The internet remains abuzz with speculation surrounding one of General Motors’ most-anticipated projects: a mid-engine Corvette. Known as the C8 Corvette, or Corvette Zora, we know it will have its engine mounted in the middle of the car, but everything else is largely unknown.
Automobile recently took a stab at speculating the C8 Corvette, and the report details a potential starting price of $65,000. In the report, the publication also notes that starting price is the low side of things; it also says a starting price of $95,000 is possible. Grains of salt must be taken.
Production schedules are floated, too. If the report turns out to be true, the C8 Corvette will debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show and enter production near the end of next year as a 2019 model. What happens to the C7 Corvette? Production and sales of the two cars will reportedly go on side-by-side for at least one year.
That nugget of info actually has some merit. The Bowling Green assembly plant, where the Corvette is built, recently shut down to install an all-new production line. The new equipment will be flexible and capable of producing a wider range of things. The old line dated back to the start of C5 Corvette production. The plant has also suspended public tours of the facility, which may mean secretive things are going on inside that curious eyes are forbidden to see.
We’ll likely know more as we gear up for auto show season in North America. In the meantime, Chevrolet also has another hot Corvette in the works: the C7 Corvette ZR1. How much power will it have? The figure will start with a seven, reports say.
Comments
I don’t believe that lower price. As exciting as an affordable mid engine Corvette is, it’s also a bit disappointing they wouldn’t take it upscale and start where the currentZ06 and soon to be ZR1 top out. And keep making the front engine corvette along side.
$95-140k is a good range. With $140k being a awd hybrid.
The $65k might too high. GM has a hard time selling all of the BG annual ~30k average production at the current $45k base price. The location of the engine in the chassis is almost irrelevant to the ongoing costs of production. The only cost differences between the C7 and the C8 will the different, more expensive trans-axle, a different radiator connection and the omission of a drive shaft. We are used to seeing midengine layouts only in Exotics, but look at the MR2. VOLUME and parts EOQ drives the costs which drives the Pricing.
I will be pleasantly SHOCKED if the C8 debuts at the 2018 NAIAS. There has been significant investment in the C7 ZR1 including MANY Nurburgring runs, but it has yet to be introduced. It would be a very stupid Marketing move to introduce the new King of Corvette Performance, the ZR1, next to a completely new, ground up C8. It would reduce the PR by half and result in the two fighting each other in the marketplace. Also, we have NOT seen any C8 prototypes at the Ring yet. If we don’t see a C8 there VERY soon, everyone is off a year on the C8 debut. The C8 will be debuted at the 2019 NAIAS.
But then… why install a new production line 2 years ahead of introduction? That does not make sense…
Unless the new mid-engined car is not a Corvette but a Cadillac? And tests have been going on at another location in disguise?
You don’t count well Mr. Belgium, it’s more like 12-14 months and this is a completely new Assembly line. The new production line will be finished this fall and will exclusively produce C7s at first to more easily get the bugs out of the new line and the new paint shop. By using the “known product – the C7” will assure all is flowing well with the same or better assembly quality and (hopefully) much better paint than ever before. This could take a few months, or more depending upon how well the new line was designed.
The new C8 is ground-up new and will require a LOT of development – MUCH more than normal new model development is required. This includes the Assy process. Making certain that the Mid engine will go together as anticipated. They will start with some “early” production models that will be tested and not sold. They have done this with the start up of the C6 and the C7. There will be several months of tweaking the details based on what they find in the “early” production C8s. The Assembly line will be adjusted for the changed/new parts resulting from the testing and maybe, around the first of 2018 production can start for C8 while it is debuting at NAIAS.
The C8 development MUST include real world driving (with cammo of course) and there WILL be spy shots and even personal phone sitingings. We have seen none of this as yet. The C8 WILL LOG MANY LAPS AT THE NURBURGRING. GM does this now with Cadillacs, every Camaro and even a Malibu was reported there once. This revolutionary Corvette is FAR too important not to be fine tuned at the Ring. The C6 was as was the C7. All in various layers of cammo. The only question is will those laps be after or before a NAIAS introduction. They could show it with the ZR1 at 2017 NAIAS but why would they do that? Makes no sense. Hope I’m wrong. We’ll see.
