AFVETTE

Considering we know the base motor to be in the 5.5L 450HP range (am guessing 430TQ) and the current 436HP GS to have a power to weight ratio of around 7.68.

To offer better performance than the current GS and other cars like the new GT500 how much do you figure the C7 can or will weigh considering that power train specs.

Tom

m48xhp

"we" don't "know" this.

"we" "assume" this.

MitchAlsup

3200 pounds.

jackhall99

Thank you!

LS1LT1

Huh?




In fact, while I too used to think that the 5.5L was very possible, I certainly don't think so anymore.
I honestly think there is a much higher probability that the motor will be 6.2L or even 6.4L than it will be 5.5L.

As for weight, even with a power increase the C7 really still needs to have a base weight of around 3100 pounds (or less) in order to keep pace with some of the 'competition' out there that seems to be getting faster by the minute.
Not saying that it will be, but it certainly should be. Production costs and sales projections will likely dictate just how light they can make it.

Latterlon

A weight of 3,200 lbs or less for the base car should be mandatory, especially with reports of aluminum frames being made in house in BG. Lower weight will only improve all aspects of the car.

jackhall99

At what cost?

The current C6 weighs 3,311 with no options. The Z06 uses an aluminum frame you talk about and reduces that to 3,199 (with some other trade-offs in weight).

Where do you propose GM loses 111 pounds in the basic car, especially when other CF members are begging for a fancier, more luxurious interior? It just can't be done, along with keeping the cost of entry affordable.

Jinx

Base C6 in 2005 was 3280 lbs IIRC. So they have but 80 lbs to lose to hit the 3200 lb mark. A Z06-like aluminum frame, without the Z06 wide wheels & tires and oversized brakes, should get them to 3150 lbs, no?

With the exception of sound deadening, I don't think a better interior has to weigh more. Well, maybe a few pounds for less-flimsy seats.

.Jinx

JerriVette

I believe an offshoot of this design is possible for the upcoming C7

New Opel high performance seats debut in new Astra OPC
2012-01-25


Back to overview ... Print | Word | Share This | ■OPC seats with new organic material, saving 45 percent weight on seat shell
■Driving experience more sporty and dynamic than ever
■First seat in compact sports coupé segment certified by AGR healthy back experts

Rüsselsheim. The new Astra OPC, the most powerful Astra ever, will have a new high-performance bucket seat with state-of-the art technology, ready for the compact sports coupé’s world premiere at the international Geneva motor show on March 6. Both front seats increase the sporty and dynamic driving experience by introducing cutting-edge weight-saving material, a lower seating position and enhanced side support.


OPC (Opel Performance Center) engineers used an organic injection molded sheet in the performance seat shell, resulting in a weight saving of 45 percent compared to a conventional shell. The sheet is filled with a composite material of polyamide and fiber glass. The new material is both agile and strong and because of its strength it only needs to be one to two millimeters.


“Opel is the world’s first auto manufacturer to use this material in the shell of a production car seat,” says Armin Rossmann, the leader of the OPC seat development team. “The most powerful Astra ever deserves the best technology in all areas, including seating.”


The driver and his co-pilot can now enjoy an even more sporty driving experience as the seating position is 17 mm lower than in the Astra GTC coupé and even 40mm lower than the conventional Astra.


The lowering of the seats further increases the feeling for the car and the contact between the driver and the road.

The new seat boasts up to 18 different settings:


■Entire seat backwards and forwards (2)
■Entire seat upwards and downwards (2)
■Seat backrest backwards and forwards (2)
■Seat cushion angle adjustment (2)
■Seat cushion length extension (2)
■Four-way lumbar support adjustment (4)
■Adjustable side bolster support in back (2)
■Adjustable side bolster support in seat cushion (2)

The performance seat has the largest setting range in the compact sports coupé segment, allowing both the driver and his co-pilot a high degree of flexibility. In addition, pneumatically adjustable cushions are available for the flanks of the performance seat. They fit around every body shape and give support from the side at the push of a button. It can be ordered in three different leather, fabric and color combinations and will make its debut in the next generation Astra OPC.


Opel is the first car manufacturer to offer seats certified by the independent healthy back experts, AGR (“Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V”), starting in 2003 with the Signum. The AGR only approves seats with its quality seal that meet its high ergonomic standards. In order to be honored with the AGR seal, the seat has to fulfill a list of ten criteria. They include four-way lordosis support and that the seatback contours adapt exactly to the natural curvature of the spine. The new Astra OPC continues this tradition and brings the only AGR certified seat to the compact sports coupé segment.



