General Motors is in a good spot. The automaker is profitable, it’s back under private control, its ignition switch fiasco has nearly come to a close and, more importantly, its portfolios across major automotive markets are extremely competitive.
Why do we lay that out first? Because, it means GM can afford to allocate extra capital for a very special project. That project is a mid-engined Corvette. While the automaker, nor the Corvette team, has said any word of confirmation, Corvette Forum has reportedly received some sensitive intel from an unnamed source.
According to the source, the mid-engined Corvette has been under development for a few years now, with the first test mule spotted this time last year. That, or there’s going to be a very niche, wide-body Holden Commodore Ute with an unusable bed. The source also spilled the project is likely heading to validation at the time you’re reading this, meaning a confirmation of the program should be public soon, maybe even this year.
Attitudes inside GM are fierce towards upsetting cross-town rival, Ford, and its GT supercar it revealed at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, and certain insiders have been itching to upset the GT. With that information, if the source is accurate, we’d place our bets on a big announcement for the 2017 North American International Auto Show.
Comments
This is obviously an article about nothing that anybody could have written.
Well the timing of this is key.
Note that this was leaked the same week as the Ford GT has it’s first race at Daytona this weekend.
Leaks like this may be un named but they are not by accident anymore. Note just before the GT was shown at the Detroit show the Ute photo’s popped up on the web.
I have someone I know that takes spy photo’s and he from time to time will get a call to be where he can get photo’s or he is invited to take photos. These are planned events for GM.
It is like the test track at Milford they have a spot they know the photographers sit and if they want something seen they make some passes till they get the shots.
This is just laying the ground work for what is to come.
If anything it gives us a little more idea the time line is moving along and the car is getting closer.
I expect more mules by August in Death Valley.
General Motors has a master play if they want to move to the mid-engine Corvette to life.
If it manufactures and creates a mid-engine Corvette level worldwide department; GM will win lots of prestige and customers.
As the owner of a 2011 Corvette Grand Sport, I would love to see a mid-engine Corvette, but not if its going cost $400,000 like the Ford GT. If Acura can build a Mid-Engine sports car for $155,000 and Porsche can build and sell one for under $100,00, I don’t see why GM can’t build one for $150,000. I wouldn’t buy on because I’m not $150,000 car kind of a guy, but I know plenty of people who could afford it and would buy one , especially if it generates Ferrari level performance.
Corvette’s chief engineer, Tadge Juechter, said in an interview with Autoline.tv Autoline After Hours of not being aware of any mid-engine Corvette program within General Motors and implied if there was a mid-engine car.. it might be a Cadillac especially given the price of such a car.
It makes more sense as a Cadillac. Period.
Also on auto line TV. Al Oppenheiser said there would never be a four cylinder Camaro.
If the front engine Corvette has the engine bay ahead of the cabin, and a rear engine vehicle has the engine bay behind the cabin, where is the “mid engine” located? Is it below the cabin floor?
Mid-engine is in front of the rear axle, rear-engine is located behind the rear axle.
As before…
To fit the terms of the word ‘Mid-engine’, the location of where the driver sits mean nothing.
It’s the engine’s location relative to the axles. That’s it.
Between the axles and towards the front; front mid-engined.
Between the axles and towards the rear; rear mid-engined.
Ahead of the front axle; front engined.
Behind the rear axle; rear engined.
Within this definition, the Corvette has been a front mid-engined car since the launch of the C4.
Been teased and taunted way too long about a mid-engined Vette. Shown spy shots of a mid-engined mule that will probably end up being Caddy’s flagship sports car. See concepts like the gorgeous Avista and cool Opel that probably won’t get built. Seen cars like the Fiero finally perfected by 1988 only to be axed. Now GM is allegedly going to power an outdated design by Delorean which should stay dead, sorry John. Somehow this leak is supposed to be timed with the Ford GT premiering at Daytona this weekend? You know, the competitors mid-engined GT we drooled over in 2005-06 that sold for around $150K and now sells for over $300K. Never mind the new GT beauty.
Tired of holding my breath for a mid-engined Vette GM. Just build it already, we know you can.
Quick question. Would GM keep a front engined less expensive variant available?
This car will a waste !!
Well this is what we know and please do not compare this to the Ford program as they went an odd direction on the present GT.
Yes Corvette people deny any knowledge of a program. What would you expect them to say if they are not ready to talk.
We do know there are protypes out there as we have clearly seen two. Once was the Ute and one was a new Malibu that has an engine in the back seat and new Corvette wheels on the back with a protruding Transaxle.
There was a third too but it was long ago when the Mid engine was originally planned as a C7 but was put off till GM go the money situation better in hand.
Cadillac has clearly stated they would love to share a Corvette mid engine platform but they could not possibly do one till 2025 at the earliest. They have too many other higher volume models to worry about that would bring much more to Cadillac as a Sports car is not really what they are known for.
