CTCV

The June 15th edition of the WSJ: " GM's Latest Change Agent Tackles Designs, Red Tape "

Mentions Mary Barra as the replacement in the position formerly held by Bob Lutz, head of vehicle development. Included in the recap Design Rules:

" Key upcoming new launches from GM's new product chief "

" Chevrolet Corvette: The iconic hot rod is getting a wholesale makeover for 2013. " Did not include any other details

I Bin Therbefor

Mary, Reuss says 2014 model year. IMO at the 2013 Bash held at the NCM in spring of 2013.

HarryWild

I still think it going to be a 2013 year model in 2012 year! Just make sense that they would do it ASAP - to try to increase sales for Chevrolet. It a world make now; and if they can get a "hot" model; they can imported worldwide. All of their competitors are doing well in worldwide sales - Ferrari, Lambo, Lotus, Audi, Mercedes, Nissan and Porsche.

I think the management at Chevrolet and GM in general wants a Corvette that can reduce the sales of Porsche numbers in the U.S. Plus current Corvette owners are looking at the next model Corvette too. It has to appeal to new buyers; as well as current owners but I would weigh it towards new buyers since it the first global Corvette model offerred.

Almost There

DCT and the tenneco sources KDSS system would transform the vette. All that needs to be done, the design of magnetic shocks are intrinsically flawed

ZL-1

These are all good reasons, but first the car has to be ready. Nothing would be worse for Corvette than to rush out another new model "ASAP" and have quality glitches. Plant upgrades will take time, there's talk of using an aluminum frame for all models and building it in-house at B.G. The DCT, when available, won't be built at B.G. though.

1KULC7

Monitor the US Patten Office. Remember when the C6 came out, much of the newer designs showed up about a year before release and many from this forum was able to piece together a good picture of the C6....

C6LSx

If my guess is worth anything - at the very earliest, my guess would be that C7 will debut in the spring of 2013 as a Model Year 2014 - C7.

Just as C4 made it debut in spring of 1983 as a 1984 Model - I would not be surprised at all to see a repeat of the past.

Even though I don't consider myself to be personally "superstitious" - I don't think it would be wise to launch the newest generation of such an iconic American sports car in any year ending in 13.

Guibo

What's flawed about them?

SteveRiellyNZ

I wouldn't think GM would initially build its own DCT, if it were going to go down that road.
There's bound to be independent manufacturer's out there that they can license the tech, so no production costs, just direct and 'instant' access. McLaren did this by sourcing theirs from Italy, Merc use Getrag, no reason GM couldn't do the same.

Maybe later it would move inhouse, but only if it made financial ( greater profit ), to do so, but that would be someway down the track.

All model aluminum chassis would be totally logical, and it can be used on coupe and convertible models, as plenty of cars out there are already doing this.

GM have to be listening not only to the existing market, but what it thinks its potential market and competition, so the C7 is bound to be a great step forward. Frankly they must know that if they don't do a brilliant job, it's potentially going to kill the brand.

SteveRiellyNZ

The only thing I've heard is that the setup is too harsh. But that's simply tuning needed. GM Holden use this, and it works well, but it could be that we're used to slightly harder/sportier ride, so its a natural setup.
We certainly don't have the harsh roads that you guys do.

JerriVette

18 months from now is the on sale date.

RonnieC6Z

And how do you know this???

marcolin

i have the same question

JerriVette

Ackerson said it in his recent interview that GM's new sports car would release 18 months from now...(from last month)

marcolin

Mary,

AU N EGL

2014 model introduced in 2013

Coupe LS3 with 450 base HP

Vert in 2014 as 2015 model

Z06 in 2015 a 2016 model


just say'n

Extreme Engineering

I would introduce the C7 as the 60th anniversary, however, It wouldn't surprise me to see that they will use the anniversary model as the last of the generation to help sales and collectability....

Jinx

No way GM is going to rush C7 and lose an opportunity to crank out tarted-up anniversary-edition C6s, especially for Z06 and ZR1, which won't exist in the first year of C7 (if ever).

kp1a

I agree 110%.

VETTE-NV

I go back and forth on this one.

After looking at the dismal sales numbers of the 2011 model year, I can't imagine GM putting up with two more model years of the current car. What the GM execs have recently said about the 2014 model year means little.........tipping their hand this early that the C7 would be 2013 car will kill 2012 sales completely. Most of the car mags are also sticking with 2013 as the model year for the C7.

As far as "rushing" the car out, we have no idea how long they've been working on the C7. Mules disguised as C6's may have already been on the road for months. Taking advantage of the 60th anniversary of the Corvette to introduce a new car would seem to be too good to pass up, and makes more sense than yet another tacky limited edition version of the C6.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the C7 unveiled at the Detroit show this January, with a late fall or early winter introduction.....or maybe this is just all wishful thinking on my part.