past that they embrace – today’s hottie Asian supercar will most likely be forgotten in 10 years. In other words, they are mostly throwaways. Especially after an owner tries getting some of those high-strung FWD drivetrains and suspensions repaired after a few years. That’s why they get thrown away.
I notice that I never see this silly rant against the 911 Porsche, XK-E, BMW still looks like a BMW, you can always spot a Ferrari or Austin Martin and others have a styling heritage that they are proud of and honor in their new designs. But when it comes to Corvette styling, they’re supposed to forget their history and not look like anything from their past. Sorry, but, WRONG.
If Nissan made a retro Datsun 240Z with modern everything, they wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand. The popularity of the current Mustang (gee, looks like a Mustang – must be wrong), Dodge Challenger (gee, looks like a Challenger – must be wrong), and Camaro (a car that I’m not particularly thrilled with, but gee, it looks like a Camaro – must be wrong) proves that people want particular looks in cars. Which is fine, so long as the cars are modern in every other way. I once drove a beautifully restored ‘64-a/s Mustang Convertible. It was a beauty, but I couldn’t wait to get out of it. If you want a frightening experience, drive a Fuelie ‘63 Corvette with those skinny bias-ply tires. Corvette owners don’t want that, they just want the newest Corvette to look like a Corvette – not “something else.”
If Chevy wanted to offer a super popular car, they would do a new body on the current Malibu and style it as a modern version of the ‘57 Bel Air. Would John Q. Average rather drive a new Malibu that’s all soft and looking like 10 other cars, or a modern Chevy that looks like a ‘57 Bel Air? Or even better, build a new Bel Air on the current Camaro platform. How about a ZL1 Bel Air?!? I’m getting warm already…
“If Chevy wanted to offer a super popular car, they would do a new body on the current Malibu and style it as a modern version of the ‘57 Bel Air.”
See? Typical auto reactionary, using cars from 60 years ago as a standard. Chome is dead, and fins, may I reminds you, have been dead since the bronze age.
No, your plan is how GM would go bankrupt. Retro is dead, again and nobody wants to be reminded of the awful past.
“Would John Q. Average rather drive a new Malibu that’s all soft and looking like 10 other cars, or a modern Chevy that looks like a ‘57 Bel Air?”
Yeah, lets make an unsellable car with a dated styling mark the owner out in public as giant knob.
People want conservatively styled cars in modest colours, not flamming barge coupes with chrome in Millenium Yellow.
Toyota and Honda know this, but what do they know about mid-size cars?
“Or even better, build a new Bel Air on the current Camaro platform.”
And jack the price up by $5K and alienate loads of buyers who don’t care about RWD.
“How about a ZL1 Bel Air?!?”
And now we take cars that are suppose to be affordable transportaion for the masses, and now you’ve made them unafforable by throwing millions of R&D dollars out the window on performance cars that nobody in the mid-size segment even wanted in the first place.
“I’m getting warm already”
It’s your head and it’s full of hot air. See a doctor.
Grawdaddy, i get the feeling that the corvette never appealed to you anyway.(which is fine) because your arguments for what would make the
Vette better/ more relevant are almost directly opposed to what makes the Vette special, ie V8, RWD, uncluttered by gimmicky tech, affordable, and a proven performance and engineering history.
I have never met a Vette owner who doesn’t like performance enhancing technology, whether it be wings, diffusors, carbon fiber, heads up displays, traction control, cylinder deactivation, the up coming variable valve timing, 6,7,8 speed trans missions, and so on. modern proven preformance technology isn’t the issue. never was. and frankly the Corvette has never had a problem in that area.