We need to not compare this to the Ford GT. Ford went the high dollar and low volume path. Their car is over $400K sticker and will be made in such small numbers many of you will never even see one on the road.
Now the speculation
Word that has leaked out is this. The Corvette as it is has been taken about as far as they can go and a new platform is needed.
Word is GM is looking to replace the ZR1 that we never got a replacement for with a Mid Engine around $200K to start. It would be sold along side the C7 and over time would be offered in lower priced models as the cost of the car decline in materials and production cost.
I would expect the C8 over time to encompass AWD, Hybrid and other engines.
The new car while not high volume will not be limited to just a small number as the new Ford.
There has been word GM has been testing a new LT engine that has been reported over 1,000 HP and reliable. The problem has been getting the power to the ground. It was said GM will not sell a car that can not put all the power to the ground. Big numbers are cool but meaning less if engine management takes them all away.
Grawdaddy is correct that the Mid Engine is in between the axles and can be in front or behind the driver.
The advantage to the rear is better packaging. They can sit the driver lower, They can lower the CG of the car, They can lower the CD of the car with a lower profile. They can get the engine closer to the center of the chassis. They can make more interior room for the passengers. All of these are major changes that can move the Corvette into areas it still has not reached with the present car. Also they may be able to lower the weight depending on how the car is constructed.
The truth is this car was started per reports back around 2006-2007. It was delayed in the bail out and then shelved for the C7 to save time and money while GM was getting back on their feet. The C8 was restarted before we got the C7 again but they have been taking their time with it. This will not be an easy or cheap car to build and price but they feel they have a plan now and the ability to pull it off.
As I stated above GM is playing coy on this as they know we know some things and the Corvette has a history of keeping secrets but they also have a history of teasing the public in many ways.
Anyone remember the Camaro with the C5 under the skin. There have been other mules too over the years they hid in plain sight even with badges on them. Even the C7 was seen first with a CTS body on it.
The Malibu was a big tease and they went to lengths to let us know it was a Corvette with crossed flags on the tail and Ferrari tail lamps. This came around the time Ford started talking new GT.
I know some put it as a prank by someone but how many people would have the time or money to take a new Malibu put a mid engine in it and even put Ferrari tail lamps on it. This was not a cheap prank and I really do not see someone doing it and not bragging later. The Ute just confirmed they had progressed with the program. It also was not buy accident it was seen.
The last leak we had on the Corvette that was unplanned was the C7 drawing but that has been it.
The key to this is to watch for hints dropped by GM and do not expect Tadge to say much till later this year. He will be the last person to speak out on this so do not look to him for any info till GM is ready to go public.
We were not getting a lot of things like a Colorado, Blazer [that is coming], Turbo Camaro and many other models. These people are not going to say what they are working on this far out. Also plans change too.
I wish GM would stop leaking rumors about future products that may or may not be produced. What ever they are going to do don’t take forever to do it. Just do it quickly but do it right.
Vca
The fact is GM since the bail out has not done much in the way of leaks on many of their cars. How early did you see the Camaro? Even good shots of the mules were only a year before the release.
This is a done deal at this point unless something unforeseen happens like a stock market collapse etc.
GM has only leaked what they have to counter the news of the GT which is something GM and Ford both have done over the years. It is just a old Marketing ploy that works with cars and even politics based on what Trump is doing.
As for doing it quickly it will happen when the car is ready. You can not speed up the process and the fact is if you do you tend to screw it up or make it less than it should be. They should do it right or not at all and the only quick that they should need to worry about is 0-60.
The key to this car is to get it right and protect the entire market for the Corvette. They want to keep the Vette affordable but they also want to stretch the boundaries beyond what we have now profit and performance wise.
The market is really sizing up for a Mid engine that is $150K-250 K with the Acura and now the new Mclaren that is under $200K.
Expect GM and Chevy to really expand the Vette to cater to present segment as well as the higher priced segment that will produce more profits as well as a better car to race in IMSA at some point.
Note too Pratt and Miller also hinted that when asked if they would change to Mid Engine that they could build one very easy and they will for sure run what ever Chevy wants run. He never said their was no plans for a mid engine car.
don’t out price the corvette buyer with a price we cannot afford unless you only want to sell a few like the ford gt.
Sooooooo tired of the blah, blah, blah or should I say the bleet, bleet, bleet of the the blind following and prophesying sheep. THEY are the one’s who allow GM to perpetuate their vague BS. Sick of it, JUST BUILD IT..Too many possibilities, false promises and what if maybe’s. As I have said before, I have a cash in hand neighbor that wants a car like the Avista with a V8 and manual trans without the Caddy bling and price tag but more comfortable than a camaro. GM doesn’t get it, period…
If only making Billion Dollar decisions were as easy as a simple minded Just build it.
Everything I’ve seen so far including four valve OHC engine make me glad I’ve been priced out of the corvette market and have what I have. They just keep getting worse in looks with time and design and I sure as hell will never buy into those black wheels. http://tinyurl.com/z3v4sjs