I hope I’m wrong but the time lines
You lost me at “current $45k base price”
I stand corrected Andrew, the base price of the C7 has crept up to $55k.
Two things can happen here in my opinion.
1) the mid engine goes up market and the the “corvette” brand offers multiple variants such as mid engine variants and front engine variants.
2) the mid engine vette goes up 10-15 K from the stingray and goes up from there and the next gen Camaro ZL1 Z28 takes the stingrays place, even though performence figures already surpass those
Let’s be honest the Camaro engineers have made the Camaro a world class car and in terms of performence im not sure how much higher they can go without eating vette sales
Inherent components of the definition of Corvette’s 60+year success are 1) “Performance Value” 2) “Afordability”
Can they really execute your #2 successfully? I think not. GM requires an average production volume near 30k units to sustain Bowling Green AND the current pricing. If the number of units goes way down, the price goes way up. The sports car market is somewhat lean today and a 44% increase in price WILL have a long term negative impact on the number of units that can be sold (the first year’s production will always sell out for a new gen Corvette). At a base price of $65k, most vettes sold will be in the $70-75k range. This is the price range that lead to the cancellation of a very good Viper model and a very good XLR due to lack of sales. If GM marketing has decided to take the Vette up market, I fear for an icon that has been in my heart for many decades.
Yes Camaros such as the ZL1 are price chasing Vettes, but keep in mind the fact that very few of those are sold. Those are Halo models for bragging rights that enable sales of a LOT of SS models. Ford does exactly the same thing with Mustang. However, the SS models start at $37k, so the Vette needs to start around $50k IMO. Options might take both up quickly, but I think this makes the most marketing sense and will deliver balanced sales.
Guess anything can happen,
Wrecking ball as this will devastate the exotic mid-engine sports car business because why would anyone pay over $200K for what is supposed to be an exclusive market when you can get almost the same thing down at the local Chevrolet dealership for under half the price.
One can imagine Chevrolet being able to sell as many mid-engine C8 Corvette vehicles as the current C7 Corvette or over 2,000 units per month and maybe near 4,000 units in the first couple of months because this isn’t just a new model year, this is a completely new Corvette.
You said it yourself, exclusive. I think it was Frank Sinatra that said “you buy a Ferrari when you’re trying to be somebody. You buy a Lamborghini when you are somebody “. The person shopping for $250k Italian super car won’t care about the corvette, and the corvette has its own customer too. A more likely scenario is the used Ferrari buyer might opt for a new C8
This is for the comment two above this one referencing no need for $200k vehicles. Those that currently spend $200K will continue to do so. It’s already known that the current Corvette offers the best bang for the buck. Mid-engine is nothing new. If you use your analogy, there would be no need for high priced cars in any segment.
Consumers willing and able to pay 200k plus for a mid engine exotic aren’t making their purchase decisions based on bargains at the local Chevy dealership.
“why would anyone pay over $200K for what is supposed to be an exclusive market when you can get almost the same thing down at the local Chevrolet dealership for under half the price.”
At $200K, no Chevrolet at that price come standard with any clout. 😉
People who habitually buy $200K sports cars don’t care about the C8, they won’t care about the C8 when it’s released, and they still won’t care when they get dusted by a C8 ZR1 on the highway.
No matter how great the C8 becomes, the bowtie doesn’t carry any weight in their eyes.
I don’t see a bowtie anywhere on my Grand Sport.
Just like I don’t see a Honda emblem on an Acura, a Nissan logo on an Infiniti, or a Toyota oval on a Lexus.
But I understand your point. Some of those people caught up in the ‘cachet of what they drive’ will only see bowtie instead of viewing the Vette as a world class sports car.
Gotta leave room for the Cadillac version, but that lower price is unrealistic and not aspirational.
Well what I remember from 2 years ago
It was said the mid engine would share as much as possible with the C7. And it would be sold along side of the C7.there was talk of it having the same main structure (cockpit)
Front end and rear end.