Every generation of the Vette has been state of the art if not on the leading edge. even now the only valid complaint about the Corvette is the unsupportive seats and non luxurious interior. the rest is just detractor type hate. all of the cars it’s supposedly so inferior too, don’t even approach it in sales. and in that department the Corvette IS way of it’s game, yet it still out sells them.
if you don’t like the corvette, or it doesn’t appeal to you than maybe it’s just what it is. buy something else.
reminds me of a convo i had with a non-car guy friend a few weeks back. he was talking about how awesome and amazing a R35 GTR is. and how it beats Porsches and other exotic/ European cars with ease. and i was like, “its nice but for less money a Z06 Corvette will whoop a GTR and all those other cars too, never mind a ZR1.” he was like “NO IT WON’T, your’re crazy, a Vette isn’t as good as a GTR!” i was like “look it up. a C6 Vette will humble a GTR on the track, on the strip, and on the street. and its cheaper. the Vette has been dominating GT2 and now GT3 for almost 10 years!” his response? “i don”t care i just don”t like Corvettes” so i was like well when u get the money buy what u like. but don’t hate on something just because YOU don’t like it.
Wrong.
I do like Corvettes, I wouldn’t be in this thread defending it otherwise, would I?
I’m trying to defend the Corvette from being a fossil at the hands of those who cry “tradition” and “heritage”. You can’t stay on top of the world by being stagnant, and I can list a number of organizations that have tried and failed to do so.
What I want the Corvette to be is a technological wonder, something that gets people attention nowadays instead of a high HP number or the lenght of a burnout. I want a Corvette with DSG, DI, and to play with supers and turbo’s some more. I would like to see the high-end models dabble with AWD that give the already viceral, inhuman axe-murderer strenght of the Corvette an edge against other cars. I would like the Corvette to be lighter, slightly smaller, and offer “stripper” versions for track use only.
You won’t get benefits like this if you want to preserve the Corvette in a glass jar filled with air from the 1960’s.
You can bring up the 911 all you like and it’s appearence. It may look the same, but even the 911 has taken advantage of the above technologies for it’s advange while looking as it always has. Has it diminished the 911 or it’s presence worldwide?
No, and I don’t think such technology can hurt the Corvette.
well my mistake then. i don’t think anyone on here is really a proponent of a remake of a classic Vette. i know i’m not. i’m all for technology, i’m all for revolutionary styling. BUT, don’t fix whats not broken. leave the V8 alone. it’s an AMERICAN mainstay, as well as the crux of it’s success. don’t go making it overly complicated and gimmicky. the Vette was always a honest, straight forward car. no tricks. what you saw was what you got PERIOD.
as for smaller and lighter, what car in it’s class short of lotus elise/exidge is either? not the 911. not a Ford GT. certainly not the fat-assed GTR.
the C6 Corvette is within a 1inch or two of the 911 in length. and only slightly wider. the Vette’s styling gives the illusion of greater size. as for track models? Z06. lighter and more focused AND unforgiving in every way. just like a 911 GT3. in the hands of a no skill driver “scary” in the hands of a gifted wheelman? track lapping poetry!
as for playing with FI cars. well the only FI cars that can easily smoke a modern Vette have 20-almost 100grand sunk in them in mods. never mind the original price of the car (yea i’m looking at YOU JZA70 (mk4) Supra!
spend a fraction of that on a standard C6 and the gap is reversed. there are ALOT of rear mounted and traditional twin turbo C5 and C6 Corvettes out there that can’t get a modded Supra or grey market GTR to play with them, let alone a new GTR or some exotic. never mind those same generation Corvettes with just superchargers or stroked motors or head and cam work or all of the above. 1000, 1500+ Corvettes are almost so common as to be unremarkable. so again that’s not a weakness for the Corvette.
the only thing i feel we don’t agree on is the AWD element. yes it will make a Corvette better in inclement weather, or launch harder off the line, but AWD hurts dynamic balance. that’s not debatable. it also hurts in the benefit vs cost realm. and it makes things complicated ie more processors, and differentials, and drive shafts, and finally WEIGHT!
Wow every time I forget about this thread it heats back up! I’d say that just from lively debate we are having that the Vette is far from becoming irrelevant! In fact I’d say the lower sales may have more to do with the economy and the fact that many “younger” people simply are t making the money to afford a Vette like in the past. I just saw some sales stats for the top selling coupes, and the Camaro was #1 and the Vette was number 4. Behind the Challenger.
The kicker? The Vette outsold all other “luxury” coupes sold in the US. BMW, Mercedes, and the Porsche 911 didn’t even come close to the Vette’s sales. Which were a paltry 18000+ . Even the 370Z and Hyundai Genisis were far behind. The Z didn’t even break 8000. The Genisis didnt do half that! Both of these are supposedly very popular CHEAPER sports cars that are held in higher esteem vs the Corvette right? Well if the numbers are to be believed, NOPE!
