The same team of General Motors engineers that helped make the C8 Corvette one of the best sports cars of the modern era is hard at work developing the automaker’s new electric and autonomous vehicles.
According to Inside EVs, certain members from the Corvette engineering wheelhouse have been moved from GM’s Global Products Programs division to its Autonomous and Electric Vehicles program team. The AV/EV team is led by Ken Morris, who previously served as GM’s vice president of product integrity from April 2014 to April2018 and vice president of global product programs from April 2018 to November 2019.
With this change, Corvette executive chief engineer Tadge Juechter will remain on the Corvette team, but Corvette chief engineer Ed Piatek has been reassigned as chief engineer for Future Product. Josh Holder, Corvette program engineering manager, will fill Piatek’s role.
“This move makes sense given that at least two Corvette C8 variants – E-Ray and Zora – will be electrified,” Alex Luft, executive editor, GM Authority, explains. “Work on the ICE-powered C8 variants is beginning to near completion as development of the E-Ray and Zora is starting, necessitating more of GM’s EV engineering talent.”
While electrified Corvette model variants are in GM’s future, the AV/EV team will also be leading the way on critical products like the Cadillac Lyriq crossover, GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV and Cruise Origin robotaxi, so GM will want its best and brightest engineers working on these projects in the near future, as well.
Of course, the Corvette team’s experience with high-performance vehicles will still pay dividends on certain EV projects. GM is looking to compete with the likes of Rivian and Tesla with its GMC Hummer EV and as a result, at least one model variant will have over 1,000 horsepower on tap and a 0-60 mph time that is faster than most supercars.
It’s also worth noting that the Corvette team has experience dealing with the latest iteration of GM’s electric architecture, Global B. This electrical foundation serves as a kind of central nervous system for the entire car and enables over-the-air software updates. Global B will also be found in future GM EVs, so this team’s experience working with the system will be extremely valuable.
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Comments
So is this good news? As in more performance across the board.
Or bad news? Like when GM closed their performance division in 2009 and reassigned the engineers…somewhere.
The article reads:
…”certain members from the Corvette engineering wheelhouse …
Certain members.
“
Yeah, sharing rides in an autonomous vehicle with strangers in the city looks like a great business plan in today’s world of Covid.
further proof Mary must go.
Great move by GM. EV’s can definitely use some better handling in most cases.
On a complete side note…
I wonder if this move will mean a future Camaro might actually happen now.
I still hold the view that if an all new Camaro does come out it will be an EV.
Maybe the Camaro SS V8 can continue with some updated interior and exterior designs and remain on current Platform for the Diehards.
If GM really does want to make a new Gen Camaro I just do not know what Platform they can possibly use.
Unless they use the current one and try to stretch it every which way they can.
Any inside info from anyone on this?
Hello! My name is Mr. Anthony Fox. I purchased a brand New 2020 Red CO8 Corvette!!!! I have some questions! I would appreciate if some one from your Engineering Team contact me ASAP at 1-843-697-9238
Thank you, Fox