That the mid engine layout would allow lighter weight and lower center of gravity..
So in a sense a C7.2. Lol
I think GM might be looking to do a sub brand with the vette.. not a bad idea . Time will tell
I remember that fake rumor. It does not stand up to scrutiny. Certainly, some of the cockpit interior components could be shared, but the front cradle is far too large and longer than the front of the C8 Prototypes we’ve seen. It would also not need to be as beefy because no engine up front. The 7 rear cradle would be WAY too short and too light duty for a C8 engine and trans axle – said transaxle will have unique space requirements. Total cost and weight of the two cradles could/should be the same for both assuming the same EOQ.
The tire / wheel sizing will be different from the C7 with slimmer tires up front and even wider tires out back than currently used – a long established fact of the best handling mid engine cars.
This will require different dimensions for all of the A Arms on the C8 versus the C7.
The change in the distribution of the weight will mandate a change in springs and shocks.
On it goes. From an engineering standpoint, other than some / much (?) of the cockpit interior parts , just about every other part on the C8 will necessarily be unique. Not cost more than C7 parts, but like the C7 parts, unique. Definitely NOT a C7.2. I PRAY they do not use the same FUGLY C7 rear fascia and taillights (unlikely). The prototypes show exhausts at the rear corners, not in the middle.
I expect the price to be just under $70k in the high sixties to start.
Just because the engine is in the back does not have to make the car more expensive, they already use a transaxle and that is often the highest cost area.
GM could overlap models mostly for the Convertible. But in two years or less I expect the C7 to vanish as they will it live with two models for long if ever.
The myth of the base car in the High $40’s is just that a myth. Few base cars are ever built and sold. Right now the average price is around $70k with the large number of Grans Spirts sold.
Even back in the early 80’s a base car was seen.
The base car will be 70k to 100k and we will see special models reaching to 200k as they will offer more high tech things including more carbon fiber.
This is not a car that is going to Canbalize other brands But it will bring repeat Corvette buyers and will create new buyers to the segment.
GM has the Volume advantage the others can not play. Volume does not hurt the Corvette like the others. This helps keep the price down.
Ferrari has a greater dependence on exclusive low volume models that require a higher price to survive.
Flexible enough to build a front, mid-engine and a killer SUV. If well executed, an SUV could easily outsell the cars 3 to 5:1. Do it GM. the market is dying for it.
Over 60% of Porsche volume is from SUVs and it helps finance car R&D.
Yes but Chevy already has an extensive SUV line unlike Porsche.
No need to duplicate a Chevy SUV that we already have or could just be a Chevy anyway.
Two companies with two totally different situations they are in.
Just make the Chevy SUV a SS and print money.
Porsche has the highest profit per vehicle of any volume manufacturer in the industry and over 60% of their sales comes from SUVs. GM or Chevrolet do not make performance SUVs. That’s where Corvette comes in.
Sorry, but a pick-up truck ladder frame with a noisy exhaust, solid axle and 22″ rims does not cut it. Lol
I agree with Jack wood – The Tahoe chassis would make a HORRIBLE Corvette SUV. There is no current GM SUV sold in the US that could successfully transition into a Corvette SUV. However, GM does make an SUV based on the Colorado in other countries. Swap the steel ladder frame for an aluminum frame, with AL A-arms and drop an LT engine in it and…maybe, just maybe it could be tuned to be a Corvette. However, unless GM plans to build a Chevy/GMC Colorado SUV in the US, I don’t see how this could possibly be feasible. Porsche SUVs are based on MUCH higher volume VW SUV so a LOT of their costs are absorbed by the sister division.
All of this money and development, then gets beaten by a Tesla at the strip. Lol
B,
Don’t worry, an AWD high performance hybrid is in the works and it won’t be limited to a measly 155mph like the Teslas. Lol
This is a car that will be entirely electric within a decade, too bad you guys can’t see that.
How about we meet in Daytona for the 24 hr race and just see who shows the way in class.
If Chevy makes a hybrid C8 Corvette inspired by the Porsche 918 Spyder then drag racing a Tesla will not be a problem.
