C6NRED

I love the way this guy writes....opiniated and intelligent. I subscribe to his weekly newsletter,

http://www.autoextremist.com/

which is often funny, always informative and entirely cynical at times......below is his review of the C7 reveal.......

But let’s face it - there was only one debut that really mattered at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The introduction of the seventh-generation Corvette, or should I say, the new Corvette Stingray is a very big deal. A Joe Biden kind of big frickin’ deal, if you know what I mean. And for the most part GM Design and the True Believers in the Corvette Program delivered.

That the new Corvette will be the best driving Corvette in history is indisputable. The advancement of technology alone in the ensuing years since the development of the sixth-generation Corvette ensures that. The new Corvette utilizes the latest in advanced materials and it also uses a stack of technical knowledge gleaned from the world-class – and wildly successful – Corvette Racing program. The lessons learned on the racetrack through that championship-winning program have contributed immeasurably to the development of the new Corvette, especially in terms of aero performance. (And it will make a sensational-looking GT racer for the 2014 season as well.)

In short the new Corvette is flat-out better in every way. So is it the best production Corvette ever built? Absolutely. Will it be the best driving Corvette ever built? Emphatically so, yes. Does it boast the best interior environment ever put in a Corvette? No question. But is it the best-looking Corvette ever built? No.

Now don’t get me wrong, the overall shape and packaging of the new Corvette is excellent. And there are pieces of the design that I really like. And it pains me to say this because the only person I’ve met with the knowledge, understanding and appreciation for the legacy of Corvette that I have is Ed Welburn, the Chief of GM’s Global Design.

I know Ed’s troops worked overtime on the new Corvette, and make no mistake these are some of GM’s truest True Believers, the people who eat, sleep and breathe Corvette every day. And Ed is the most committed of them all. And overall they did a superb job.

But the new car falls down in two major areas in my estimation. 1. The side detailing and surface development of the car, and 2. The overall look, feel and detailing of the tail.

Now to the first point, that the side vent and surface development of the car clearly borrows from the Nissan GT-R was shocking to me. The GT-R, though an impressive performer, is a mishmash of design elements tossed together and shaken in a bag, resulting in one of the most unimaginative super car designs of all time. And to “borrow” from that car? The explanation given for this was that this new Corvette is supposed to skew younger and that it’s more of an “international” design and not as overtly “American” in its look and feel.

I vehemently disagree. First of all, if there’s any car that should exude its American-ness, it’s the Corvette. If you’ve attended the 24 Hours of Le Mans you’d know what I’m talking about. The international audience there isn’t clamoring for an “internationalized” Corvette. They love the Corvette for what it is: Bold. Loud. Fast. And American. So that “international” rationale shouldn’t have been applied anywhere to this new Corvette. Period. It’s flawed and wildly inappropriate. (Thank goodness the True Believers working on the Viper don’t get caught up in that ********-think.)

And secondly, this car isn’t going to skew younger because young people can’t afford the car. But I’ll have much more to say about that in next week’s column when I discuss the marketing of Corvette.

And finally, there are only two cars in the world that should be allowed to have round taillights: Ferrari. And Corvette. It has been pre-ordained by the automotive gods for more than 60 years now. The explanation as to why the new Corvette doesn’t have round taillights is because this is supposedly a Corvette for a new generation and again, the design is more “with it” in its attempt to appeal to younger buyers.

But throwing that “you’re just not hip enough to understand” rationale – something car designer’s do when they’re out of ideas – is just unmitigated ********. The rear end of the new Corvette is busy and uninspired. And the Camaro-esque taillights are wrong on so many levels I don’t even know where to begin. Really? The True Believer designers entrusted with the legacy of Corvette used a Camaro design cue on the taillights? It doesn’t get any more ridiculous than that.

Here’s the deal. As someone who has been immersed in this business since I was a kid and someone who has been privileged to know some of the true legends of this business firsthand, including the legendary GM designer Bill Mitchell, and someone who has been a student and appreciator of design from way back, I feel more than a little qualified to critique the Corvette. And even though I love the new car, it could have been so much more by being so much less, if you can understand what I’m getting at.

And as I talked to top designers roaming the show, they all said the same exact things: “They needed to dial it back about 25 percent.” Or, “They nailed the overall shape but it’s just too busy.”

Listen, the new Corvette is a great car. The best Corvette ever built by a long shot, with enough advanced technology and cool stuff baked-in to savor for years to come. It will be a sensational performer and it will move the enthusiasts who love them to tears. And the True Believers on the Corvette program who toiled long hours on the C7 should be justifiably proud.

But it’s not a great design because it’s overwrought and overthought and overdone.

Or as Bill Mitchell would say, “You gotta know when to lift the brush.” In other words, there’s a point when you have to stop the tweaking and the fussing and the hand-wringing and just stop. And walk away.

I just wish they had.

We’ll have more Detroit Auto Show coverage and updates throughout the day in this week’s “On The Table.”

And that’s the High-Octane Truth for this week.

TractionControlOff

If people say the C7 looks like a dramatically refined and much better-looking GTR, I'm fine with that. I have vocally spoken out about how I dislike the GTR's design, but I love the C7. I think the "real thing" looks less like the GTR than the renderings, too.

arkus

very good post !!!!

He doesn't say its a better looking GTR.
GTR by the way looks horrid .

jnrandall

Well put! Thanks for sharing.

C6NRED

If I hear you right, you are agreeing with him that there IS some GTR in the overall shape....as well as the "camaroesque" back end?

