Mid-Engine Corvette Will Not Debut At 2019 Detroit Auto Show
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Those who were anticipating the official debut of the all-new C8 mid-engine Corvette at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit will have to wait a little longer.
When reaching out for official comment, we were told that there’s nothing planned from the Chevrolet car or crossover team. The news is rather deflating, as the premise of a mid-engine Corvette debut at the last North American International Auto Show in January would have seen the event go out with a bang. But now with no mid-engine Corvette, and several withdrawals from multiple automakers – mostly European luxury brands – the 2019 North American International Auto Show will go out with a whimper.
Look for Cadillac to debut the 2020 XT6 crossover, which will likely be the sole GM debut during next month’s auto show. Other debuts will include the all-new Toyota Supra, 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, 2020 Ford Explorer, and perhaps a tease of the new Ford Bronco. The 2020 Ram HD and Ram TRX are also rumored to debut.
At this point, look for the debut of the mid-engine Corvette to happen either at the 2019 New York Auto Show, or during an event all its own sometime between January and springtime. From a historical standpoint, the New York Auto Show would be a nice fit, as the original 1953 Corvette originally made its world debut in The Big Apple that year during GM’s annual Motorama event.
What’s been a pipe dream for decades, the C8 mid-engine Corvette is expected to break new ground, reach new audiences, and achieve new levels of capability for the Corvette nameplate. Aside from the obvious changes in configuration, we expect the mid-engine Corvette to integrate a DOHC V8 engine design over a traditional Small Block pushrod V8, likely related to the new Cadillac Blackwing LTA V8 engine. We’re also expecting the integration of a quick-shifting dual-clutch transmission, as evident by spy videos and patent filings. A clutch-by-wire patent also implies that there may be a manual transmission, though it also implies that human-machine connection would be significantly buffered out. Lastly, names such as Manta Ray, GT, and Zora have all be rumored to variants of the mid-engine Corvette.
Stay tuned to GMAuthority as we continue to break the latest mid-engine Corvette news, and news on all other GM products as they happen.
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MORE failures from the lady that is pretending to be CEO at GM.
Anyone have a betting line on when Machete Mary is going to be dumped? We should open one if it doesn’t exist now.
I’ve been saying for 2 weeks if you watch rick conti he has been clear even New York is out of the picture due to a engineering delay. It’s will be either a stand alone event sometime after New York and LA next year
Engineering aside, if it’s a physical piece of good news (despite mechanical & engineering issues), not sure why GM wouldn’t trot it out in Det or NY.
Something positive from GM? Overdue.
Could it be the whole program has been cancelled along with the cancellation of the Camaro? Chevrolet only needs pickups and crossovers. Oh yeah, there’s also the Tahoe and Suburban. Let’s hope Trump doesn’t cancel GM’s government fleet program.
GM is going global with this car and needs the event with the highest world profile legs. Detroit is not what it used to be and with so many companies not being there a lot of press will pass on it.
This is the biggest premier since the 1963 Vette and it needs to be given the intro it deserves.
As for production delays or cooling issues that is not an issue as generally vehicles are shown 6 months out from production and the media is not always behind the wheel. Those kind of issue if true would be resolved by production and test drives.
It will be interesting to see what they are doing here.
As for the news at GM we have plenty to look forward to. Just because some folks here just do not look big picture does not spoil the future.
Note not saying it is this event but just something to consider. Paris is the event that hold the greatest world media coverage and generally is the jumping off point for most of today’s super cars as well as many from the past. While we may not think much about this show in America it is where the world looks to.
The media in America will go where ever for the Corvette but GM has to go to the world media for the rest of the world.
Ferrari. Mclaren, Lambo etc all go there for the media.
But … Corvette’s main market is the US. GM’s been getting hammered in the press and @ the NYSE.
And NY is (self appointed) media capitol of the world.
So – crazy idea – they could unveil it @ GM House (formerly known as Cadillac House). Invitation only. Then show it to the gen’l public @ the NYAS.
Crazy, I know. But GM could use some positivity, domestic press-wise; sooner the better.
Ya, I know it’s not an EV or AV, but if it’s poised to compete with the new 911, or even shows GM has a pulse, NY makes some sense.
The new market is global. The news here is easy to spread the American press will go anywhere to cover this not the international press that they need to cover this.
Time will resolve the lay off deal as new models come and new jobs are added with them.
NYC is a good show here but globally it is a blip on the map.
Automakers need to think global to survive anymore as single markets will not support limited volume models anymore.
Again big picture. Doing things the old way no longer work.
It’s not an old school/new school thing.
NY media is the world’s media center.
You can skip the NYAS, but unless NY media covers Paris or (better yet) Geneva, crickets.
So do a pre-showing @ GM House, if the mid-engine is special, it starts momentum that leads into Europe.
I wouldn’t count on French or Swiss media, or even BBC to do the heavy lifting, media wise.
gm going global………..
LOL
Best joke this year!
Why has no one mentioned the Race to Daytona event? Chevrolet announced the SS there along with the new Nascar platform at the time. My guess would be that they announce the Production and Race variants there in preparation for the next IMSA season
I had considered this but races are too much distraction.You want the focus on the car.
Got my NYC show tix last week, so it had better show up there!
Probably Chicago debut along with the 2020 HD’s
Waiting for GM to get product to market is like watching a glacier crawl down a mountain!
Geneva Auto Show March 2019 – That’s the world stage for sports cars. This will be the no leaf springs, no excuses competitor to European mid-engined exotics. The C8 Grand Sport with the DOHC V8 could debut in Dubai because with 850 HP, it will go after McLaren/Ferrari customers. All speculation on my part, obviously. My question is, will that leaked CT5 Coupe design make it into production? If not, the future looks dim for Cadillac. Their mid-engined car could certainly look better than the C8, but how has the 570GT been selling?
A $200k halo won’t save Cadillac if the sedans and coupe(s) all disappear.
Selfish case in point: Regardless that the XT5 outsells blah blah blah, I have zero desire own anything that is not a proper coupe or sedan (aka “car”). A $50ish-k lux-sportscoupe such as the CT5 Coupe leak – that is absolutely perfect for me, especially if there is a V variant of it that I can legitimately aspire to if not go for broke and pick up. However, there is no universe where I can justify a $150-200k car… and I’m sure as hell not buying a crossover I don’t want just because the same brand also just happens to make said halo car.
However, everything else you said -specifically Geneva- is dead-nuts on.