I think the market is just changing. The economy is worse and young people just plain aren’t as interested in performance nor have the money for it.
That’s not to say the Vette should stay as is. It needs to evolve and stay dynamic. Anything less would be foolish.
As the Millenial generation matures and becomes more wealthy (or as weathly as they can get, no thanks to the elder generations) you will see sales of the Nissan and Hyundai performance cars improve — especially when their V6 engines are punching out 330 hp or more. It’s the elder demographics holding up the sales of the Chevy cars.
Manoli, I hope you are right, but the stats and interest of the millenials just arent panning out like that. My little brother didn’t even want a drivers license! We had to make him get one, and he’s not alone. Many of his friends and the 16-24 yr old males I come across could care less about driving or owning a car period, never mind performance cars. I’m not saying that there isn’t a strong community of youthful car guys out there. Just that as a percentage of the population, it’s shrinking and fast.
We’re living in an age where all the things that initially drew the youth to cars in the past are either no longer necessary (like a car giving you the ability to attract females and take them out) or simply aren’t viable ( fuel prices are far out Of reach of a part time employed teen, let alone buying and modifying a car. Plus insurance and maintenance) cars are becoming a unhip luxury of sorts. I talk to a lot of youngins, and while they think a car would be nice to have, the simply don’t need one. Their parents take them everywhere, or the have one friend with a car they all ride around with, or they are sold on the dream of public transportation.
Personally I hope all automakers can sell every sports model they make. That ensures a robust and happy enthusiast market with readily accessible used cars and parts. This makes entry into the auto enthusiast realm affordable and diverse. But unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be working out that way.
But that said, the Camaro and Mustang are appealing to the young and old alike, and staying affordable. If the Camaros sales success are an indicator, a Vette that captures the publics imagination can easily regain the sales it once had as well as the aspirations of the youth market. (although I don’t believe it ever lost it)
I think you are on to something there, JzEllis. The car/youth culture isn’t want it was in the ‘50s and ‘60s and economics play a MAJOR roll. High-end performance cars, such as the Corvette, have ALWAYS been expensive. All the way back to the ‘53 Corvette, the Vette was Cadillac priced and you could buy two “regular” Chevys for the price of a Corvette. Today is the same. You’ll probably pay around $60,000 for a mildly optioned, base C6 Corvette, or TWO nicely optioned, regular Chevy Malibus for around $30,000.
But unlike the olden days when if a young guy wanted to buy a Corvette, he could go to his boss and say, “Hey Boss, can I get some overtime?” And the boss said, “Sure, 4 extra hours Tuesday and Thursday and all day Saturday. Is that enough for you?” Ask young people today if they even know what “overtime” is. Plus, the cost of owning a car is proportionally a lot more than it was 50 years ago.
Perhaps the “performance car” will be like big band music – they’ll never completely go away, but they’re not the cultural “gotta have” that they once were.
True, I talk to my friends in college, the last thing on their list is cars. They think performance is a civic si and luxury is a lexus es and expensive is Mercedes. They dont know what handling is,or the difference between rwd and fwd, when I was telling them about the volt and that it gets up to 40 electric range and then explained about the leaf which gets 70, they immediately decided the leaf was the better car, completely glazing over the profound difference of a gas generator in the volt. Im trying to say that they dont know or care about cars at all. Period.
What Im getting at is this bodes ill for niche market cars like which the corvette occupies. For example, right now, I can not dream of affording cars like the corvette zl1 and the nissan gtr. However the lust and aspiration is there, so eventually there will come a point when I can afford them, so I will buy it. Most of my generation doesnt have the same desire to get the car of their dreams. They are happy with their accord. Hopefully as the economy improves this will change with the corvette. I think its very possible if the next gen corvette stands out on the road. The previous gen camaro and mustangs blended in the crowd so they lost their appeal. But now they have regained their stature with the brash muscle car design. The same can happen with the corvette.
