Often referred to as America’s sports car, the Chevy Corvette is considered by many as the epitome of American performance. That being said, it may be odd to some that crosstown-rival Ford doesn’t offer a competitor to GM’s halo vehicle. Now, according to Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr., the Blue Oval doesn’t need a Vette rival.
As reported by GM Authority sister-publication Ford Authority, the sheer amount of testing Ford has performed on C8 Stingray and C8 Z06 variants might indicate that the Blue Oval is considering fielding a Corvette rival; maybe even reviving the dormant Thunderbird nameplate. However, Ford Jr. claims that the success of the Ford Mustang – in regard to both sales and performance – negates the need for a Vette-killer.
“Why are you not building a sports car similar to Corvette?” Ford Jr. was quoted as saying. “Are you kidding? We have the Mustang, which I think is by far the best sports car in America and frankly, the world now. It’s affordable. It’s faster than all get out. And it’s about as good as you could possibly get. And we’re going racing with Mustang. For the enthusiasts, we have an EcoBoost Mustang, we now have an electric Mustang in the Mach-E, and we have our all-new five-liter Mustang Dark Horse, which we just introduced. And we have more coming. So, I wouldn’t trade our sports car for anybody else’s, let’s put it that way.”
It’s worth noting that the Mustang Dark Horse is indeed a capable performance machine in its own right, and features a six-speed manual transmission (the C8 is only available with an dual-clutch automatic transmission) and 500 ponies.
As a reminder, the 2023 Corvette is available with two unique powerplants, including the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine, rated at 490 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, and the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine, rated at 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.
Meanwhile, the upcoming 2024 Corvette E-Ray stands apart as the only hybrid and AWD Vette ever, and combines the aforementioned LT2 engine with an electric motor on the front axle to bring total output up to 655 horsepower.
Under the skin, all C8 Corvette variants, including the electrified C8 E-Ray, ride on the GM Y2 platform. Production takes place exclusively at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
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Comments
While it’s understandable that Mr. Ford Jr. would take great pride in the Mustang, the Mustang is not and never has been on par with the Corvette. I would like to see Ford bring a more affordable version of the GT to market. That would certainly be a comparable vehicle to the Corvette
Ford has the GT but that’s in a more expensive category
More expensive and slower. (See Car and Driver Lightning Lap)
Here’s what l’m waiting for to happen.
Zora vs GT Ford..
I somewhat agree with Mr. Ford. I own both a 22 C8 Corvette and a 22 Mustang GT. They are both great cars in their own right, but not exactly comparable. The Corvette is like a fine piece of jewelry while the Mustang is like a favorite pair of shoes. I love them both and would be hard pressed to choose one over the other.
Ironically, Corvette may be heading in the direction of becoming another Mustang. That is to say, it is going from the name ‘Corvette’ being the name of just a single car to becoming a brand name covering several different models wearing the ‘Corvette’ badge of honor.
Bill Ford Jr. doesn’t seem to realize what is heading his way.
Mr. Ford has a point. Although the mustang isn’t a direct competitor with the Corvette, it is a sales success. Chevy has neglected their mustang competitor (camaro) catastrophically for most of it’s existence. Chevy always had the reputation of the vette to fall back on to be the “halo car” of the brand. Ford only really has the mustang. (the few years of the GT excluded)
If Chev put as much effort into the camaro that the mustang did, maybe it wouldn’t be discontinued for the second time.
-I still think the camaro has a better chassis, but the ergonomics, interior, and stale styling let it down completely. Mustang is always being updated and upgraded, even if it barely reaches the chassis poise, the rest of the car is miles ahead.
My 2023 Red Mist C8 Corvette coupe in my opinion is the most beautiful car on the road.
The value will last a long time. I am proud to own an American built sports car by GM.
I bought a Mustang once it was quick, but I thought the quality and the workmanship was pretty poor
I don’t think Ford can build a comparable car for a comparable price. If they could there would be new GT’s on lots for well under $100k. I have nothing against the Mustang but it’s not a Corvette.
I actually feel sorry for the many loyal Ford retirees who are left only w/ the Mustang for their retirement dream car while the GMers race about in their very cool, world class Corvette
I am clearly in that category. I’m a retired old guy and always wanted a Corvette but family and career always seemed to get in the way, I looked at a Mustang GT convertible with the six speed and it was truly a fun car. But in the back of my head was always the thought, in a parking lot or on the road, it really was just another car. I could not get over the thought, for $20,000 more you can have the real thing…a Corvette.
Hilarious that Bill Ford Jr. thinks the Mustang is a sports car. For a muscle car, they do sell well. The Ford GT which was almost a sports car (roof doesn’t come off) sold in numbers rather close to zero. Ford even duped the homologation racing folks.
If the Mustang rivals the Corvette is Ford’s opinion. Either way, when the Camaro and Challenger go away the Mustang will pick up the customers.
I think Pantera would have a better outcome than Mustang.
Yes you’re right better car but the only thing Ford in it was the engine 351 Cleveland
(Checks Mustang vs Corvette sales) Yep, he’s correct
Agreed! And GM can survive without a Mustang rival like Camaro since Chevrolet seems inabile to build a convincing rival.
The Detroit 3 no longer need to compete in every segment. I think GM is insane for not fielding an ICE Bronco/Wrangler but each OEM is chasing specific demos.
The days of a full segment complete line up seem over for Ford and anyone not named Toyota or VW
PANTERA beautiful car horrible engineering. Terrible ingress egress bad frame.
Don if you remember, the Pantera came out in the early 70s. Yes it was a little hard to get in and out of but pretty impressive back then.
Memories of the thunderbird flashed before his eyes when he said that. *sniffle sniffle
While both the Corvette and the Mustang are good cars, they do not compete directly. Ford does not want a car to compete directly with Corvette… fine. Chevy does not want a direct competitor to Mustang… fine.
Ford actually had a production-ready competitor to the Corvette in the late 80s. They canceled it because they thought it could not compete with the Corvette from a sales perspective. They went with the Explorer.
The Thunderbird was not really a competitor to the Corvette, but close enough. They could have made it so but decided to soften it.
I do not know if there is sufficient demand for a direct competitor, although I would be interested, what I do know is Bill Ford Jr. does not know his core audience. The MME is not a Mustang according to the Mustang faithful.
Ford has never been able to rival the Corvette. Fact.
Bill Jr. is tiresome-as are many of these CEOs who really have no clue what they are talking about. I wish a true car guy would get in the lead seat of these companies. Any CEO who could green light a Mustang branded Mach E or Corvette SUV is not a true car guy…period. These are completely different cars and experiences. No matter how great the Mustang and its high performance variants are, they will never take the place of a mid-engine “exotic” style sports car. Ford has an opportunity to try to match Chevy in offering an attainable “Lamborghini/ferrari” killer but they are fine just letting that market go apparently-the GT isn’t even applicable here as it is too pricey and limited. It is unfortunate. If the market is too small, say so, but don’t peddle nonsense like he did here. The C8 seems to be killing it in sales…Ford should want a piece of that, and people buying a corvette are not cross shopping Mustangs. However, a mustang owner like me might very well go to a Corvette when the family situation (ie. I don’t need back seats) is viable.