Katech has a long history with the Corvette nameplate. Before General Motors scooped up the division for its own, it long dealt with engineering and engines for the Corvette Racing programs.
Therefore, that makes this news very intriguing.
Notably, Katech has provided possible powertrain details, horsepower ratings and an availability on its website. Motor Authority caught a screenshot of the page before the powers at be quickly removed it from the site map. The image shown is the same image we captured during a design interview with former Vice President of GM Global Design, Ed Welburn.
The page stated a 2018 introduction for the ZR1/Zora (both names that have since been trademarked by GM), mid-engine Corvette, along with information on its LT5 V8 engine.
Of course, nothing is concrete. Only those in the know, actually know what’s being planned for America’s sportscar.
We’ve previously laid out why we feel a mid-engine Corvette is coming sooner rather than later, and you can check all the evidence out right here. In the meantime, this only douses gasoline on the fire that is a mid-engined Corvette.
Comments
Katech is way ahead on this.
Pratt and Miller has already been asked about mid engine and did not say one was not coming and made it clear they will be able to compete with what ever they are given.
GM has been dropping hints in many places of late. I suspect they are stepping this up as the GT program has been making news and GM is just countering it.
Note the Holden Ute Mule photos popped just before the GT appeared in Detroit.
It is going to be fun in the next year as we will be seeing more hints.
The LT5 would make sense as GM often will intro a car and not the new engines at the same time. Now I do expect more engine choices in the future.
The real question is once the coupe appears how long till the convertible appears.
There will be some real surprises here as GM has been working on this car for along time and will finally get what they want.
I really hope none of this is true, and it’s actually a Cadillac. Cadillac needs a halo car, the C7 isn’t old and this would make the Corvette more expensive and complicated.
But when have we done anything logical at GM?
Chris it has been made clear by Cadillac management [JDM] that they hold interest in such a car but it would be 2025 before they could budget and allocate the man power to do it.
Besides Cadillac needs to better perfect their other products before they worry about a halo car that would be very expensive that would sell in the hundreds.
To be honest what GM is doing now is logical and according to their income very profitable at that.
They must be doing something right.
Halo cars do you no good if you do not have all your profitable products in place first.
We don’t know for sure if the C7 will be replace right away once the C8 model is introduced. As far as we know, it could be a ’20 model that could start production in early to mid part of ’19.
Yes this one is a tough call as I have heard it was looked at both ways. Of late I have heard of a $70K version of the Mid Engine but still can’t confirm anything other than Mid Engine is on the way.
There has always been strong talk of the Stingray being around a couple years yet but again no confirmation.
Go to corvetteblogger and you will see a picture of these LT5 engine. it will be a new supercharger, gen 5 small block v8 engine, with a DCT (I think) transmission behind it
I would not count the photo too much here as it is just some artist guess.
After spending so much time and money on the present trans axle I would expect it in the new car. It is faster and lighter and I expect cheaper to keep the price down to where they can make the car similar priced to today’s car.
While this car may be mid engined and expected to out run the GT it will be much much cheaper. This is a car that will be expected to sell in volume not just a few hundred.