We’ve heard all kinds of speculation reports about the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette: from a smaller footprint and a new 5.5 liter V8 (or is it a twin turbo V6?) to the fact that the ultimate American sports car won’t be an “old guy’s car anymore”, the rumormill has certainly been busy.
But aside from all that, let’s talk about what you’d like to see in the C7: more power? A better interior? A decrease in curb weight? A DSG? Better seats? Sound off in the comments, folks!
Comments
Well the two things I want most is a radical design change that completely changes the headlights and also the mufflers at the back which one of the few things I don’t like about Current C6 exterior,. Oh, and a much better interior.
I think a better interior is on everybodys list, improved performance and ecconomy, would like to see Corvette remain a perfomance leader and not just in a bang for the buck sence.
GM needs a way to upgrade the electronics in the interior. The visual user interface needs more customization… Even the current C6 models are really the same as 2005, and we all know that is ancient tech by todays standards. Ideally it would be something I could download, with something like an apple touch interface… but even if it involved a hardware purchase I could make at my dealership to install, it could be something GM could apply to other vehicles… the driving dynamics of the C6 are outstanding already, but sadly something like this is needed to make it appeal to a younger audience. This is something the competition has not done well yet either but would generate a huge amount of interest… but it needs to be done right because if done poorly, think BMW idrive.
The biggest complaints about the Corvette remain the lack of support offered by the seats and the low-rent interior. I personally have no problem with the way the interior looks, but I say go ahead and please those that still don’t understand. The seats will definitely have to be upgraded. Sure, the cost needs to stay as competitive as it already is, but the time has come to deal with this matter once and for all.
You nailed it! The interior is unappealing at first… But its shortcomings become unnoticeable with time. It’s still not a top-of-the-line cabin, but with some creativity and slightly better materials, it could be much better.
I want to see a better effort on interior design and some kind of mi-ray design elements for the interior
Seats? check out the 2012 Corvette seats, moving in the right direction, but still don’t understand why they don’t offer Recaros or similar to those who want track-ready seats? The “old guy” crowd that wants/demands the wider, more comfy seats for cruising and travel can have the “regular” ones.
Too many models right now, base, Grand Sport, Z06, ZR1, why? 2 is plenty, base and Z06. If they want to do a a limted edition ZR1 again at some point, fine, but keep it very limited. I have a strong feeling the Stingray or Sting Ray name is going to re-appear soon on a corvette.
Remember when the 2006 Z06 hit the market for $60K? It was an absolute home run. Now the same car is $75K and up and guess what? In todays economy they barely sell any even with huge rebates, etc…. I think the Z06 is the key, make it lightweight, focused, track-ready and price it where it can’t be beat.
Here is a thought, more than one vehicle on same platform. How about a classic throw back look, and a totally new futuristic design that blows our minds… to me this is an oportunity to redefine the Corvette brand and set a new path and design language. Size to me is an issue make smaller.
Did you know that the ‘Vette is an inch shorter than the 911?
Would be interesting to see if there’s enough demand at two different body styles… maybe appeal to the “old guys” with one and the “not so old” guys with another?
I want to see a better interior, but when I say that, I’m talking better QUALITY interior, not just a cheap interior covered with leather. The seats in mine are so cheap that when I leaned back to get my wallet out of my pocket, the seatback gave way on one side. The cheap plastic stops couldn’t hold the weight (and I’m not all that big). The switches and trim come right out of a Chevy Aveo.
If Chevrolet wants to charge $4500 for a “leather wrapped” interior, that interior should be of much higher quality than the current one. Look guys, at least give us the interior out of the Cadillac XLR. That should already be on the parts shelf.
The idea of different bodies on the same platform is very intriguing. Since the Corvette has a separate frame, you’re only talking about changing the plastic. Should be cost effective.
Could be cheap in one by offering the current LS3, a bit better with an LS3 + the performance exhaust, then offer the LS7 and LS9 in even better bodies. They could offer an el-cheapo pure performance model and go on up to a Lexus quality car with power to match….and most of it right off the shelf.
Good idea Yabadabadoo!
I certainly hope that GM will add lightness to the Corvette. Along with a diet lets of course beg for more horsepower. The C7 should be without question the finest performing car coming out of America.
ME… I want to see Me in it!!!!
The current mechanical layout is from the 1980’s (the ’80’s Porsche 928 had a front engine with a rear transaxle). Corvette has had one since 1997! It’s long overdue to move forward with a more modern layout! I really prefer to buy american, but Corvette is falling way back in innovation. Minor body changes and a better interior will not be enough to upgrade from my perfectly good y2k C5.