Most powerful Astra ever


As the most powerful Astra ever, the OPC’s 2.0 liter direct injection engine delivers 206 kW/280 hp and 400 Nm of maximum torque. It can reach a speed of 250 km/h, making it the fastest Astra to date. The car is fitted with an exclusive high performance chassis with limited slip differential and Brembo-brakes.

All OPC (Opel Performance Center) technology is subjected to a 10,000 km high speed test program on the northern loop of the Nürburgring, the so called “Nordschleife”, to meet Opel’s high performance and safety criteria. 10,000 high-speed kilometers on the Nordschleife mean a stress factor times 18 on the car: they translate to around 180,000 km of driving on normal roads.

picture of seats http://media.opel.com/content/media/...opel_astra_opc

Racer X

I vote for a target of 2800 pounds. This would improve both gas mileage and performance.

Many places to lose weight.
Frame to aluminum ~130 pounds IIRC
Much lighter seats 50 pounds.
Carbon ceramic brakes, smaller, 20 pounds
More carbon fiber panels - 30 pounds
different rear glass - go to coated polycabonate and or smaller wnidow -20 pounds
Smaller lighter wheels 30 pounds
Plastic Alcantara interior instead of leather - 5 pounds
ditch side seat mounter airbags - 5 pounds
Tubular titanium headers and complete exhaust- 40 pounds
That's about 330 pounds - it's a good start.

jackhall99

Jinx, the '12 'vette starts at 3,311 pounds. I've read the aluminum frame in the Z06 saves 136 pounds, so 3,200 is reachable. However, what cost would we have to pay for that? I don't know, but it would not be free.

jackhall99

And jack the price up to completely unacceptable levels my friend. Well, you may want to pay that tax, but 95% of the public would realize GM had gone mad!

Plus, some of your recommendations impact safety and creature comforts. We don't need an ACR wearing a Corvette badge.

LS1LT1

Nice.
Note to Corvette Design/Build Team, PLEASE put something like these in the C7 as standard!

LS1LT1

3179 pounds actually.





I believe that is the heavier Grand Sport's base weight...the base Corvette LS3 manual is notably lighter than that, only 3208 pounds I believe.

These cars are lighter than some of you realize so a 3100 pound base model C7 is possible, it won't be free of course but it is possible to do without tacking on crazy costs.

jackhall99

Mea culpa.

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/en/p..._eBrochure.pdf

Page 21 shows it as 3,225. Sorry. Red face here.

25 pounds is doable, but the guys who want the better interior may not get that.

It's fun to think "what if". We'll all know soon enough.

CMCvette

Dear Chevy: Shoot for 3000 lbs, and yes, give us those great looking seats! Hey- you can get a GT500 with Recaros now, so the Vette should offer nothing of lesser quality or comfort!

LS1LT1

That's the thing, extreme weight saving measures along with a 'Ferrari 458 level' interior is going to add substantial costs. I just don't think that we're ready for a base model Corvette MSRPing at $60k+, I know I'm not.

Racer X

A guy can dream can't he?

So of those weight savings are not expensive. Actually smaller wheels are cheaper. The current trend for larger and larger wheels is for looks and larger brakes. But we know it is possible to use smaller wheels with the brakes bracuae some have done it. The smaller wheels will reduce unsprung weight and rotaional mass. This will improve handling and acceleration.

Lighter seats are not necessarily more expensive. They could be cheaper.

Make the seat mounted airbags something that get added with the optional heavier luxury seats.

Make a sports package and a luxury interior package.

Sports package has cloth or Alcantara surfaces, lightweight manual seats with harness wholes, lightweight carpet, heat sheilding but less sound deadening.

Luxury package gets all the full leather wrap interior, power 21-way seats with cacoon airbags, memory foam massaging seats, so much soundening you can't har anythong from the outside including police sirens, carpets like home, and maybe a crytal dome light.

They could do like Porsche and charge you extra for giving you less.

jackhall99

Oh, a guy can dream, for sure. But isn't the Z06 the model that is to do what you propose? Let GM take that to a little more extreme degree.

tolnep

its reported that the toyota scion fr-s/subaru brz will have a curb weight around 2700lb. this is in a car that has four seats. this in a car that will sell for around 25k.

of course this is apples to oranges, buy if those companies can produce such a car at that price, it would seem that chevy could get a vette in around 3000lb or even less. at least in a base car with less luxo items.

i wonder though if they are gonna go a different route, perhaps awd or at least take their q's from the zl1 and throw technology at the vette to get the performance up AND have an interior that competes with euro cars in a car that weighs between 3700 and 3800lbs, especially if it has awd.