Update from GM
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Oita, Japan
G'day,
Any word if RHD is planned for the C7? GM will be shooting itself in the foot if it does not look to satisfy this niche, but important market.
When General Motors Holden in Australia was considering introducing the Monaro, a two door version of the Holden Commodore four door sedan, the beancounters told the designers that they would have to sell 6,000 Monaros before a profit was made on them. They ended up selling about 50,000.
Then, when Pontiac wanted a Left Hand Drive version of the Monaro re-badged as a Pontiac GTO, the beancounters said that at least 2,000 LHD coupes would need to be sold before a profit was made. I believe that 30,000 GTOs were sent to the US and Canada.
I know a Monaro is a different car to a Corvette, but the firewall and dashboards of both are not too different from a function perspective.
So, the point is this: how many RHD Corvettes would Bowling Green have to make before they started to show a profit? Is 2,000 about right? If not, what IS the correct figure?
RHD Corvettes would have a ready world market in Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, as well as several smaller countries where RHD is the norm.
At a time when the Corvette factory is closed Fridays, and making just over half the cars that they were building only a year or two ago, I just cannot understand why GM are not looking at every possible way to increase the output of Bowling Green. And RHD will increase sales.
Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen and EVERY other manufacturer in the world builds both LHD and RHD cars and trucks. Every company but Ford America and GM. Maybe that's why Toyota is now the #1 car manufacturer in the world. They listen to what the customer wants.
And this customer is telling GM that he wants a Right Hand Drive Corvette. Why won't they listen?
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
3 days to go
Any word if RHD is planned for the C7? GM will be shooting itself in the foot if it does not look to satisfy this niche, but important market.
When General Motors Holden in Australia was considering introducing the Monaro, a two door version of the Holden Commodore four door sedan, the beancounters told the designers that they would have to sell 6,000 Monaros before a profit was made on them. They ended up selling about 50,000.
Then, when Pontiac wanted a Left Hand Drive version of the Monaro re-badged as a Pontiac GTO, the beancounters said that at least 2,000 LHD coupes would need to be sold before a profit was made. I believe that 30,000 GTOs were sent to the US and Canada.
I know a Monaro is a different car to a Corvette, but the firewall and dashboards of both are not too different from a function perspective.
So, the point is this: how many RHD Corvettes would Bowling Green have to make before they started to show a profit? Is 2,000 about right? If not, what IS the correct figure?
RHD Corvettes would have a ready world market in Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, as well as several smaller countries where RHD is the norm.
At a time when the Corvette factory is closed Fridays, and making just over half the cars that they were building only a year or two ago, I just cannot understand why GM are not looking at every possible way to increase the output of Bowling Green. And RHD will increase sales.
Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen and EVERY other manufacturer in the world builds both LHD and RHD cars and trucks. Every company but Ford America and GM. Maybe that's why Toyota is now the #1 car manufacturer in the world. They listen to what the customer wants.
And this customer is telling GM that he wants a Right Hand Drive Corvette. Why won't they listen?
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
3 days to go
A while ago, before the current downturn in the business, I read that GM was designing the c7 to be able to be produced as a RHD car (the c6 wasn't). I also read that there would definitely be a RHD Camaro offered. After the downturn and government bailouts, I read that the RHD Camaro was scrapped. Its too bad, I think they would sell well here.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 615
From: Springfield TN
I think the new Stingray concept is a great starting point, but the LED headlights should be taken from the fender ridges and run across the front lip of the hood on each side of the centerline. That, and with the addition of some serious exhaust pipes in the back, would be a fine looking car.
Since the C6 already has stiff chassis, great f/r balance, etc., maybe just lighten it a bit, add a dual clutch option, and drive on!
Since the C6 already has stiff chassis, great f/r balance, etc., maybe just lighten it a bit, add a dual clutch option, and drive on!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,047
Likes: 4
Here are some of the concept photos we've been collecting and a link to our C7 news archive:
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/index...1ECC1208911BEF
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/index...1ECC1208911BEF
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 0
From: East Hampton Connecticut
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 9
From: O'Fallon MO
Out of all of those the only one I would consider is the concept car, and I would buy that in a minute.