The design is old, but it still works like an ever-lasting charm. Progress for the sake of progress isn’t smart. Plus, it’s costly.
What we’re talking about for the C7 is an overhaul of the Vette. It will still have a similar powertrain layout, but it will have substantially different looks, an all new powertrain, and a much better interior. Oh, and it will be faster, handle better, and look “sicker”, all while occupying the same price range as the C6. Is that not enough reasons to “upgrade”?
What do you mean by “mechanical layout”?
I think Jack is referring to several things:
– the powertrain layout (front engined, rear-wheel drive)
– suspension (the Vette’s infamous trasverse leaf spring setup)
I don’t think the layout critical issue with the Corvette. I mean if GM could work in AWD to get the Corvette to properly hook on launches, that could work.
I mean nobody is yelling at the 911 for being rear-engined like a forklift. :/
and I forgot the suspention. To those that know, the traverse composite leafsprings are wholly unrealated to longitudinal leafsprings apart from in the mechanics of a leaf spring.
I mean some people know this, but I think it’s unlikely that GM will embark on a PR venture to clarify how it workds in the Corvette.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_leaf_spring
When thinking about all these marvelous new improvements, moving to a “more modern layout”, more horsepower, finest performing car coming out of America, more innovation, etc. I think it’s important to remember that the Corvette is built to meet a particular price point. Not for nothing has it earned the reputation of being the best value in the sports car world. I doubt seriously that the designers and engineers are unaware of the advantages associated with such storied names as Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini. But I also doubt that they are unaware that these famous brands command prices far in excess of what a Corvette costs. As I recall on the wall of Honest Charley’s Speed Shop when I was in my early days of modifying cars, “Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?”
I hope the next Gen. Corvette comes in with its 5.5 rated at least around 500hp normally aspirated, and with the aid of 8-speed automatic and 7-speed manual (overdreive) would still be able to get 20-30mpg. This is very possible with cylinder deactivation and direct injection. However I really want to see 4 valves per cylinder operational with rushrod gasoline technology, Since its currently in use with Ford, GM and Cummins diesel engines.
Moreover, a 6.2 for the Z06 producing at least 620hp employing the same technological advances would be great. Hence by adding 2 turbochargers to this 6.2 engine to churn out 750hp for the upcming ZR-1 without major effort, would complement the C-7’s revelation.
This is a very simple question with a very simple answer. What is absolutely most important for the next generation Corvette is power. Look at what has happened recently with other vehicles. We have a Camaro with 580 HP, an upcoming Mustang that will have 650 HP even a family sedan from Cadillac that pushes out 556 HP.
Chevrolet needs to realize that gas mileage, cylinder deactivation, reduced cubic inches and any other nonsense similar to that is steering the next Corvette in the wrong direction.
Success will be forthcoming if the new generation has big increases in power. If the current stable of coupe, Zo6 and Zr1 remain the same there needs to be power upgrades throughout the range. The base coupe needs at least 500 hp to remain competitive. Zo6 should be easily pushed into the 600-650 hp range and the Zr1 needs to top 700. Who really wants a Corvette that is not at the top of the performance pyramid? One final note, if people want a European driving experience go purchase a European car. I have no interest in Corvette becoming a clone of any of those types of cars. Stick with what is American and what works. Big cubic inches and big horsepower. Together you will have big performance and stellar sales figures.
“Chevrolet needs to realize that gas mileage, cylinder deactivation, reduced cubic inches and any other nonsense similar to that is steering the next Corvette in the wrong direction.”
Wrong by who’s standard?
If GM can do more with less to keep the Corvette compeditive, more power to them. And don’t say that fuel economy isn’t a performance figure.
Any design that does NOT look like the photoshop pics on the Internet would be great. What ever happened to the idea of performance and exotic luxury? If you want to buy a goofy “need for speed” video game cartoon car, go buy a nissan or one of the glove fit exotics like Lamborghini or Ferrari. Good luck to gm when they try to market the vette proposed in the spy shot renderings. Good luck and good bye. Must have been the same design nut jobs that came up with the caddy cts coupe! Wow…… Nightmares on wheels….. Shouldn’t people get fired over bad ideas like this?
You don’t like the CTS coupe, eh?
PS: isn’t “performance and exotic luxury” the definition of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Bugatti?
The time has come to add all wheel drive and flappy paddle gearbox.Not a fan of the Paddles but the competition seems to have the upper hand on the track with paddle shifting.The Nissan GTR has an amazing 0 to 60 time due to its AWD.If Chevy adds these 2 features then ZR1 will stay a head of the competition.Lets see where chevy goes!!!!
