How will this affect the C7 Motor design?
11-05-2011, 11:27 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by Thompyt
the bragging rights of offering the first ever 600+ horsepower supercar is definitely something that will get the attention of gearheads around the world
11-05-2011, 11:35 PM
#22
Burning Brakes
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11-06-2011, 01:51 PM
#23
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11-06-2011, 03:23 PM
#24
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Got it. Yeah didn't follow the link, what a silly statement. The ZR1 is over 600hp and the Viper hit the 600 mark right before its hiatus; oh well. Thanks for the info, but I'm on board with the others that the Corvette will not likely alter anything to deal with this. As long as the base model Corvette accelerates somewhat comparatively to the top Mustang, it will always outperform it in the long race due to better weight distribution, much lower weight, same or slightly larger rubber, and better top-end performance, even with a large power difference.
11-06-2011, 11:06 PM
#25
Le Mans Master
The problem may very well be one of GM under estimating Ford 
While GM focuses on the foreign competition and replacing the aging baby boomers the local competition (Ford) is serious about improving the Mustang.
Now comparing Mustangs to Corvettes will not be like apples to oranges if the Mustang can perform on par with a Corvette
How many people are going to spend a material amount of money on a Corvette if the Ford Mustang can handle as well if not better with more horsepower power?
GM focusing on changing the appeal of the Corvette to a younger market may find itself with a smaller market if Ford as well as the foreign competition produce a more powerful better handling performance car.
It would be best to make changes to the new C7 prior to its release if it can not handily out class the Mustang as well as its foreign competitors right from the get go
While GM focuses on the foreign competition and replacing the aging baby boomers the local competition (Ford) is serious about improving the Mustang.
Now comparing Mustangs to Corvettes will not be like apples to oranges if the Mustang can perform on par with a Corvette
How many people are going to spend a material amount of money on a Corvette if the Ford Mustang can handle as well if not better with more horsepower power?
GM focusing on changing the appeal of the Corvette to a younger market may find itself with a smaller market if Ford as well as the foreign competition produce a more powerful better handling performance car.
It would be best to make changes to the new C7 prior to its release if it can not handily out class the Mustang as well as its foreign competitors right from the get go
11-06-2011, 11:37 PM
#26
Le Mans Master
How many people are going to spend a material amount of money on a Corvette if the Ford Mustang can handle as well if not better with more horsepower power?
There has been and must be more to Corvette than quarter-mile and lap times. I think it's a mistake for Corvette to chase the pure-numbers guys; there just aren't enough of them. Most people want a blend of style, luxury, technology, practicality, and performance -- even sports-car buyers, and especially buyers with $50K or more to spend on an automobile. (And even moreso than buyers with $50K to spend on a toy.)
.Jinx
11-07-2011, 01:11 AM
#27
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11-07-2011, 01:48 AM
#28
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I don't really see your point; the CTS-V has similar power, more torque, and similar acceleration, and nobody here has anything bad to say about that. Sure it's heavier (~4200lbs +/- iirc) but it's also more aggressively geared. 4.2 to 60 is a great time for a 3850-pound car, not to mention one under $50k. I'm no Ford guy but come on.
11-07-2011, 11:10 PM
#29
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I don't really see your point; the CTS-V has similar power, more torque, and similar acceleration, and nobody here has anything bad to say about that. Sure it's heavier (~4200lbs +/- iirc) but it's also more aggressively geared. 4.2 to 60 is a great time for a 3850-pound car, not to mention one under $50k. I'm no Ford guy but come on.
11-07-2011, 11:30 PM
#30
Burning Brakes
How many people buy Porsches and BMWs and Audis despite Corvette handling as well if not better with more horsepower power?
There has been and must be more to Corvette than quarter-mile and lap times. I think it's a mistake for Corvette to chase the pure-numbers guys; there just aren't enough of them. Most people want a blend of style, luxury, technology, practicality, and performance -- even sports-car buyers, and especially buyers with $50K or more to spend on an automobile. (And even moreso than buyers with $50K to spend on a toy.)
.Jinx
There has been and must be more to Corvette than quarter-mile and lap times. I think it's a mistake for Corvette to chase the pure-numbers guys; there just aren't enough of them. Most people want a blend of style, luxury, technology, practicality, and performance -- even sports-car buyers, and especially buyers with $50K or more to spend on an automobile. (And even moreso than buyers with $50K to spend on a toy.)
