General Motors has announced that Tony Roma, the current Cadillac Celestiq Chief Engineer, will be appointed as Tadge Juechter’s replacement as Corvette Chief Engineer.
With a history of working on the Chevy Corvette, Cadillac V-Series, and Cadillac Blackwing programs, Roma will assume the position of Executive Chief Engineer of GM’s newly formed Global Corvette and Performance Cars team on July 1st, 2024. Although it’s technically a new title, Roma is effectively taking over Juechter’s position upon his retirement.
“Tony is a natural fit to succeed Tadge, as well as the perfect choice to lead our new Global Corvette and Performance Cars team, given his many years working on Corvette powertrains and his more recent experience with the Cadillac V-Series, Blackwing, and Celestiq,” GM President Mark Reuss said in a statement. “The bar is set very high for Corvette. Tony knows that, and he’s more than up to the challenge; he was made for this moment. I see a great future for Corvette and the other vehicles that Tony’s team will create.”
It’s worth noting that Tadge Juechter, the man Tony Roma is replacing, is retiring this July after a long 47-year career working for General Motors. His most notable achievements are leading the development of the C7 and C8.
“As a car enthusiast and racer, I feel a strong connection to the whole Corvette team and our fans around the world,” Roma remarked. “I have been a part of just about every event our customers bring their cars to: road racing, auto cross, road rally, cross country adventure, car shows, drag racing and more. I know that for the car to be successful, it needs to resonate with the end customer and be good at what they want it to do.”
Moving forward, Roma will work to continue the legacy of the Vette as both the mid-engined sports car and Cadillac push the envelope in terms of all-out performance.
“I’m approaching this opportunity with deep respect and admiration for the hard work from those who came before me, going back to the first-generation Corvette in the 1950s up to this day,” Roma continued. “Corvette earned and continues to earn its place in American car history thanks to the people behind it, like Tadge Juechter. These are big shoes to fill, but we will work every day to continue the strong legacy this nameplate deserves.”
Based on his strong resume, Tony Roma appears to be the right man for the job. Tadge Juechter’s tenure will be a tough act to follow, but we look forward to seeing where he takes America’s sports car. We’re especially curious how he’ll implement his recent work in EV engineering in his new role.
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Comments
I have had his ribs. Good stuff.
Tony Roma’s: “The place for ribs!”
Now that is very funny!! Good one!
“Global Corvette and Performance Cars Team”. I’m afraid to voice the question that I already know has been answered via context clues in the most recent history of “gm”. What performance cars do you speak of, dear “gm”? Why, EV performance cars, of course. Ugh. CT4 and CT5 are on short notice for discontinuation. I shudder when I think of Corvette’s future, beyond the current C8 generation. I desperately want to proven wrong, and that I’ll still see a petrol-burning V8 in the next gen Corvette. Will Mr. Roma fight for enthusiasts of Corvette, or just get in line behind all the other corporate mouthpieces, like Mark Reuss, following Mary Barra’s directives? Tadge has been a champion for Corvette, with experience truly going back to the C4 days. I’m afraid that we’ll never see a guy as passionate about Corvette as Tadge, ever again. Mr. Roma, PLEASE prove me wrong!
Tony is a great engineer and leader, over 20 years experience in GM performance vehicle engineering and driving. Veteran of multiple SCCA club racing classes. Understudy of Heinricy. He is a good choice.
The fact that Tadge kept Tony on the Corvette team says that he will continue the fight for the best performing and most customer-desired cars. There may be an Electro-Vette version of C9 but the ICE Vette will remain the prime product. Zora’s first victory, btw, was independent rear suspension for the C2 and following Corvettes. Without IRS, the Vette could never be a serious sports or competition car. Mid-engine was a dream, but production volume under 50,000, parts that could not be shared corporate wide, and respectable sales for front engine, put that one on the shelf until now.
Sounds like he is well qualified.
Will Queen Mary keep his hands tied?
What are his thoughts on maroon paint and chrome wheels?
“General Motors has announced that Tony Roma, the current Cadillac Celestiq Chief Engineer, will be appointed as Tadge Juechter’s replacement as Corvette Chief Engineer”
“We’re especially curious how he’ll implement his recent work in EV engineering in his new role.”
Aaaaaaand that’s the ballgame. Goodbye Corvette, you will be missed!
Guaranty he won’t have anywhere near the autonomy of Duntov. Then again, no Corvette Chief Engineer following him did either.
I’m missing the point on Zorra’s autonomy. He was pushing for a mid engines Corvette his whole tenure at Chevrolet and produced nothing but concept cars to tease us with since the sixties. His main claim to fame was introducing the V-8 to the C1, elevating a cute little b-bopper to something with respectable power. He also fought for corporate funding for Corvette racing, with mixed results. Fighting corporate bean counters is like trying to punch your way out of a rubber room.
There wasn’t a need for the mid-engined vehicle in the eyes of the board because the C3 was selling so well. In the upper 40s in 75, 76 and 77 as I recall. Remember, too, that St.Louis was a plant that dated back many decades past and wasn’t very automated. Without Zora, there would have been no Corvette after 1955. I’d say that he’s the undisputed King of all Corvette Chief Engineers. Do you think any of the modern chiefs could stand up to “hollering” styling chief Harley Earl or for that matter, Bill Mitchell who created the Mako Shark and gave us the incredible C2 and C3. Compare both the C2 and C3 to the C1 and you’ll have to agree that they were quantum leaps forward.
First order of business make it an front engine again with E-ray technology. I know, probably an unpopular opinion, but the C8 look still hasn’t grown on me and probably never will.
J.T. – I recently finished the Corvette owners program at the Ron Fellows driving school.
The course showed me that the C8 Corvette is a racing car that’s being driven on the street. The instructors say to put everything you have into your driving and don’t worry about the car. They say it has at least 20% more that can be realized. that proved to be an understatement.
It’s fair to say that you don’t like the look of the car but spend a day in an environment like the driving school and you’ll walk away shaking your head saying “how can this much technology and performance be built into a car designed for the street”. Anyone who has purchased a C8 has the opportunity to do the driving school at a tremendous discount. it’s worth the money at the full price and amazing at the discounted price.
Find someone who is purchased a car, but doesn’t intend to use their discount and sign up for the time of your life!
Just gotta say that my 2022 convertible is the best car I have ever had. Period. Still have my ’66 coupe but what a difference mid-engine makes.
I don’ t know how much influence he has on design but it he does, I hope he’ll get Kirk Bennion and crew to clean up the design of the C8. Currently it looks like everybody in the studio got their mitts on it, with all the bends, bumps, vents, grilles, weird lights, overloaded rear end and bland front. Let’s purify C8 and then make C9 smooth and sensuous.
Tadge is a well accomplished engineer, and he has played his role well. I enjoy watching his interviews. I wish him a long and enjoyable retirement. Good luck to Tony and the team as they carry on their work to bring the World exciting cars.
I can’t believe how ignorant some of you are. Tony developed the Blackwings. Go drive one. Corvette is in good hands.
PS: nobody cares about your irrelevant Corvette trivia.