carnut08

That's exactly why I bought an '08. We've seen this movie before and it ain't pretty. Cars of the mid '70s and '80s were pretty much garbage. CAFE was the reason. It's gonna happen again. Bet on it.

RedlineDrummer

This Gm guy is talking out his ***!!!!! The Corvette for the most part will stay the same, period!!!! He is throwing out big time speculation here not fact.

carnut08

Ford did that. They gussied up a Pinto and called it a Mustang. CAFE was the reason and it was a POS.

maxp

the infiniti 3.7l v6 makes 330 hp

Kent1999

A Solstice with a V8 isnt a Corvette. There are plenty of small cars for small drivers out there already. I'm 6 foot, and I don't want to squeeze into a Miata... I want the comfort and capacity of the C6 Corvette.

I can hear the "explanations" already as they try to sell us on the new SolsVette:
"The previous generation Corvette was focused on horsepower, but the new 2012 Corvette is focused on world-class performance of both horsepower *and* handling. The 2012 Corvette is smaller, lighter and more nimble -- a better balanced car that, even with its slightly smaller interior and exterior, still is quite comfortable. The all-new 2012 Corvette achieves an impressive 20% better mileage rating than the previous generation while still maintaining class-leading horsepower with its 345hp direct-injection V8."

Lighter? Great! Smaller? No thanks... the C6 is perfectly-sized now.

Come 2012, maybe our C6's will be the "new" 63-67 C2 coupes in HP and desireability.

carnut08

Weight savings for the Corvette isn't going to be easy. It's already lighter than almost any competitor on the market.

Look at the Z06. It's just barely lighter and it has an aluminum chassis.

Look at the new ZR1. It's got bunches of really expensive carbon fiber for weight reduction and it's not really lighter, it just tends to offset the supercharger & other enhancements.

Bottom line is the Corvette of today has a mostly aluminum driveline. It has a magnesium top frame and bracing at the cowl. It's plastic body is relatively light weight.

The only way to trim pounds further is to reduce size. The only way to increase mileage is to reduce power.

Better get 'em while they're hot. The good old days are fading fast.

It didn't have to be this way. The market would have driven mass market changes and specialty cars like the Corvette could have continued on in the direction they were headed. The net effect of Corvettes on fuel economy over all would have been nearly zero. But no. Government had to step in and try to "do something." When is the last time that happened and it turned out well???

2000WS6Vert

I think everyone is missing the point. In 2012 the automotive scene should be drastically changed. All cars will have to be lighter and smaller to get better gas mileage.

There won't be very many 430 HP vehicles left out there. This isn't just GM...this is EVERY manufacturer.

If the Corvette shrinks slightly in size but it retains about the same storage and interior volume....what exactly is the downside? If they go to a DI 4.7L engine making 350 HP...once again...what is the downside?

In 4 years come back to this thread and look at what you wrote....things will be drastically changed in 4 years. Mark my words!

carnut08

In what way are we missing the point? Most posters have accepted the likelyhood that CAFE law changes will ruin the Corvette as we know it today. And your point would be???

Rowboat66

Yup, the marketing dept will test the waters to see just how much the vette community will tolerate.

burtonbl103

Right on Bro !

Marina Blue

The present environment is "what GM will be able to tolerate and survive as a competitive auto manufacturer." U.S. auto companies are in a situation where every product decision is becoming critical to survival. The Corvette saw near death a couple of times before, most recently in the '90s before the C5 was introduced, and is not immune to cancellation today. GM does not have the luxury of continuing production of a car that is not in sync with profitability. If Corvette cannot meet corporate goals for mileage and emissions and stay profitable, what the "Vette community will tolerate" doesn't mean beans.

wewing

I agree with all you guys. Its sad to see the Chief GM exec in charge of Corvette say:

"Rather than trying to top those performance numbers, Wallace said: "I think we need to say, 'We reached performance levels that are pretty good. Let's maintain those and improve fuel economy.' "

What kind of BS is that? If I want a car with more fuel economy, I'll by a Honda Civic. If I want a car with the performance numbers they've got right now, I'll just keep my current Vette for the rest of my life.

If they really think they're going to sell this next generation whatever it is, he's got to say "The next generation Corvette's performance numbers will crush the competition." That's what the car's been all about for 50 years.

Oh yeah, except parts of the 70's and 80's when Congress pulled this bone head move the last time.

Corvette Junkie

They will be building the Solstice and Sky along with the Corvette in Bowling Green. Hmmm

john_uk

I'd buy a diesel Vette if they bought one out, hell yeah!! Look at Audi here in Europe just announced the Diesel powered R8. 493 BHP with
738 lbs of Torque...yes 738 lds of torque! This also out performs the petrol version (0-60 under 4 secs) yet brings amazing fuel economy.

My other car is a Audi A8 V8 Diesel, she pull 60 in 5.6 seconds she has a sports performance exhaust and dam she sounds good! There's a misconception that all diesels sound like trucks?!

Rockdog

I am partial to a high performance V8. In the future, if a Corvette comes with a fuel cell but still hauls ***, so be it. Things will change though, no doubt.

mikesul

Love the V8, but maybe a carbon/ceramic diesel block along with lighter weight vehicle materials would be a faster car. Looking forward to what technology will bring us, and keeping my fingers crossed the result will still be fun to drive.

conecrusher

Don't care what a future Corvette weighs, or how it's powered, as long as it delivers performance better than or equal to today's car.

0corvette pilot

and I'm sure it will be. People were afraid of fuel injection, computers, OBD and they actually enhanced performance.

adias

The current politics hurts Detroit's (GM and Ford) on the sports car side and favors the Europeans, since small production (Ferrari/Lambo/Maser) are unaffected and Porsche/Audi are averaged out by VW which can easily meet the regs as it is not encumbered by gas-mileage-inefficient truck production.

adias

I'm not so sure. I fully remember the late 70s/80s and the auto appliances produced then.

The problem is the government. I believe that the market would sort out these issues far better, more efficiently and with better results. Government regs have a way to destabilize and disincentivise progress.