Does the Ferrari 458 "need" AWD? The better solution is a move to rear mid-mounted configuration. That would help solve the acceleration traction concern that some point to. It would also lighten the steering effort and make the car feel more nimble. Getting rid of the ultra-low profile tires would help too. Going to smaller lighter wheels would reduce rotational mass, the higher profile tires would improve accerleration traction all of which would improve acceleration in the 0-60 range. Most of the benefits of AWD without the extra weight, complexity, increased rotational mass, reduced handling, torque steer and general deadening of the handling feel.


Oh, and that configuration would allow them to offer AWD without screwing the car up for the rest of us that realize AWD is not optimal for a sports car and its intended purpose. AWD is for off-roading, driving too fast for your brakes in poor traction conditions, and for driving too fast for one's skills.

 

Corvette needs to keep doing what it's been doing for the last half-century. Front engine, rear drive, V8 two seater. Simple as that.

We have a million other options for engine/drivetrain orientation, number of driving wheels, curb weights, passenger configurations... just leave the dang car as it is to continue inspiring and fulfilling as it always has.

I love Orange Juice. I have had all kinds of Passion/Guava/Mango/Calcium-added/Vitamin C-added/Concentrate/Not-Concentrate varieties of Orange Juice... and at the end of the day, tasty as all that weird hybrid crap may have been or whatever parts of my palette it may have satisfied-

I still just want a plain old glass of fricken Orange Juice.

 

Don't flatter yourself. Unless you get paid to race, you're not skilled enough to get the most out of a Z06 or ZR1 at the limit, and would unquestionably post better lap times in a 2013 GTR, because of the AWD. Period. End of story.

 

In reading all the replies I am wondering what exactly is polarizing about the spy shots or what we can see. Is it because the design itself does not "reach out far enough”? Or is it more the rear end that people dislike? Is the disdain for the tail lights because they look Camaro-like or because they are square?

For me, if they look Camaro-like then I would not like them, perhaps they would grow on me much like this design is growing on me. As you know the Vette had squarish lights in the C4 ZR-1 and later C4 base models. The C5 tail lights were neither round nor square, but more oval in shape. So there is precedent for not having round tail lights. I think if they clean up the rear then I may fall in love with the design.

 

For me, its because of the Stingray Concept. That car was so unimaginably better looking than the Jalopnik car, in every single way, that even a toned-down production version like this:



Would have been preferable to this test car.

 

Wow, I really like this too. I would have been ok with a toned down version. I think they could have still done more to this one, but it is a close start.

 

Hopefully the new 2012 Viper will look better.

 

Eye of the beholder. The Transformers movie concept that inspired that should be dropped in a Chilean mine. So ugly.

 

maybe it's just me, but the thrill is gone.

 

Not verifiable at all, so not end of story. Think that as it you may, and this isnt a cheap shot at you, maybe you shouldnt base others driving abilities on your limits?

I summed it up before this way. Two guys(lets say they both owned a stunning 2002 mustang GT before) buy a 2013 Z07 and a 2013 GTR. 5,000 miles later they go to a track feeling used to the car. Obviously on the track, a whole nother side is revealed about the cars. GTR guy posts a 2:10, Z07 guy posts a 2:15.

Many miles and little events later, 6 months later they go same track, same day. GTR guy posts a 2:09 Z07 guy posts a 2:10, still worse the the GTR. 6 more months later, same thing, only this time the GTR guy post a 2:08 and Z07 guy posts a 2.05. Year and a half later: GTR 2.08 Z07 2.01.

GTR will post crazy lap times almost regardless of skill correct. The z06 zr1 or even base vette might not. But the difference is, get used to the feel, suspension, break away points, etc... and the vette will beat the GTR. With the GTR you dont keep pushing harder, because you dont need to and because the awd/computer saves you. And even if you do, your still limited by the awd/computer stepping in to drive the car how it best sees fit. The vette guy can keep improving, keep driving hard, add a little more throttle around each corner. With the vette your limited by your ability. Personally, I'd rather them make a car thats superior to another car, even if only with practice because I'd rather improve myself(thats generally free just FYI) instead of buying an inferior car that has already peaked from the factory. The reality is, just because one is lacking behind the wheel, does not make a car inferior.

Cliffnotes: Hard to drive great car > easy to drive good car. Period.

 

Exactly.

 

Huh?
How do YOU know how good of a driver he is or isn't?
The ZR1 in the video I posted a page back of it doing some incredible things was piloted by a mere mortal man who simply owns a few fast cars, NOT a life long trained, professional race car driver. Heck, he might even be a lawyer or an accountant LOL.

 

With a nose like that, no need for a Groucho Marx mask for Halloween. It was meant to give some character to a movie car. And should be left as such.

 

Because this is the unanimous consensus from non-Corvette apologists-It doesn't matter how many HPDEs you do in your free time; if you're not a professional, the AWD car will make you look better on the track than the RWD car. Don't take my word for it, find someone with a new GTR and drive theirs. It's not meant to be offensive or say that anyone is a bad driver AT ALL-just that even being an exceptional driver doesn't cut it in this case. What's required to make a C6 Z06 beat a GTR is more than an arm chair AUTO-X racer can muster in almost all cases. If I'm wrong, I've never seen an iota of evidence of it, either in real life, or in the automotive press.

 

I am not flattering myself, I know myself. There is a huge difference between faster around any particular track and a better handling car. Lotus Elise was better handling car than my C5 Z06, by a significant margin. It was thrilling to drive on the street and the track. It was a Blast. However, after reaching 60 mph the Vette kicked it in the behind in acceleration and had a top speed that was more that 30mph higher. The Vette would win on every track I went to. The Vette was a better daily driver, it was more comfortable.

A NASCAR stock car could probably beat a Z06 around a track, but the Vette would be better handling and more fun to drive.

If someone gave a choice between a Veyron and Ferrari 458 for free I would take the 458 instead the Veyron AWD pig, I don't care how quick or fast the Veyron is. It is still does not exceed the 458 as a fun to drive car. Heck I would rather have a Z06, or a V-8 Atom than a Veyron.

AWD is not the optimal design solution for a high performance sports car, except for adverse traction conditions in a controlled environoment with a driver that shows good sense for the conditions. That does not appear to be the cars for majority of the drivers I see on the street. Of course maybe you only notice the idiots when the weather is bad.

When I want to drive a heavy pig of a vehicle I don't go halfway, I drive a diesel Excursion, but I never decieve myself into think it has the optimal design for the intended purpose of a high performance sports car. But sure does kick the Vette's behind in luggage space. The right tool for the job. No matter how many times you use a hammer as screwdriver, it will never be a screwdriver.

 

+ 100000000

 

All those things would be good too but I'm not holding my breath. I'm not even predicting AWD on the C7. I'm just pointing out that it is becoming important to a growing number of potential customers. Offer it as an option to those who want it. The rest can pass on it. Use hybrid technologies that don't require designing around the AWD. I've read all the objections but GM has to sell cars. Might just be better to build what people want instead of taking a purist approach and losing out to innovative competitors.

 

Well said.

Like I've said many times, the options for mid-engined AWD, mid-engined RWD, front-engined AWD and front-engined RWD cars are out there... If you make the Corvette AWD, you lose one of these configurations.

If you want AWD, go buy an AWD car. /story

 

That's a whole lot of trouble just to keep mom and pop entertained in the Chevy showroom.

 

Well, yes. Building cars that people will buy has always been a whole lot of trouble. Not sure what you mean by entertaining Mom and Pop in the showroom but I do know that there are more formidable competitors in this business than ever before and AWD isn't going away any time soon.