Bob Lutz: C8 Corvette Will Cost A Little More Than C7
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Earlier this month, we brought you the exclusive news that the C8 Corvette had been delayed six months due to electrical issues. According to sources close to the matter, the mid-engine Corvette will likely make it debut in summer 2019. GM Authority can confirm that the vehicle will not be unveiled at any major auto show, but rather have its own standalone reveal.
Apart from its mid-engine setup, the price tag of the C8 Corvette has been a pretty popular topic of conversation. Back in September of this year, Bob Lutz was on Autoline saying that he thought the C8 would cost approximately $5,000 more than the C7 Corvette. Although Lutz said that he was out of the loop, it seems that he is far from being in the dark about the details surrounding the C8 mid-engine ‘Vette.
The MidEngine Corvette Forum published a snippet from Dec ’18/Jan ’19 issue of Road and Track, where Bob Lutz says that “the goal is to sell the C8, version for version, at a little more than the C7.”
This is great news, seeing as many have concluded a few months ago that the mid-engine Corvette would fall somewhere between the $60,000 to $70,000 range for an entry-level C8 MSRP. These figures include Don Sherman, formally of Car and Driver and now Hagerty, who felt it would cost around $65,000. And then there’s Automobile Magazine, predicting that it would be “around $56,000″.
Many people disagreed with those numbers with thoughts that those figures were almost too good to be true. Instead, they felt that the C8 Corvette would fall more around the $85,000 range, with some even going as far as saying $100,000.
In fact, former Chief Corvette Engineers Dave McLellan, Dave Hill, and Bob Wallace unanimously said that they believe the C8 Corvette will be priced at a much higher value than the aforementioned $60,000 to $70,000 range.
However, the recent statement from Bob Lutz seems to confirm the optimistic price range and indicate that the upcoming eigth-generation Corvette will cost just a fraction more than the C7. Along with the other reputable sources that were mentioned above, we can expect to see the starting price of an entry-level (with no options) 2020 mid-engine C8 Corvette for under $70,000.
As Bob Lutz said in his statement, “It will be the best value on the planet.”
Stay tuned to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Corvette news.
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Bob, tell us something we don’t know.
Several of us here have been saying this for a while.
Going mid engine is marginal to added cost. The reason cars like Ferrari cost so much is because they can charge it when they have more demand for the 3000 or less models 5he build a year.
The increase in cost will be more reflective of the additions of content like the new tranny and thinks like the GPS lifting front suspension and other features we do not have now.
Also the assumed to be complex more powerful turbo engine; not sure which additional content will be offered as standard equipment…
If Bob Lutz is correct and the base C8 Corvette will cost possibly as little as $70K; the C8 Corvette will be a wrecking ball to the entire exotic sports car market and sales of the C8 Corvette will be similar to that of the C7 Corvette when it was first introduced.
the current corvette outperforms many vehicles costing 2x as much right now. sales for those cars seem to be humming right along.
i think when you get into the $100K+ category, it isn’t all about speed. it is about the badge, exclusivity, design, interior, materials, etc … that have nothing to do with speed and performance.
corvettes are great but they are common. if i’m paying 6 figures for a car, i don’t want to be like everyone else but with a bigger engine.
It will be 70K to 200K for the 1000hp AWD hybrid version.
Just get me a manual, NA 5.5L flat plane crank version and I’ll be happy.
everyone is saying no manual. just dct.
The take rate on the manual Corvettes is still high relatively speaking and with annual volumes in the 25K+, they can offer both.
This isn’t the Ford GT with a 1200 unit total production.
GM can and have been building Corvetts that are as capable or more capable than cars costing sometime more than twice its price. Why can’t the do that with their other vehicles? Too many times GM’s other vehicles fall short in comparisons and even sometimes cost more than a comparable equipped competitor. It seem they have the capability to do better but lacking in desire.
Just this one mans openion again but I think they are more interested is making money for their investors than making desireable vehicles for their customers. The problem I see with that is when your customer base drie up how are you going to make money for your investors. As a matter of fact the making money for investors don’t seem to working out too well. Their stock prices are pretty stagnant and have been for sometime even before stock market took a hit.
VCAT,
But GM isn’t making money for investors. Remember the bankruptcy? VW, MB, BMW, Toyota are far more profitable than GM in all metrics. And the valuation and stock price are in the tank.
Love that people downvote because you reminded them that GM is not a great company as far as profitability is concerned.
Maybe they thought you said their kids sucks.
T V,
Some people can’t handle facts or want to face the truth. Lol
I live in the real world and call it as I see it whether good or bad.
what do vw, bm, bmw, toyota have in common when it comes to plants in america? no unions.
