So why is the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant shutting down for so long?
04-10-2017, 12:50 PM
#41
Team Owner
Well, in fairness the Corvette has many competitors, just none that are as completely defined, such as Camaro/Mustang. Yes, AMG GT...definitely, as is the Porsche 911. Cayman to me is a tougher sell as a legit comp but....from a price standpoint sure. GT4 is legit if you can get one. There's a different kind of buyer in discussion for those cars though. Not only are those cars carrying a higher price of entry, but also a higher cost of ownership. Merc and Porsche resale drops like a rock without legit maintenance. Corvettes still don't carry that pressure on a resale level.
In addition, the current Corvette buyer pool is still dominated by folks who really still see the Corvette as a pinnacle sports car. Many 50 and 60 somethings want the Americana aspect and with that said, there is no competition for the Corvette. At best maybe the Hellcats and Vipers and side bets displaced a few sales but...not many.
GM recognizes the growth of Porsche in this country. Not to mention, Porsche makes more profit per vehicle than any major manufacturer, go figure. It's a legit threat, and with C7's inception it was clear that the 911 was the target for them. The AMG GT's, Vipers, Hellcats...pretty much a non factor. For Corvette...it's more of a "who is the buyer in 20 yrs" problem.
In addition, the current Corvette buyer pool is still dominated by folks who really still see the Corvette as a pinnacle sports car. Many 50 and 60 somethings want the Americana aspect and with that said, there is no competition for the Corvette. At best maybe the Hellcats and Vipers and side bets displaced a few sales but...not many.
GM recognizes the growth of Porsche in this country. Not to mention, Porsche makes more profit per vehicle than any major manufacturer, go figure. It's a legit threat, and with C7's inception it was clear that the 911 was the target for them. The AMG GT's, Vipers, Hellcats...pretty much a non factor. For Corvette...it's more of a "who is the buyer in 20 yrs" problem.
I drive a C6 Z06. My neighbor down the street drives a Mercedes SL roaster. They both cost about the same. We each had a different idea in what we wanted in a $80,000+ two seat car. They are in competition with each other as I could have bought SL roadster(if I wanted quiet luxury) and my neighbor could have bought a Z06(if he wanted loud raw performance).
That's why Mercedes and Porsche are both successfully selling sports cars in the same price range as a base Stingray, yet those same Mercedes and Porsches do not perform as well on the track as the Stingray.
Last edited by JoesC5; 04-10-2017 at 09:17 PM.
04-10-2017, 10:24 PM
#42
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The ME car will have features the FE C8 won't offer. Merely being ME is not what GM is reaching for, take a closer look at the Ferrari 488GTB, Lamborghini Huracan Performante, McLaren 650s, Ford GT....they are packed with leading edge technology. I would expect GM to even take it a step farther with a mild hybrid system that could be added without a huge weight or cost penalty.
The ME and C8 will be two cars separated a mile apart in looks, technology and price. The ME will be a genuine halo car with all the stops pulled out like the GT is for Ford. I'm sure GM's intention is to sell out before the first delivery is made otherwise no point in making it and appearing like second class wannabe compared to Ford GT.
The ME and C8 will be two cars separated a mile apart in looks, technology and price. The ME will be a genuine halo car with all the stops pulled out like the GT is for Ford. I'm sure GM's intention is to sell out before the first delivery is made otherwise no point in making it and appearing like second class wannabe compared to Ford GT.
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SpeedyD (04-11-2017)
04-15-2017, 12:23 PM
#43
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I personally think the MR will target the 99k-170k range, while positioning itself with cars that run 160k-280k. I think it's appearance will be a departure, but will also be familiar in design (family face, family feel). I think it'll be used to lead out new tech and new advancements that trickle down into the FR platform. I think it'll be a classic HALO for the Corvette brand...walk in to look at the ME, drive out with a 60k Stingray or Grand Sport, etc. The racing side will leverage it for marketing purposes, and HOPEFULLY allow the GT FR cars to continue in GTD/GT3, etc...HOPEFULLY stateside!
I personally don't think it'll be a FordGT at all. FordGT was completely bespoke, versus the Corvette based MR will utilize a lot of sharing to drive cost down. I think the aim at practicality will prevail with the MR car, while elevating the performance level. This won't be a "supercar", it'll be a mid-engine sports car...much like a 570s, NSX, GT3, 458 Italia, etc. Capable of "supercar" grade performance, in a package that still aims at occasional practical use.