Right on, young man, on numerous points. The “car culture” isn’t want it once was and today there are many other things that younger people are interested in and desire. Corvettes have always been “nitch” cars. Back when Chevy sold 6,339 ‘57 Corvettes, they sold OVER 700,000 Bel Airs! And you are correct that when the Camaro and Mustang blended, their sales tanked. When Ford and Chevy started making Mustangs and Camaros that LOOKED like Mustangs and Camaros, they’re selling very well. The base model Camaro and Mustang is very good looking and will walk away from “most” of the Mustangs and Camaros of the past and get over double the fuel efficiency.
Unfortunately for younger people, I do not see the economy “coming back” anytime soon, if ever. Why? Because manufacturing will never come back to America like it was because for most manufacturing companies, their entire business model is founded on cheap Asian labor and they are addicted to it like crack cocaine. And if the Ron Paul-types get their National Right To Work laws passed, everyone will be working for LESS. Ron is a very nice man, but his Austrian School economics is dead wrong. Plus, most American have been Wall-Mart-ized – they want everything on the cheap.
I’ve been waiting for the economy to turnaround for 12 years now and it’s nowhere in sight because it’s NOT COMING BACK. I don’t have a “solution” that is just an observation. I keep waiting to be proven wrong about the economic recovery, and I’m still waiting.
And sorry, the government official unemployment figures are BOGUS because after your unemployment runs out and you’re not “collecting” you are not counted as “unemployed.” Eventually, after everyone’s UEI runs out, the official figures will be down in the 3 to 4-percent range. There won’t be any more “people “working” or at the wages they once earned, but the numbers will be right where our controllers want them… LOW. That’s so they won’t have to change a thing.
Im in the same situation you are. In college with a deep love (maybe unhealthy obsession) with performance and yet I’m surrounded by people whose only real measurement of a car is how good the gas mileage is. I even know a few people that think the higher the number on the tach the faster and more powerful a car is. People my age are very ignorant when it comes to performance cars.
What sets me apart from others my age is that at a young age, I grew up around older guys that were into cars and had cars that left impression on on me (mostly Camaros and Corvettes). Ive noticed though that Im unique like that and most people my age dont have the formative experiences with cars that I did and I think I know why. When millennials like me were growing up, it was still a dark time for cars. It was the early and mid 90s and everyone drove cars from the late 70s and 80s that lacked performance and were more or less thought of as just another household appliance that did a specific job. And when most of us were old enough to drive, those of us that did get our licenses usually had to make do with second hand cars from the 80s and mid 90s, which again, werent known for performance. That all leads to the driving experience being really mundane and driving people (no pun intended) to other leisurely pursuits than cars (plus theres so much more out there to be interested in than there was in say 1970).
That said, being that sports cars like the Corvette really do occupy a niche market, theres plenty of hope for them because its a niche market. I think theres still going to be enough people that want these cars that they will exist. And with the growth in performance coupled with the fact that these cars will actually be rare, all thats needed is styling that sets a Corvette apart from other cars to make a car that makes an impression and will guarantee that people will be interested in eventually owning a car like that. All in all, given what we are seeing today, I actually think theres plenty of hope for the Corvette of the future. GM has to get it right.
I’m not going to disagree with you in mentioning that the youngsters would rather not get a driver’s license if they can help it. To us car lovers, it’s hard to wrap our heads around the matter. But it has plenty to do with the fact that more and more people are living in cities and concentrated communities, where cars are more of a hassle to own than a benefit, especially with mass transit being what it is (unless you live in Detroit). I grew up in a semi-rural area (we had chickens). I needed a car, and there was no other way around it. The same still holds true today for people growing up in that environment — unless they are delusional enough to think the bus is going to stop in the middle of the cornfields.
Anyhoo, that’s a topic for a different thread entirely.