.Jinx
11-08-2011, 01:34 AM
#31
Le Mans Master
The older crowd probably never races or even drives their car fast. They just want the look, sound and feel, and probably grew up lusting over the older guys who looked cool driving them when they were kids. Now they want to be that guy. More appeal than substance. The Corvette is still a status symbol. Yes, it has a lot of substance also, but as you allude to, that is not all it is about.
11-08-2011, 11:48 AM
#32
How many people buy Porsches and BMWs and Audis despite Corvette handling as well if not better with more horsepower power?
There has been and must be more to Corvette than quarter-mile and lap times. I think it's a mistake for Corvette to chase the pure-numbers guys; there just aren't enough of them. Most people want a blend of style, luxury, technology, practicality, and performance -- even sports-car buyers, and especially buyers with $50K or more to spend on an automobile. (And even moreso than buyers with $50K to spend on a toy.)
.Jinx
There has been and must be more to Corvette than quarter-mile and lap times. I think it's a mistake for Corvette to chase the pure-numbers guys; there just aren't enough of them. Most people want a blend of style, luxury, technology, practicality, and performance -- even sports-car buyers, and especially buyers with $50K or more to spend on an automobile. (And even moreso than buyers with $50K to spend on a toy.)
.Jinx
11-08-2011, 12:09 PM
#33
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
You could take sales from the other manufacturors by teaching. As most have found out, there are times at the dealership where the buyer is more informed than the salesman. Let the word out about the car and teach the other brand owners. Like the original post about the upgraded motor for the Mustang encroaching on the Vette. There is knowledge being put out to another audiance. Chevy could take some ideas from this and place the same in the LS series. Direct injection adds MPG and power while keeping it in a small package. With a better suspension in the Vette, this would keep the Vette above par from an evolved Mustang.
11-09-2011, 02:33 AM
#34
Burning Brakes
GM can say that Mustang is not competition for Corvette all they want, but it's a fact that a significant part of Corvette's historical appeal has been its "king of the road" level of power. Some traditional Corvette buyers are turned off or feel betrayed when any car that costs less has more horsepower; others are a little more realistic and just get miffed when any car that costs less can beat Corvette from a stoplight. To these people, it's not enough that Corvette looks better, handles better, laps faster, has a better interior. And these people have a point.
And no matter what GM says, they are paying attention to what's under the hood of the hottest Mustangs. What they're not doing is worrying about maintaining parity between the base Corvette and those limited-edition hotrods, or changing their engineering direction to satisfy bench-racing box-checkers.
So I'd say aside from getting filed as another reference to support the case for the higher-spec Corvette engines that were surely already in development, this news doesn't affect the C7 motor design.
But it's always good to hear what the Ford guys are doing. No doubt they build some nice powerplants.
.Jinx
And no matter what GM says, they are paying attention to what's under the hood of the hottest Mustangs. What they're not doing is worrying about maintaining parity between the base Corvette and those limited-edition hotrods, or changing their engineering direction to satisfy bench-racing box-checkers.
So I'd say aside from getting filed as another reference to support the case for the higher-spec Corvette engines that were surely already in development, this news doesn't affect the C7 motor design.
But it's always good to hear what the Ford guys are doing. No doubt they build some nice powerplants.
.Jinx
11-09-2011, 02:35 AM
#35
Burning Brakes
11-09-2011, 02:46 AM
#36
Burning Brakes
I don't really see your point; the CTS-V has similar power, more torque, and similar acceleration, and nobody here has anything bad to say about that. Sure it's heavier (~4200lbs +/- iirc) but it's also more aggressively geared. 4.2 to 60 is a great time for a 3850-pound car, not to mention one under $50k. I'm no Ford guy but come on.
The CTS-V is not "similar" in acceleration 0-60 in 3.9 and the curb weight is around 4254 lb. mustang hp are always bogus, i don't care if its 650+ hp it will do poorly in the real world. I'm with you on the price it would be a great car if yo see the spec sheet, but i feel being ripped off with those numbers it doesn't deliver what it says on the sheet.
11-09-2011, 01:37 PM
#37
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you call that delivering ?
11-09-2011, 01:38 PM
#38
I won't speak for him, but my take on his comment was that he felt the GT500 does not perform as well as he would have expected for a 550hp car, due to the weight, not so much calling out Ford's power claims. The Ford engines are definitely impressive in that respect.
11-09-2011, 02:34 PM
#39
Burning Brakes
I never see any old guys in C6 Corvettes EVER when I go to the drag strip. Young guys in C4 and C5's.....yes. I never see them pass me on the Interstate either. Maybe I live in the wrong area.
I think I will be sticking around, though. I am learning a lot here lately.
