Here’s some “breaking” (pun fully intended) news for the day: our spy was following a prototype of the mid-engine Corvette C8 today, and witnessed the vehicle break down.
As it was undergoing testing, the Corvette C8 pulled into a Speedway gas station with no apparent issues. After engineers returned to the vehicle, the prototype would not start.
After spending half an hour trying to start the vehicle, engineers proceeded to cover it up and waited for support.
That support came shortly thereafter in the form of a red K2 GMC Sierra 3500HD with a Chevron wrecker kit. GM’s own wrecker then proceeded to tow the Corvette C8 prototype back to GM’s Milford Proving Grounds as it was still wearing the black vehicle cover.
We are not privy to what went wrong during today’s tests, and whether it was the electrical issue that GM Authority was first to report on several months ago, or something else entirely. But we feel responsible to note that things like this are normal during a vehicle’s development phase. In fact, this is the entire point of testing in the first place – to find any bugs and solve them before launching the vehicle into series production. That said, today’s event does tell us that the car is being actively developed… and testing isn’t finished just yet.
But at least we got to see the Corvette C8 with a car cover. Even covered up, the future Corvette looks substantial.
Rumor has it that the mid-engine Corvette C8 will go into production in December 2019, and that the base variant will continue using the Stingray name, much like the the current Corvette C7.
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Comments
To bad the “spy” photographer didn’t need to get gas. It would have been a good opportunity to see what is in the frunk. I know I would have. At least this time it was a GM tow truck and not a Ford tow truck.
We tried, but they covered it up very quickly.
Meanwhile…
NAGOYA, Japan — Toyota Motor plans to invest nearly $13 billion in the U.S. over the five years through 2021, $3 billion more than previously pledged, as it boosts production there in a nod to President Donald Trump’s push to boost American manufacturing.
— Nikkei Asia Review
Maybe they can start paying Union Wages then like our Big Three.
At least the tow truck matches those red seatbelts.
Alex, even more bad news out for China in addition to all the bad news out of GM. With GM’s gamble in China, you kind of have to admit it is looking rather bleak right now for GM. Do you still support a buy for GM stock given all these stories pouring out?
EXCERPT FROM NIKKEI ASIA REVIEW and REUTERS
No end in sight to China’s economic slowdown
MARCH 15, 2019
Recovery in investment unable to offset industrial output at 10-year low
Falling production in the country, including for cars, has hurt employment and consumption.
BEIJING — China’s economy shows no signs of bottoming out as industrial output expands at the weakest pace in a decade and the highest unemployment rate in two years prompts consumers to tighten their belts.
Manufacturing figures for each product paint a more vivid picture. Production of the two pillars of Chinese industry — cars and cellphones — sank 15% and 12%, respectively, from a year earlier. Electricity generation rose just 3%, the smallest increase since March 2018.
…
Interesting that one of the test drivers is looking under the front hood rather than the rear for the problem. Also interesting is that both test drivers appear to be female which is atypical.
The battery should be behind the frunk, similar to lots of mid-engine cars and newer Porsches. There’s probably a fuse box in that area, too.
Now that I think about it, it is unusual to see two females testing a car together, especially outside of a convoy. However, It’s great to see women in a seemingly male-dominated field….
How funny would it be if one of those women were Mary? She’d never live that down!
Z/28, we don’t need your (or omegaton’s) Patrick. Too obvious there Social Justice Warriors. We are quite capable without the male cheering crowd. Hopefully some day the world will only look at
As a female, I am not overly impressed with Mary Barra. Much like the company she helms that seems to not be doing well these days, these women are suddenly driving the C8 and voila, it BREAKS! We never saw women before and the C8 never seemed to be towed before.
First time the car craps out and it was when two women were driving it? Coincidence?
Lol
Not as embarrassing as the truck at the hockey game. This is why they test them.
The truck didn’t break down, the driver accepted a remote update in which the vehicle reported the truck wouldn’t start while being updated. After the update finished the truck started and pulled off the rink. The hood was never popped, they just waited it out.
Now if it were a manual, they could’ve tried to push start it. Who says automatics are better?
This car has been spotted since 2017. I hope the design is outstanding to be unveiled almost in 2020.
A 3-year-long development time, plus six months of delay, give or take. Not at all different from other models, so no reason the design will be anything but great.
Surprised it was ‘hook’ towed. Should have been a flatbed.
Interesting how Ford developed the GT in total secrecy then blew everyone away with its launch. I’ve never heard of any issues w either the latest model or the earlier one.
GM has been driving this around for over a year and it’s needing to be towed…. can’t way for this…. GM is dying…
“GM dying”… Hardly. GM is still vital and important to the future of vehicular mobility.
From what I’ve read Multimatic did most of the development and builds the GT not Ford. That is how they were able to keep it a secret. It will be interesting to see how the Multimatic GT does compared to the mid engine.
Xjung you are so full of it with your negativity, that it’s not even funny.
Development of a car does not and has never influenced its commercial success. Get real brah.
All those Audi’s and Lamborghini’s that caught fire during testing have clearly ruined VWG; even with dieselgate.
If you were any more full of trash, you’d be a dumping ground of baseless and emotionally-driven, unsubstantiated hyperbole.
With Tesla announcing Model Y crossovers around $60K, capable of 0-60 in mid 3’s, which is quicker than the current base Corvette, it will be hard to get excited unless Chevy launches a true supercar with the C8.
But even a supercar needs enormous visceral appeal to succeed these days — look at the largely forgotten Nissan GT-R. Hope this breakdown is not indicative of more gremlins and further delays…