Now, the kids that DO love thier cars, and are interested in their performance happen to have a lot of options these days. And for most, Chevy isn’t on their list.
i amone of those people you’re talking about manoli and let me just say gm is the only thing on my list. and every car junkie kid i know would kill to have a older camaro (although not the previous gen the older ones) aswell as cobalt ss”es and pontiacs of the past (ehem fiero) and half of them would also love a civic si or a prelude you know sporty fast fun and cheap. ps focus is a joke know but the oooold ones aren’t that bad you just have to do a little work to them
More power to you, honestly. Nobody is right or wrong here, it simply comes down to taste. But all the cars you listed are used/dated. I’m talking about the ones that aspire to own something brand new.
true they are old and used but thats what kids are buying now cause A. its waaay cheaper and B. the’re just isnt any cars brand new that offer what those old ones did. performance at a easy price for a first buyer or college kid. true they all look to new ‘maros and ‘vettes and the like but can’t afford them and all the new cars that probably will take over where those old ones left off wont be here for another three years average
The elda generation you give no thahks to , held it’s own and earned it’s keep. I am ,like millions of people in my age group ,that are proud ,patiotic Americans. We came from families that struggled, worked hard and passed that strong work ethic down to it’s children, we don’t take hand outs, we earn our keep. The corvette is an american sports car, a beautiul, fast , beast that inspirers awe. I am damb proud of its heritege and the fact that it is a CHEVY.
There is no sense in giving thanks to past generations when they demand that you live like they did.
Where are you from and how old are you?
My age is irrelevant; and you aren’t going to use your age of 58 as something that you think can give your leverage in this discussion.
My location (I can say with some pride) is a first world nation with arguably the highest standard of living on earth. My nation, thankfully, isn’t a theocracy were such behavour of “ancestor worship” is encouraged, as illustrated by Mr. Dutra.
Take from that what you will, but I know you’re itching to swing a mis-directed poltical punch and mislable me and my nation as “communitist”, “marxist”, or “socialist”, whatever you think works for you.
Barbasher, K. Scott; that’s exactly what I’m getting at! The ONLY reason I worked two and three jobs in high school was to afford a cool car. I joined the military to buy my then dream car; a 2002 WS6 Sunburnt orange Trans Am 6 speed. But I was a car fanatic! I’ve been reading watching and doing anything I could that involved cars ever since I could remember. And even I noticed I was an oddity compared to my peers. Except for used 5.0s or exotics many of the kids I grew up with could care less about cars of any kind. Although in the early through mid 90s high school parking lots were full I full size American steel of the 60s-mid 80s with lots of rabbits, golfs, carollas, and accords sprinkled About. A big v8 was still respected and coupes prefered to sedans. And if u had a “big body” convertible you were the man! 300ZXs Supras and 3000GTs AND newer Vettes were still lusted over as well as any foreign luxury mark. And girls didn’t date dudes with no job or access to a car! (nowadays all a guy has to do is be breathing, or so it seems)
I don’t wanna make this thread a social commentary, but in many ways the issue with the younger generation and their relationship with cars is.
But I still believe a Vette with the proper mix of modern relevance and traditional appeal and a ” Wow look at that sh#t!” ( in modern speak) styling job will resonate with the young and old alike. Again being something to aspire to!
Well said! There’s a meme out there about Corvette design that goes like this, “The Corvette is the hardest car in Detroit to design, because it has to look “new” but it has to look like a Corvette” And it’s not impossible. I’m not a Porsche “fan” but I like and respect the car. A new 911 still looks like the first 911. Same with the XK-E, and a few others. If stylists and designers are left to style and design, WITHOUT interference from marketing people and focus groups, they WILL come up with another winner. But designers and stylists don’t run the show.
You are spot on, yes, today’s youth does not have the same relationship with cars as the baby boomers. Perhaps when I was growing up if there’d been PCs, laptops, cell phones, smart phones, the internet, video games, etc, etc, I wouldn’t have gotten the car buy like I did. I soaked it up from the culture because no one in my family had any interest in performance cars and ESPECIALLY Corvettes. My Dad thought they were/are the dumbest cars on the road. Back in ‘75 I bought a ‘65 Corvette and my Dad said, “You’re paying $2,800 for a 10 year old Chevy?!?” I said, “No Dad, it’s a CORVETTES!” And Dad snorted, “It’s a goddamn 10 year old Chevy!” My Dad is a for real Archie Bunker-type. At least he didn’t tell me I was a “Meathead!”