Unfortunately I highly doubt that it would go to production looking just like that. If it does it would probably look more like the 1st pic (C6/concept mix) in which case I will keep my $$ and wait another 6yrs for the C8, which by then may just be the 1st Corvette to leave the ground, and have it's power measured in thrust not HP LOL
Unfortunately I highly doubt that it would go to production looking just like that. If it does it would probably look more like the 1st pic (C6/concept mix) in which case I will keep my $$ and wait another 6yrs for the C8, which by then may just be the 1st Corvette to leave the ground, and have it's power measured in thrust not HP LOL
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 15,309
Likes: 2,265
From: NorCal
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 0
From: Rowayton Ct.
I think we will find out that the C7 will look great, perform even better than the C6, and will have some cool technology that is useful and effective. GM hasn't screwed up a new Vette for a long time, and I think they won't start now.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 10
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
G'day,
Any word if RHD is planned for the C7? GM will be shooting itself in the foot if it does not look to satisfy this niche, but important market.
When General Motors Holden in Australia was considering introducing the Monaro, a two door version of the Holden Commodore four door sedan, the beancounters told the designers that they would have to sell 6,000 Monaros before a profit was made on them. They ended up selling about 50,000.
Then, when Pontiac wanted a Left Hand Drive version of the Monaro re-badged as a Pontiac GTO, the beancounters said that at least 2,000 LHD coupes would need to be sold before a profit was made. I believe that 30,000 GTOs were sent to the US and Canada.
I know a Monaro is a different car to a Corvette, but the firewall and dashboards of both are not too different from a function perspective.
So, the point is this: how many RHD Corvettes would Bowling Green have to make before they started to show a profit? Is 2,000 about right? If not, what IS the correct figure?
RHD Corvettes would have a ready world market in Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, as well as several smaller countries where RHD is the norm.
At a time when the Corvette factory is closed Fridays, and making just over half the cars that they were building only a year or two ago, I just cannot understand why GM are not looking at every possible way to increase the output of Bowling Green. And RHD will increase sales.
Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen and EVERY other manufacturer in the world builds both LHD and RHD cars and trucks. Every company but Ford America and GM. Maybe that's why Toyota is now the #1 car manufacturer in the world. They listen to what the customer wants.
And this customer is telling GM that he wants a Right Hand Drive Corvette. Why won't they listen?
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
3 days to go
Any word if RHD is planned for the C7? GM will be shooting itself in the foot if it does not look to satisfy this niche, but important market.
When General Motors Holden in Australia was considering introducing the Monaro, a two door version of the Holden Commodore four door sedan, the beancounters told the designers that they would have to sell 6,000 Monaros before a profit was made on them. They ended up selling about 50,000.
Then, when Pontiac wanted a Left Hand Drive version of the Monaro re-badged as a Pontiac GTO, the beancounters said that at least 2,000 LHD coupes would need to be sold before a profit was made. I believe that 30,000 GTOs were sent to the US and Canada.
I know a Monaro is a different car to a Corvette, but the firewall and dashboards of both are not too different from a function perspective.
So, the point is this: how many RHD Corvettes would Bowling Green have to make before they started to show a profit? Is 2,000 about right? If not, what IS the correct figure?
RHD Corvettes would have a ready world market in Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, as well as several smaller countries where RHD is the norm.
At a time when the Corvette factory is closed Fridays, and making just over half the cars that they were building only a year or two ago, I just cannot understand why GM are not looking at every possible way to increase the output of Bowling Green. And RHD will increase sales.
Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen and EVERY other manufacturer in the world builds both LHD and RHD cars and trucks. Every company but Ford America and GM. Maybe that's why Toyota is now the #1 car manufacturer in the world. They listen to what the customer wants.
And this customer is telling GM that he wants a Right Hand Drive Corvette. Why won't they listen?
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
3 days to go
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 0
From: santa rosa beach florida
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 0
From: santa rosa beach florida
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,767
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne, Arkansas
Cruise-In X Veteran
Now I like the look of these!! Especially the bottom one!!
The last one looks to possibly be what would have been the mid Engine platform...............
Mark
Last edited by 08VRZ06; Nov 19, 2009 at 02:31 PM.