Can we please get real here. The Corvette is one of the most special examples of pure original design,ingenuity,creativity,passion and manufacturing superiority that America has to offer. In my book there are three principle design features that define a true American sports car. The car must be a front engine, rear wheel drive and posess a manual transmission. Obviously GM needs to improve on interior quality and offer a solid automatic transmission as well as improved electronics ect.. However, I think most people here are missing the mark. The corvette has always been about style,originality and performance! Please give the car what it deserves!! World class handling,world class performance and world class design. The Japanese and Germans both have fine offerings but come on people.. Let them have the turbos,all wheel drives,rear engines and video game entertainment centers. GM, Please make the Covette a real American sports car again with what you do best.. Big V8,front engine,manual transmission, Killer looks and high quality refined but simple no nonsense interior. Its supposed to be a sports car! Video screens,heated seats,and cup holders belong in a mini van,suv or luxury sedan.. not a world class sports car!
Upgrade Inteior.
Mr Wellburn needs to take a class in “Retro” styling and learn that vehicles have “facial” expressions. GM use to create the trends, now they don’t even copy (classic styling) well. I believe the root of the problem is a lack of car-guys all the way up the ladder. There are exceptions to the culture, like Cadillac, but there also, never enough effort to perfect.
CONCEALED HEADLAMPS AND HIGHER UP QUARTER PANELS. C6 LOOKS LIKE A 1990 CAMARO COMING DOWN THE ROAD. DON’T DO THIS TO THE C7.
Nah, pop-up headlights are lame and not aerodynamic. Too many moving parts just to a simple job of lighting the road, which the existing C6 headlights do just fine for themselves.
And higher quarter pannels would the C7 look like a C3, and retro is dead.
I’m willing to leave C7’s styling to the professionals with only one proviso – please no “retro” , let Camaro carry that flag !
Please keep in mind that not all Corvette people are short haulers -our C6 very seldom goes out of the garage for less than 500 miles. The Z06 can be the racer but let there be a GT as well and that means tires that last more than 5000 miles, a suspension that allows great handling but leaves your fillings in place, reasonable fuel efficiency (we have to pass on the planet !), a quality classic interior w/ interface electronics to please those who must have it but make most of it optional (i.e. a option package) and allow some colour in the interior ! And I don’t mean black with red, yellow, blue, or whatever colour stitching – carpets other than black even if only floor mats, and some contrasting door colours – whether it be door control bezels or hardware. Make the steering wheel look like something someone actually thought of as other than an airbag holder ! Flat bottom, leather trim etc.
My wife and I spend a lot of time in the interior and I’d like it to be somewhere I have some choices in how it looks, surely that can’t be unfeasible or not cost effective ! Let me pay for it if so ! Surely the new design interior could contain some design elements that allow different colours to be introduced and still be cost effective – I hate all black interiors and yet most HIPo cars now seems to follow Ford’s theory that “you can have any colour so long as it’s black” . The old Cobalt “SS’s” had seat centres and central door panels that matched so it can’t be all that expensive !
And let’s finally have a dual clutch gearbox with 7 or 8 gear ratios again an option, so those who don’t seem to realize that racing cars (incl Corvette Racing) haven’t had a clutch pedal for at least 2 or 3 generations.
We ‘ve aIready pre-ordered a new C7 so I’ll like it however it comes out but the above would be “cream” !
I want to see paddle shift and all wheel drive.Then we will hear less about the Nissan GTR and more about the Corvette ZR1.Common GM its time to upgrade.
I couldn’t disagree with you more. The reference to Camaro being retro is “off”. Compared to the market that appreciate “retro” styling, Camaro is a miss compared to the Mustang and Challenger.
GM has a rich heritage that they are not taking advantage to exploit. The Corvette use to be “King of the hill”, but now that I can afford to buy one, I just can’t warm-up to it.
It’s a tough balance to come up with a style that satisfies both the upper age customers that can afford one with the younger crowd who for the most part cannot afford.
Hey Bob,
I don’t mean to dis retro ! If you’re into it that’s great but being a non retro guy and having spent the last 6 months testing a LOT of cars, the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger are more retro as far as styling than most…the Mustang surprisingly to me anyway was the best handler of the 3 but non of them are in the same ballpark as the ‘Vette.
I agree the balance between old and new demographics is tough and back in the day it was no contest, the young turks won but in todays market boomers are impossible to ignore as we’re a BIG chunk of the market and have the $$ but you gotta move on and while the engineering does; sometimes the styling stays in the past. I don’t appreciate it and i’m just saying if you want to go that way let the Camaro do it. The Corvette’s the halo brand for Chevy and I think that means the styling has to be more contemporary, including cues from the Corvettes past but not looking like they did 30 years ago.