Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter Lets The Internet Ask Him Anything
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It’s hard not to respect a man like Tadge Juechter. The chief engineer of the 2015 C7 Z06 program joined the Corvette team in 1993 and first became the program’s head engineer following the introduction of the C6. He was tasked with pumping out the later versions of the C6 (including the maniacal ZR1), developed the C7 Corvette and even though he won’t admit to it, he’s probably currently working on a mid-engine C8-generation Corvette, too.
Juechter recently participated in an ask-me-anything forum on Jalopnik, where he freely and openly answered users’ questions about the past, present and future of the Corvette. Tadge can’t answer some questions, such as those in regards to future product, but he does drop a few interesting tidbits of info.
When asked about the possibility of a hybrid Corvette, as electric motors produce good power and torque, Juechter replied that electric drive is “also heavy, expensive,” and requires “batteries that take up all your luggage room.” When asked about a more track-focused take on the Z06 that is less heavy and luxurious than the current car, Tadge said the ‘Vette team has had “a few customer requests for a more pure, track focused model, and we are always studying potential future new products.”
As you can probably tell, Juechter had some thought-compelling replies to users’ questions, so don’t hesitate to read through the comments here.
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Tadge really knows what he’s talking about and has made the vette a success. Imagine the potential success if he became chief engineer of a real volume car like the Malibu.
The results would be nearly the same. Tadge is a great engineer but so are so many others at GM. The issue is they just can not always do what they want when they want.
Even as good as the C7 is Tadge wanted something even much more different but had to take a C6 lengthen the wheel base to get the engine back farther and yet he would like it farther back yet,
The Malibu has issues that go much deeper than the engineers or designers. It had a lot to do with the project getting shelved in the bail out and then resurrected a few years later leaving GM with a older design in a segment that is advancing very fast. It was more about circumstances than anything else. Time, Money being the keys.
I think you will find the next model much different than what we have now.
Tadge is a great guy and will make sure we have a Corvette 10 years from now.
As the head line yes you can ask anything but he did not really cover much new ground. The questions were not the best and too many idiots in between. This was a poor forum to do this kind of exchange.
Personaly, i thought Tedge was great. I dont know what you think what forum he should be on but check out ignorant, stupid, forums so you can keep up. Dang where do you people come from?
Howard I agree Tadge was great with what he had to work with, but I would like to see him some where that he could get real questions like the good ones here and just answer them not being interrupted with the flakes in between.
I think they would have best off with taking questions ahead and just letting him address the relevant ones in order. Cut the irrelevant chatter in between. That way we could have had more questions and even more answers.
I have been a part of some of these exchanges before and often they can be better handled with even better outcomes.
I come from business and that is how we do it in a more professional manor. It was nothing Tadge did wrong but the site should have known better as they do this with the automakers all the time.
Best way to describe it to someone who has not been a part of one is that its like a press conference.
Tadge, I recently purchased a 2016 Corvette Z06, and I love it; however, do you know why the Corvette Z06 will never be regarded as a World Class Super Car, I’m going to tell you!
When I take my Z06 to the dealer, I might as well be driving a Chevy Cruze, since that’s the way I’m treated, not like the owner of a 100-thousand-dollar super car, really. I recently purchased a used, yes used 2014 Lincoln Navigator, and when I go to the dealer I’m treated like a king, and it only cost me 44 thousand, WHY! GM needs to wake up, and start acting as if the Corvette is a Super Car, not some cheap Chevy Aveo, or Cruze. I mean no disrespect to those vehicles, but I’ve owed three new Corvettes, a 2003 Z06, a 2011 Grand Sport, and I lost my ass on all of them, but I am still loyal to the car, due to the fact that the price to Performance ratio cannot be matched, anywhere. I could have bought an Audi for less, which is regarded as one of the world’s best cars, but I’m an American, and I believe in America, and its cars, but GM, needs to wake up, and start treating owners, and the Corvette as if they purchased a Supercar, and stop destroying their values by discounting the crap out of them.
Thank you.
I own a 2015 ZO6 and run it on the track and I’m one of the 3 percent that are having problems with it going into limp mode. I have tried to get answers from my dealer and customer service and they know nothing and are no help. Now I read how you fixed the 2017 ZO6 but are doing nothing for us that own the 15s and 16s. My dealer told me I should start a class action suit against Chevrolet. I hate have to do that when what I need is you to fix my car. This is my 15th vette and if you don’t fix it and for free it will be my last. If I do not get a response from you and soon down the road it goes. Right now I feel Chevrolet Corvette division sucks. Sorry but I paid over 100000 for a useless piece of junk. Lester Patzer