The new Corvettes are so astonishingly advanced from my old ‘65. They do EVERYTHING better and can walk away from the baddest big-block Vette monster from the olden days, AND, they are a car you can live with every day. Heck, you can get over 30-MPG in a new Vette on a 55-mph highway and still do 0-60 in 4-seconds or less! The new Corvette owners love the way their cars perform and behave and wouldn’t want them any other way. Consequently, the bar is VERY high for the new C7. Maybe even too high. We’ll see. Nice talking with you!
Mr Craw daddy ! I take it you do not respect your parents? This is about Corvettes Adolf . World nation What the F#@k are talking about. Where you from ??? Mars. Crawdaddy you need a Corvette. Are you some neonazi freak?? This is getting strange; I’m totally laughing my ass off.
And this is expanding on the topic at hand how?
Sorry, was there a point made in that comment?
Yes, dont post comments on GMA when youre drunk. 🙂
Barbersher! When some one talks about a new world order and this is the world he comes from; who’s the one thats drunk better yet stoned?? I’m here speaking about the C7 corvette, corvettes are my passion if I get somewhat heated about the C7 it is out of passion. I don’t want to see this icon go ; I would rather see it spin off into it’s own brand than Have GM distroy it
Nobody here is talking about the NWO besides you. And unless you’re well versed in today’s current affairs, I’m not sure you want to be.
But I’m with you on the idea that the Corvette might be pretty cool as its own brand. Some people may find that as a neutering of Chevrolet, but it still has the Camaro.
The Corvette being its own brand and separate company (“The Corvette Motor Company” – sounds nice, doesn’t it?) is an interesting notion. But we probably wouldn’t want to see the price of an all-new Corvette from The Corvette Motor Comapny. It would probably be in the Porsche range.
When the C6 first came out it was $290 LESS than the price of an ’04. You can thank amortization over an enormous line of products for that. It’ll be interesting to see what Chevy comes up with for the C7’s base price.
Yeah it would be in Porsche’s price range. But the beuty of it is that you could introduce an entire fleet of cars — like Porsche — that would suit different budgets and tastes. And just “Corvette”. Let’s not get carried away with “Corvette Motor Company”. We both know GM brands don’t have autonomous product development departments anymore.
WOW! Alex Jones is a Corvette fan?!? KEWEL!!! <– Not really! :-)))
Manoli: Graw daddy is the one babbling about some NWO, Get it staight. We finally agree on somthing. The Corvette It’s own brand.
“a first world nation with arguably the highest standard of living on earth. My nation, thankfully, isn’t a theocracy were such behavour of “ancestor worship” is encouraged, as illustrated by Mr. Dutra.
Take from that what you will, but I know you’re itching to swing a mis-directed poltical punch and mislable me and my nation as “communitist”, “marxist”, or “socialist”, whatever you think works for you”
NWO where? Are you accurate as to what that even is? You’re the one calling him a “neo nazi freak”. Alas, Grawdaddy can probably just answer for himself, anyways.
*Sigh*
Yes. Corvette as a brand! An entire Corvette product line. This will probably be the only way traditionalists and new demographics unattactched to the car’s roots will ever get along. It’s easy to picture a small model a la Pontiac Solstice GXP, a more traditional front-mounted engine, small block V8 model with conservative styling, and a balls-to-the-wall M/R engine-mounted supercar. From America.
From an industry perspective, I don’t think there’s another car “icon” that’s a bigger halo car than the Corvette, with the possible exceptions of the Mustang and VW Beetle. Don’t go nuts, now, I’m just talking “icons” here, not performance. Since the Corvette is obviously GM’s ultimate halo car, the only way they’d ever “possibly” sell off the name and tooling would be if the C7 was a total bomb – which, despite a lot of our conversation about the styling of Jalponik’s illustrations, isn’t likely to happen. The “Corvette” as it’s own “division” of GM? Also not likely that they’d make a separate division for a car that hasn’t sold more than 20,000 units since ‘08.
But is definitely IS the stuff of interesting bench racing and Corvette day dreams, I’ll agree.
Perhaps I’ll start a post at CorvetteReport.com asking the question, just to get some conversation going. So, besides the “Corvette Motor Company,” any other suggestions for what a separate Corvette car company should/might be called???
