GT Content

Hey guys, I made a video analyzing the latest snow testing photos. You can get to it with the link below. I think they are two different cars, but let me know what you guys think.
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skank

Overall a very informative analysis. Thanks for all the effort that you put into this. The top/bottom view of the new mid engined Zora and the C7 ZO6 was a excellent display of the offsets. I'll bet Team Corvette will test the offset ratio's of the Ferrari 488 and the new 812 Superfast to see how they correlate to the C7 ZO6 and the new Zora. Thanks again

brooklync5

Very good video. Great info.

Rooster OG

Nicely done, fun times ahead for sure!

millpond

Well done!

F4 Phantom

Great video!

Supersonic 427

Great Video and you brought out a lot of good points to ponder!

GT Content

Agreed. It's still possible for them to test it against other manufacturers at this point.

You're welcome.

PKI

The only thing that does not make sense in your analysis, or at least that I have trouble accepting is your suggestion that the Camaro will become the front engine rear drive halo car and the Corvette will become the mid-engine rear drive halo car. Unless Chevrolet can produce a $60-80K mid-engine vehicle, they are going to lose a lot of sales. Not likely that Corvette buyers will transition to Camaro. Most have had one and want something closer to a super car. They have saved a long time to afford one, but at least half are not in the mega buck buying class. While 2020 is a ways off, and lots can change, I don't see buying a Corvette for over $100K.

Part of the reason that Ford folks are moving to Corvette is because Ford keeps building low quantity halo cars and prices them with dealer markups so high their buyers are turned off. If Chevrolet goes that way, pop goes the sales forecast.

Now, if Chevrolet does design a mid-engine platform that uses a bi-turbo six for the $60K version, a DOHC V8 for the $80K version, a Supercharged V8 at $100K and the R version with true supercar performance at $120K, then maybe it will sell 20-40,000 or more units a year? But they have certainly got some designing to do. Pat

Edit - The C8 discussion thread makes the case much better than I did. Check it out.

Gonzo

Great work, thank you for your efforts !!

sammyv

Very nice job!!!

rmorin1249

If your speculations are correct and they might be, there is going to be a great deal of wailing and crying coming from many Corvette aficionados.

HPT

Good vid. Agree with all your points.

jivor

The more I think about this, the more I agree that GM will have two concurrent Corvettes, the front engine variants/refreshes of the C7 (like the closer transition of the C5 to C6) which will become the C8, and a mid-engine halo "Zora" car as part of their heritage branding push (akin to Europeans').

If Ferrari can offer the mid-engine 488 at the same time (more or less) as the front engine F12, why can't GM? And if you look at Ferrari (yes the cost correlation is not exact) the front engine car is 85K more expensive than the mid-engine (130%).

GM needs to evolve their top tier sports cars, like the Ford GT, but at higher production and lower cost like the Acura NSX; Zora could be the first of a separate line (likely under the Corvette umbrella) that adds another buying tier. The Zora would then change to another heritage line, with each successive series named after other famous figures in Corvette history.

Gary '09 C6

GT Content, very good video ! thx for sharing ...

Cosmo Kramer

I think your analysis is 100% spot on. My guess is the mid-engine car will have a starting price of about $65k (1LT, M7.) The loaded up version (3LT) could reach $85k-90k range. As GM has done in the past, the second year of the mid-engine will be a Z06 with 700 hp and a starting price of around $90k. If history repeats its self, that is.

MSG C5

Thanks. That was a great analysis and you brought up some very good points.

I for one am not convinced the camo, front-engine C7 is a new ZR1, but rather a mid-year refresh of the Z06. From those who have seen the test mule live and heard it, they mention that the engine does not sound any different from the current LT4. If it is a ZR1 and they have truly fixed the cooling issues by re-engineering the engine hood and adding other cooling vents, I can't imagine they would limit those changes to the new ZR1 and market that as "the" track version Corvette without applying the same improvements to the Z06. That's sort of like GM admitting they were wrong by touting the original C7 Z06 as the most track-ready Corvette ever and then saying "This time we mean it" with the ZR1.

I think the blue brake calipers and different wheels are GM's way of messing with us. However if it is a ZR1 that tops 700 HP with perhaps a twin turbo, I expect the 2018 Z06 to have similar front vents and cooling features.

jivor

Good point MSG on the Z06; it makes sense to address cooling with a refresh to the hood and offering wider tires and a racing/track spoiler option ZR1 package (think Z07 on steroids) further distinguishing it from the Grand Sport.

MSG C5

It's in GM's best interest to tout this camo mule as a ZR1 because if it was leaked as the 2018 Z06 with true cooling enhancements and perhaps a HP boost, imagine the impact to 2017 Z06 sales. The fire sale would be more drastic than the 2016 summer fire sale in anticipation for the small cooling improvements that were released for the 2017 Z06.

GT Content

That could be a possiblity. What if this is a Zo6 1LE?

The Camaro Z28 was discussed for the longest time and then Chevy brings out the ZL1 w/"1LE Track Package" which could eliminate the need for a ZR1 like how there may be no need for the Camaro Z28 anymore.