I think the hybrid, electric, tech side will come, but I think that will be in the Cadillac variant of the future. Cadillac just got their feet into the DPi Weathertech space with the 6.2 mid engine cars. I think the Caddy brand is eager to be a bit more german, more tech, more advanced, as that's their buyer target. Caddy and Corvette both face the same challenge...their customer base is getting too old to sustain sales long term. Some level of reinvention is necessary...i.e. risk.
I personally don't think it'll be a FordGT at all. FordGT was completely bespoke, versus the Corvette based MR will utilize a lot of sharing to drive cost down. I think the aim at practicality will prevail with the MR car, while elevating the performance level. This won't be a "supercar", it'll be a mid-engine sports car...much like a 570s, NSX, GT3, 458 Italia, etc. Capable of "supercar" grade performance, in a package that still aims at occasional practical use.
I think the hybrid, electric, tech side will come, but I think that will be in the Cadillac variant of the future. Cadillac just got their feet into the DPi Weathertech space with the 6.2 mid engine cars. I think the Caddy brand is eager to be a bit more german, more tech, more advanced, as that's their buyer target. Caddy and Corvette both face the same challenge...their customer base is getting too old to sustain sales long term. Some level of reinvention is necessary...i.e. risk.
04-15-2017, 04:11 PM
#44
Race Director
Find out which division foot the bill for the bowling green expansion...
I bet Cadillac division is funding a good portion for their budget...
Find that out and find the truth of what will be coming out of bowling green in the near future.
I believe Cadillac funded the changes to the c5 corvette to create the c6 and the XLR...
I wouldn't be surprised to find out something similiar as the new Cadillac and c8 releases...
This time will be even better
I bet Cadillac division is funding a good portion for their budget...
Find that out and find the truth of what will be coming out of bowling green in the near future.
I believe Cadillac funded the changes to the c5 corvette to create the c6 and the XLR...
I wouldn't be surprised to find out something similiar as the new Cadillac and c8 releases...
This time will be even better
04-17-2017, 11:48 PM
#45
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The C7 ZR1 or whatever the big wing car is called looked very fast on certain sections of Laguna Seca so whatever arrives with a mid engine will need to be one bad MF.
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JerriVette (04-17-2017)
05-01-2017, 01:14 AM
#46
03-21-2018, 02:19 PM
#47
Melting Slicks
At the risk of being flamed for reviving an older thread, here is a story about the new Cadillac twin-turbo "hot V" V8 being built at the revamped Bowling Green facility:
Quote:
"Two variants of the engine will be offered—each of which will be hand-assembled and personally signed on the Performance Build Center line at the Bowling Green Kentucky Corvette plant."
Story:
http://www.motortrend.com/cars/cadil...st-look-review
Seems like very complicated technology and ridiculous underhood space management, just to get 550 HP & 630 ft-lb. I understand the need for Cadillac to distinguish itself but this design... ugh... I would not be surprised to see at least some of the early builds having reliability issues. We will see!
Quote:
"Two variants of the engine will be offered—each of which will be hand-assembled and personally signed on the Performance Build Center line at the Bowling Green Kentucky Corvette plant."
Story:
http://www.motortrend.com/cars/cadil...st-look-review
Seems like very complicated technology and ridiculous underhood space management, just to get 550 HP & 630 ft-lb. I understand the need for Cadillac to distinguish itself but this design... ugh... I would not be surprised to see at least some of the early builds having reliability issues. We will see!
03-21-2018, 03:18 PM
#48
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At the risk of being flamed for reviving an older thread, here is a story about the new Cadillac twin-turbo "hot V" V8 being built at the revamped Bowling Green facility:
Quote:
"Two variants of the engine will be offered—each of which will be hand-assembled and personally signed on the Performance Build Center line at the Bowling Green Kentucky Corvette plant."
Story:
http://www.motortrend.com/cars/cadil...st-look-review
Seems like very complicated technology and ridiculous underhood space management, just to get 550 HP & 630 ft-lb. I understand the need for Cadillac to distinguish itself but this design... ugh... I would not be surprised to see at least some of the early builds having reliability issues. We will see!
Quote:
"Two variants of the engine will be offered—each of which will be hand-assembled and personally signed on the Performance Build Center line at the Bowling Green Kentucky Corvette plant."
Story:
http://www.motortrend.com/cars/cadil...st-look-review
Seems like very complicated technology and ridiculous underhood space management, just to get 550 HP & 630 ft-lb. I understand the need for Cadillac to distinguish itself but this design... ugh... I would not be surprised to see at least some of the early builds having reliability issues. We will see!
03-21-2018, 08:03 PM
#49
Le Mans Master
Not Necessarily!
It just has to do well (and would be more desirable!?) in more conservative street garb, at least to start off.
Last edited by johnglenntwo; 03-21-2018 at 08:18 PM.