The 2014 C7 Corvette: What We Know
126
Sponsored Links
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.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a Corvette Z06 and 2024 Silverado. Details here.
Sponsored Links
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!