Tesla already has the next gen roadster being readied for production. Their first ground up sports car. The first roadster was a Lotus chassis. 0-60 under 2 seconds and 1/4 mile under 10 seconds is promised. The efficiency and torque of newer electric motors is evolving quickly. There will be no reason to buy ICE cars. The fact that we’re comparing a family sedan with million dollar sports cars proves my point.
You can’t build a “real” sports car without a significant breakthrough in battery tech. Fast in a straight line and well over 5000lbs does not make a sports car. And 100 mile range like the original is just an expensive boat anchor when the juice runs out.
Looks like you are drunk on “the Kool Aid”.
Drunk of “the Kool Aid”? Looks like you’re drunk on the “dinosaur juice”. Battery technology is growing 5-10% per year. Can you say that about ICE technology? The major advancements recently in ICE technology is the addition of turbos, superchargers, and hybrids, YES electric! The block itself is pretty much maxed out. The Model 3 weight is 3550-3800+ and the next gen roadster will weigh considerably less with aluminum frame and panels. Probably less than the Corvettes current weight of 3300-3600. Regarding mileage, Tesla performance sedans all exceed 300 mile range. Close to a Corvette tank of gas.
I would love to see Chevrolet build both a RWD and a mid-engine Corvette. GM has all the technology to build a great RWD Corvette and an upscale mid-engine model and priced well below all the exotics with all the performance.
The article by Automobile was nothing more than pure speculation based upon zero fact.
The Corvette Action Center broke news about the mid-engine Corvette back in June:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/gm-approves-c8-mid-engine-corvette-for-2019/
No more reliable than the report that the C7 & C8 will share front and rear cradles. Does not withstand any scrutiny or analysis. Ferrari and Lamborghini buyers would never consider spending similar $$ on a Corvette – or a Cadillac for that matter. Viper made some VERY high performing models, but died of sales starvation at a price about equivalent to the C6 ZR1 – which also sold in very low volume.
I still think any mid engine car will be sold as a Cadillac…no reason to bring back Cadillac racing like they did without a car to sell…
I’m looking at a C8 part right now… The Cadillac name is nowhere to be found.
FACT: Chevrolet VP of Product development said almost two years ago, and I quote: “The mid engine Corvette is real. It’s happening.”
At some point down the road, a sister Cadillac (ala C6 / XLR) might appear in Cad show rooms, but NO CADILLAC WILL EVER OUT PERFORM THE TOP CORVETTE PRODUCED. I think that is stamped into the foundation at the GM HQ building in Detroit. 😉
Hope the new mid engine car is a Cadillac. It will be priced too high for the average person to own. This will reduce sales so the Corvette will no longer have the huge following that it does. The Corvette is the best performing car for the cost in the world….don’t screw this up!
Honda csme out with the new NSX mid engine hybrid. It cost $160k and up to $260k. Their plan was 8/day production and are already down to 2/day because of lack of interest, even during this good economy.
GM do you want to have the Corvette a little known halo car with no sales?
The NSX was never a volume car and was always double the price of the Corvette. They did a great job with the NSX. The Challenge for the Corvette team is to make the Vette more desirable but keep it achievable.
Will it have an AWD options to compete with the 911 and be able to drive it in the snow belt climates? Corvettes have alway been stored for the winter months here because they don’t drive well in the snow and ice conditions. Porsche 911s are driven in the winter months here in Minnesota.
Yes electrification is a part of all upcoming supercars and most sports cars and AWD is needed for ultra performance. Having said this, even AWD sports cars with their low air dams, skirts and wide tires and snow equivalent, none are great choices in areas with substantial snow and ice.
Lots of cheap used cars to use as beaters. To me, it doesn’t make sense to subject 100K+ cars to salt and road dirt and people who can’t drive despite the vehicles capability.
That price would be wonderful, even with my employee discount, well I see they have built 3 so far at the Warren Tech Center!
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2017/10/12/road-track-video-mid-engine-c8-corvettes-driving-highway/
il believe it when i see a mod engine, ,100,000 would be my guess unless they went with that configuration for all Corvettes. Then if say , 61,000