Well, it wouldn’t be a company, but a brand — like Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac are today. Engineering and design would still be carried out by GM, as it is today.
Doing so would offer the ability for more models, like a small roadster and even a mid engined supercar, as well as the “traditional” Corvette, of course.
“Corvette” simply works for me. Look at the names already: Corvette Grand Sport, Corvette Z06, Corvette ZR1… those can all represent different models or even body styles.
Sorry! Manoli It’s First world nation ; is what he calls it. AH!!! Thats what Adolf Hitler wanted. Thats why I called him a neo nazi, commie freak. Can we move on to Corvettes????
Not until I depose of you and your (likely) drunken ramblings. I feel that if you’re going to swing at me and call me a neo-nazi, I’m obligated to defend myself.
By the way, congratulations for breaking Godwin’s law. U R A WINNAR!
“Mr Craw daddy ! I take it you do not respect your parents? This is about Corvettes Adolf . World nation What the F#@k are talking about. Where you from ??? Mars. Crawdaddy you need a Corvette. Are you some neonazi freak?? This is getting strange; I’m totally laughing my ass off.”
Did you even read my inital post? Odviously you didn’t and decided to call me neo-nazi. Here’s my orginal post before you deliberately mis-read it:
“There is no sense in giving thanks to past generations when they demand that you live like they did.”
So what’s the problem her? I should live like my parents or my grandparents? Commendable people they were, but from age that was as socially regressive as it was inhuman.
I don’t want to live in a world were people are denied the right to vote or speak. I don’t want to live in a world where I am forced to belive or not to belive in a god or gods. I don’t want to live in a world where nations deem on another as evil and then seek to destory them. I don’t want to live in a world where the enviroment-the very air and water we need-is seen as just a doormat on the path to explotive business practices of a select few. I don’t want to live in a world where racism is held as acceptable. I don’t want to live in a world where ones gender or orientation is seen as infereior and thus worthy of ridicule, scorn, or a diminishing of their human rights. I don’t want to live in a world where education is framed as being destructive or immoral, and where lies are told to millions and where truth of the universe is neglected, negated, or diminished in power.
I don’t want to live in my ancestors time, period.
That’s why when I typed “There is no sense in giving thanks to past generations when they demand that you live like they did.”, that it was meaningless to purpetuate a world that surounded them in their time. I can be thankful of my ancestors and what good they did for themselves and the world, and I can shun and dismiss their wrongs. Irrespective of that, I don’t want the world of 100 years ago to ever come back. Not now, not ever. Thus, I don’t worship the world they lived in and never will.
I don’t often use “crude language” on forums, and up until now, my conduct has reflect that. But if you’re going to call me, or anyone else on this forum a “neo-nazi”, you better have a good god damn fucking reason to do so.
Because I don’t think you do, or even know just how far off base you are. If you’re just parroting words you hear on TV or read of in passing, then you’re in no position to call anyone anywhere a “neo-nazi”.
So before we get back the C7 from your derailment, tell me; “What the fuck made you think I was a neo-nazi”?
Dutra,
The “first world” term is commonly used to describe a developed country. ‘Merica is a first world country. And the term spawned during the cold war, which is after WWII: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World
Now, in the words of Gold Five: “Stay on target”
Wiki; Google, excellent search engines. Road & track has an artical on the 25 best new up coming automoblies. The C7 is featured. The cover rendition doesn’t look that bad and from what I read from other articals, GM will not be changing the rear tail lights. Also it has been said that this rendition is not the final design. I’m hoping they make the side vents functional, it seems cheesy to put non functional vents on a sports car. The C6 R has full functional vents why not incorperate them to Z06 and ZR1?
As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.” There is a tradition in many groups that, once this occurs, that thread is over, and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically lost whatever argument was in progress. Godwin’s Law thus practically guarantees the existence of an upper bound on thread length in those groups. However there is also a widely- recognized codicil that any intentional triggering of Godwin’s Law in order to invoke its thread-ending effects will be unsuccessful. You offended my generation fuckhead which is probably your mother and fathers generation.
And you think the yank, white, middle-class is going still be around in 59 years? Remember typing this?