C6NRED

You're welcome......I LOVE his writing about the round tai lights....couldn't have put it better myself!

obxchartercaptain

FloydSummerOf68

I can't take any posting seriously that thinks "younger buyers" can't afford a $55k car. "Younger Buyers" doesn't mean teenagers or students.

I also still don't understand why someone can't get over the tail-lights not being round. I can understand not liking that they resemble those of a Camaro, but the fact they're not round shouldn't be an issue. I probably would've preferred something a bit more striking, but what they have is fine.

The reasons listed that international audiences like the Corvette are not changing. It will now be bolder, faster and just as loud.

Seems like an article complaining for the sake of complaining now that a new design is out. It's going to sell like wildfire just like the C5 did when it came out and just like the C6 did when it came out.

I also promise you that more young people will be on board with this car. Most of my friends (late 20s) didn't care for the C6 due to the interior. They are ALL on board with the C7 and we can all afford it.

I liked the article, I just didn't agree with it. I do agree that many people probably think it needs to be toned down a bit. I'm sure a lot of people think Lambos need to be toned down a bit as well. The car is brash for the sake of being brash. It will turn heads BECAUSE it is different.

skank

He's alway's has been a complainer. I've read his columns for years and I'm amazed at how out of touch he can be at times. I think team Corvette has hit this out of the park on all levels, especially the design. Just last week he was bitching about how they were leaking the car to the media. IT WORKED !!! People all over the world are checking this out and it made great theatre for us enthusiast's while waiting to see it. Our forum last Friday and Saturday was at a boiling point. Just the way it's supposed to be.

0Mike@Vossen

Its the hot car to critique right now.

BlueOx

You get a lot more attention when you whine.

WHT

I think his assessment nails it fairly well.

And, for the recent fan boys who keep posting we should love the C7 unconditionally or just move alone: news flash, the newly designed C7 belongs to everyone in the Corvette community who wants to buy another Corvette. We have a right to express our reservations with the design and hope GM might offer a mid-generation “update” in several years that addresses some visual issues that aren’t so perfect for many people.

BlueOx

You mean, 'continue to whine'. Yeah, that worked really well with the pop-up headlights, didn't it? Good luck with that.

They thought this through and they WANT the traditionalists to complain because it will make younger buyers sit up and take notice.

In the end the only vote you have is with your checkbook. People (and the automotive press) bitched for 9 years about the seats. It really didn't matter til the very end.

jbomx363

Fair critiques... although the Vette must have round tails is something I don't necessarily agree with.

It's the whole rear that's ugly.

Sorry Floyd..IMO.. MOST young folks can't afford a $55k car and the insurance that goes with it. Surely, there is a younger populous that can afford it, but at the risk of losing your bread and butter customer... I'm not so sure is a good thing. Time will tell.

C6NRED

I hope you are right. If traditionalists don't buy the C7 in droves, and if GM can't bring a younger demographic to the C7, can it survive?
Sales have been in the dumpster since 2009 .......will GM keep the Corvette if sales are 10k to 12k annually????

FloydSummerOf68

In the same breath you can say MOST people can't afford a $55k car. These are luxuries and there is a very large market of successful people in their 20's and 30's just like there are people in their 40's, 50's and 60's who have been pulled to BMW, Porsche and Mercedes for a LONG time. Like I said before, most of these people are already driving a car, so lets give ~15k for a modest trade-in value and you're looking at affording a $40k car. Insurance on them isn't bad and hasn't ever been bad.

Consider that a single recent graduate making ~45k has a lot more buying power than a 45 year old making 90k while supporting a family and mortgage. Give that recent graduate until his late 20's or early 30's and it's very easy to afford a Corvette.

I'd be interested to see what all of the people who say Chevy is losing their $$$ will be going to. What else competes well with a vette in the same price range? Certainly no other sports car. You'd have to move to a muscle car or luxury sport sedan. You may keep your current vette if it's newer, but people who were looking to get a new car? What will they move to?

GordyRay

Writers always introduce some negative talk. It was the magazine writers that started 'bad-mouthing' the C6 interior a few months after it came out.
I have owned two C6 Corvettes. The seats have been fine for daily driving and long distance driving, okay, I will agree that it was lacking on the track. But this writer is at it again. I don't agree that they over did the design. Do you really think they didn't think about that???? After 6M hours of computer testing on the new LT1 engine, do you really think they didn't stand back and discuss the design over and over again and again? Simple minds that mostly haven't ever accomplished anything significant in their lives do so easily criticize. If we listened to people like that, we would never have landed on the moon nor built aircraft that rival the world over. This is insulting to the professional designers that work for GM. Everyone is a critic. That just really is weak and total BS. All you haters, just wait until the actual power numbers come out and then see how it performs after your friends drive it. You will change your simple minds just like many did after the C5 and again with the C6. The C7 is better than the C6 in many ways. It will out drive and out perform the previous cars. Most car companies don't go to the trouble that GM has with this seventh generation Corvette when introducing a new model. There are so many improvements it is astounding. If you think you could do better, then go become a GM designer and make it happen. I am totally impressed with the C7 and will work hard to own one in the 3rd year. Way to go Corvette Team. 70-85% are fans. That number will increase as performance numbers come out.

C7 looks good in Cyber Gray. Need to see a White one & Blue one too.

supermetroid

"You gotta know when to lift the brush". Thay says it all really. This guy knows what he's talking about.

Aozora

I Completely agree with you.

WHT

I realize that you OWN the C7 Forum and we can't post our opinions without your comments and judgement. But, YOU might want to scale it back about 25% also. You must have made 10,000 posts the last few months telling everyone what they are allowed to think. And, apparently, you are also the only expert regarding GM.