Bob White
I did say making money on investors. What I meant to say they were attempting to make money for investors. They are trying to show investor what a profitable company they are in hope that investors drive up their stock prices. I also said it’s not working too well in the paragraph below.
As a matter of fact the making money for investors don’t seem to working out too well. Their stock prices are pretty stagnant and have been for sometime even before stock market took a hit.
I also said that’s just my openion and you know what they say about opinions. On that note I am going to add another one. I think they would have been better served by spending some of that profit on designing and producing desireable vehicles that are second to none and equipping them like or better than their competitors for the same or a slightly lower price.
Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2018/12/bob-lutz-c8-corvette-will-cost-a-little-more-than-c7/#ixzz5awFcrUi5
GM is trying to convince the stock market it is a technology company with its EV and self driving cars because they believe that is what people are investing in not car companies
Motorman,
It has worked for Tesla which has a 12B higher valuation than GM last time I looked.
Bert
Tesla’s parent company already had a reputation for being an innovator. Tesla itself was ahead of anything else out ther as far as electric cars go. That’s most likely made people feel confotable in investing in Tesla.
GM needed to convince people it could produce world class cars before venturing off into other thing. They didn’t do that. So if you can’t be a leader in your core products how do you convince me that you can lead in your new field. That’s is most likely what make people less like to invest in GM.
tesla is making money now by selling its $35K model 3 for $75K. what happens when it as to sell at $35K ??
who says they have to sell it at $35K? just because musk promised it, doesn’t mean he has to deliver.
a lot of those people who put down the $1000 deposit were told it would sell for $35K and expecting to get the $7500 tax credit. the model 3 costs a lot more than $35K and the $7500 tax credit is gone.
Isn’t being wrong fun? Lowest price one is $46K and they’re giving you $$$ if you don’t receive the $7500 federal credit for a net of $38,500 before state/local incentives…You’re point remains that the $35K 3 does not exist, yet it CAN be had for nearly half of what you quoted at $75K…
Yeah, Isn’t it fun being wrong? That $$$ if you don’t receive the 7.5k in tax credit was for buyers who where already promised delivery by 12/31 in case there where manufacture or delivery problems. It is no longer in effect, not that that brings the price anywhere near the $75k, but it’s also $3,750 higher than the $38,500 you quoted at $42,250.
motorman,
They have launched the more expensive models first and will be introducing the 35K version in 2019 which will still be eligible for the rebate.
If you’re insinuating that the car isn’t profitable. It is. Tesla did turn a profit last quarter despite their huge infrastructure spending.
Tesla is a wonderful car, but they where only profitable on paper by creative accountants. Not that that’s wrong, what is wrong is the insinuation that base model buys will be eligible for a full credit. The credit for the base model (or any Tesla) will only be $1,875 starting July 1st.
Ultimately, the company will prove itself in the coming year.
Go drive one, you won’t care about the credit as there’s nothing like it. I’ve driven all brands. Tesla absolutely dominates the electric car market.
unless they use exotic materials like carbon fiber for the body like the ford GT there is no good reason it should cost more than the C-7 for the base model.
And unless they use exotic materials like the McLaren 720, Ferrari 488… they will never be able to offer a complete performance package to compete against these high end cars. Keep in mind, that it’s a moving target and the others continue to move up. Having said that, the C8 should still be a decent car for the money.
“exotic materials like carbon fiber”
Oh dear! How exotic indeed that dreadful carbon fiber! It’s only been used in production sports cars for almost 30 years now. It’s too new and untested. ?
You’re acting like GM should never use it’s premier sports car as a technological display of lightweight materials that would otherwise make the C8 that much more bleeding edge. I’d be very disappointed if the C8 didn’t use carbon fiber at all.
MSRP be damned, this car needs to reach for the stars, not get bogged down by bean counters.
Carbon fiber is so C7.
Body materials will be based on price.
You want faster how much do you want to spend.
I think you’re all crazy. This car might start around $80 but it’s going to go up from there very quickly. Might, might, might, might, might, might start there. But it could well start even higher.
I think there will be good reasons for jump in price, but if for no other reason GM will charge more because they CAN, or at least I expect they think they can. If it’s the hit I hope it is, dealers are going to gouge the crap out of people for the early part of this car’s life, too.
It’s not like I’ve never been wrong, but this isn’t the only thing that’s been bantered about here that’s not accurate as of late. But we’ll see.
That’s all I’ve got to say on the topic. All any of us are doing is guessing. 🙂
Not to be rude, but those are pictures of the C8.R racecar built by Pratt & Miller, too–not the production car.
How the heck would he know???
Looks like a made in China Ferrari knock off.
One of the most iconic American cars ever built is about to get better. Regardless of the cost, it will sell well and put smiles on the folks faces who drive them. Nitpick all you want, but this car is going to be fun to drive and own.