My location (I can say with some pride) is a first world nation with arguably the highest standard of living on earth. My nation, thankfully, isn’t a theocracy were such behavour of “ancestor worship” is encouraged, as illustrated by Mr. Dutra.
Take from that what you will, but I know you’re itching to swing a mis-directed poltical punch and mislable me and my nation as “communitist”, “marxist”, or “socialist”, whatever you think works for you.
Remember typing this. My nation is America ; Did your parent live in what you call a ” Theocracy ” You offended me . You insult and prise generations all in the same text. You want to offend?? be prepared to be offended
To the forums with this one so as not to further derail the topic. Mr Dutra seems to think that being “offended” grants him certain rights.
See you there, and don’t chicken out.
Jeepers Guys. Can we just blow off this snotty little “Graw Daddy” twerp that’s probably up way past his bedtime? Treat him like the Eskimos treat a thief – IGNORE HIM.
Remember back in late 2000 when there was all the buzz before the Segway machine that was going to “revolutionize transportation as we know it”? Man, people came up with ALL KINDS of ideas about what it might / could be. The gyro, microprocessor scooter is neat, but was more than a letdown and 12 years later, they still haven’t taken over transportation. Well, thanks to the internet, I hope that our expectations over the C7 haven’t been unrealistically stoked, such that the car will fall way short of everyone’s pet expectations.
But there are a few things I think we can mostly agree on.
The C6 Z06 and ZR1 far exceeded most everyone’s mechanical wish list. I mean, a dedicated Z06/ZR1 aluminum chassis, a 638-HP supercharged engine, super lightweight racing wheels and sticky quasi racing tires? WOW! Okay, the seats aren’t up to snuff if you’re pulling north of 1G. If that’s annoying, buy a better seat, crank it up, and enjoy. And lets not forget the hand-made engines from the Wixcom Center. We’ve come a LONG way from the St. Louis plant days.
While I have my reservations about the styling, based on the Jalopnik illustrations, there’s one thing I’m COMPLETELY confident about. The Corvette engineering group has already built and designed a stunning machine. They are most likely in the grooming stage by now. Since the Corvette tends to grow in evolutionary ways, I will not be surprised to see the C7 with a chassis similar to the current Z06 and ZR1.
Last I heard, the C7 is supposed to debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show in mid-January 2013. Nine and a half months and counting! :-)))
Agree with most of your corvette comments.
“Graw” comments, DONT AGREE
Why the hell does everyone have to get so personal and insulting in discussions.
Just have a civil conversation about the corvette.
Just because you dont agree with someone does NOT mean you can just “blow them off”
Hes up past his bedtime? Really? I think someone needs to grow up here and its not “Graw”
Marked the calender already, cant wait!
When you start dogging age groups and demographic you single out people. Thats how it all started. I kept it civil until your pal GRAW and Katakis started dogging the very generation that brought you our Corvette. Like i said before The vette is for all to love .If it were not for my generation we would be talking about the corvette. You younger folks are just a tad disrespectful when it come to age groups.
Has anyone read the artical in Car and driver? 25 cars worth waiting for. This rendition dosn’t look half bad. Lets hope they make the side vents fully functional . And please GM don’t go with the camero like tail lights.
Wow !
All I can say is : I’m a simple guy, I like cars and the Corvette in particular, because they allow me to manifest my latent Phil Hill/AJ Foyt/Gilles Villeneuve wannabe tendencies without having to rent a race track and buy old race cars. I bear no ill will to anyone, neo fibreglass, neo small block, neo turbo or neo whatever, l love Corvettes !
Keep in mind guys that the Vette has been hovering at $90K in Canada for a while and we get nothing better than you do , saying a 100K Corvette would be better is not necessarily true, a 250K Ferrari 458 is not 175K better than the ‘Vette maybe 25K in real value, but Ferrari and Fiat make a lot more on each one and the “rich” people wouldn’t be caught dead in a Chevy !! Chevy is doing just great at 6oK… well, maybe a better interior ! I’d pay for that !
Like the C4, 5 and 6, the C7 is in good hands and one will be in my garage replacing our C6 next summer God willing !