What would you all think about a mid-engined, rear wheel drive C7 with 450hp and 465 ft/lbs of tq? The C7 would also come equipped with a suspension equal to the C6 Z06 and an aredynamic drag coefficient of 0.26. The C7 would be topped off with styling that would be ahead of its time. These are a few of many ideas that I had in mind when fantasying about the next generation Corvette. Tell me, what are your opinions?

 

Sounds like you want a Ferrari 430. I would be shocked if GM swayed from its front mid engine recipe. IIRC one of the early engineers on the Vette wanted a mid engine layout.

 

Yeah, fella name of Zora Duntov, or something like that ...

 

I don't think a Corvette with the engine behind the driver is going to happen. The long hood line is just too much a part of the Corvette image. However, the weight balance is already close to 50/50 with the current layout. Move the driver back a few more inches, shift the engine a bit further behind the front wheels, and you'd have your mid-engine car, just with the driver behind the engine instead of in front of it.

The biggest improvement for a next generation Corvette would be for the car to have AWD. Much better traction off the line, better handling in the curves, there'd be fewer excuses for the cars to be garage queens in winter. Etc.

 

By streetcar standards, the Corvette is already pretty much a mid-engined platform. It's front-mid versus rear-mid (eg. Carrera GT, Boxster, F360). There are cars that have optimal weight distribution from both platforms as well as front engined platforms. I don't know of any rear-engined cars that have optimal weight distribution. I'm curious as to whether anyone has corner-balanced their C6 or put on coilovers yet. . .

Many of the cars I've owned have had AWD and I've done track days in all of them. Mechanically, there are quite a few types of setups, but from a simple, seat of the pants perspective, I prefer those that offer AWD with a 50-50 split or favor RWD. IMHO AWD systems that are front-biased don't drive significantly differently than FWD cars.

With GM's bold developments over the past few years, I wouldn't be suprised to see an AWD offering in the C6 generation. Rear-mid layout? I doubt it. Corvette loyalists have continued to be a large proportion of new-car sales and this market segment cannot be ignored, and such a change would have to offer a dramatic performance advantage to be sold to this crowd. However, if GM developed a rear-mid layout and could back the decision with superior performance, it might be accepted.

 

Early 70's I believe!

 

Actually, rear engine cars have perfect weight distributuon. The 50/50 weight distribution that everyone goes nuts over is actually NOT ideal. For a rear drive car, you want more mass in the back. Say 55/45 rear. This helps not only with traction but also braking.

Not this again...

Not even when hell freezes over. AWD systems add significant mass to the car, and that's exactly opposite what the Corvette is about. There's just no way it's going to happen.

jas

 

 

Earlier than that, I think. I can't recall how many car magazines I bought with "Mid Engine Corvette" on the cover. After 30+ years of this, I don't think we will ever see one.

Alan

 

Zora.

Meanwhile Enzo Ferrari wanted a front-engine layout.

 

Thanks for your replys everybody. However, I firmly believe that a mid-engined Corvette would long be due before an AWD Corvette in my opinion. Also I believe that GM could easily maintain the elongated front end on the Corvette while retaining a mid-engine V8 all at the same time. With a little thought and dedication, GM could easily make this work.

 

Here you go. This one even has gull wing doors.