More Carbon Fiber for C7?
10-01-2012, 11:15 PM
#1
More Carbon Fiber for C7?
10-01-2012, 11:42 PM
#2
Safety Car
That's a great find. Hmmm..., a high volume car being unveiled in January, 2013..., with a picture of a certain sports car in the article, and the Detroit Auto Show being the 99+ % time and place the C7 is going to be unveiled...?
10-02-2012, 12:07 AM
#4
Safety Car
This, along with the aluminum frame, will help towards the rumored 3050 pound weight. 
10-02-2012, 12:16 AM
#5
Team Owner
10-02-2012, 01:43 AM
#6
Drifting
I dunno, is the corvette at 30k units a year considered a "medium volume production car?" I feel that numbers a little low, that still says niche market car to me. However, it does say one odd thing. It says the srt viper and CURRENT corvette programs. That could indeed be a tip off.
Honestly though, my first thought was the cruze. The eco version doesn't just get a slow engine and tall gearing like you'd expect. It retains a decent hp turbo engine, but cuts a butt ton of weight, down to almost 3000lbs. That plus the aero improvement I believe make it the fastest version of the cruze, and I remember mag editors saying they really noticed the reduced weight in the corners. If they could knock the cruze down to 2850lbs, that would be a huge feat. My second guess, if medium production vehicle doesn't fit the corvette's production numbers, was the upcoming mustang. Ford has already said they want to cut noticeably weight on the next model(then again, I guess the next gen camaro and barracuda fit the bill too) and this certainly could help. The next base mustang PROBABLY will have either the focus ST or de-tuned focus RS as a base engine so well under 300hp. 200 less lbs would certainly keep it competitive. Dunno, guess we'll see.
Honestly though, my first thought was the cruze. The eco version doesn't just get a slow engine and tall gearing like you'd expect. It retains a decent hp turbo engine, but cuts a butt ton of weight, down to almost 3000lbs. That plus the aero improvement I believe make it the fastest version of the cruze, and I remember mag editors saying they really noticed the reduced weight in the corners. If they could knock the cruze down to 2850lbs, that would be a huge feat. My second guess, if medium production vehicle doesn't fit the corvette's production numbers, was the upcoming mustang. Ford has already said they want to cut noticeably weight on the next model(then again, I guess the next gen camaro and barracuda fit the bill too) and this certainly could help. The next base mustang PROBABLY will have either the focus ST or de-tuned focus RS as a base engine so well under 300hp. 200 less lbs would certainly keep it competitive. Dunno, guess we'll see.
10-02-2012, 04:43 AM
#7
Team Owner
Honestly though, my first thought was the cruze. The eco version doesn't just get a slow engine and tall gearing like you'd expect. It retains a decent hp turbo engine, but cuts a butt ton of weight, down to almost 3000lbs. That plus the aero improvement I believe make it the fastest version of the cruze, and I remember mag editors saying they really noticed the reduced weight in the corners. If they could knock the cruze down to 2850lbs, that would be a huge feat. My second guess, if medium production vehicle doesn't fit the corvette's production numbers, was the upcoming mustang. Ford has already said they want to cut noticeably weight on the next model(then again, I guess the next gen camaro and barracuda fit the bill too) and this certainly could help. The next base mustang PROBABLY will have either the focus ST or de-tuned focus RS as a base engine so well under 300hp. 200 less lbs would certainly keep it competitive. Dunno, guess we'll see.
The next gen Mustang (or Camaro) could make sense though but those certainly won't be out/released inside of the coming year.
10-02-2012, 08:06 AM
#9
Team Owner
Because the new process may allow for faster production of parts, that may manifest itself in savings but they still are not going to be cheap.
My guess is that it will be the vette or another car that has a fairly high price tag.
Someone mentioned a 30K annual production of vettes. It's been a while since that happened, with production numbers being about half of that.
My guess is that it will be the vette or another car that has a fairly high price tag.
Someone mentioned a 30K annual production of vettes. It's been a while since that happened, with production numbers being about half of that.
10-02-2012, 09:32 AM
#10
Team Owner
Because the new process may allow for faster production of parts, that may manifest itself in savings but they still are not going to be cheap.
My guess is that it will be the vette or another car that has a fairly high price tag.
Someone mentioned a 30K annual production of vettes. It's been a while since that happened, with production numbers being about half of that.
My guess is that it will be the vette or another car that has a fairly high price tag.
Someone mentioned a 30K annual production of vettes. It's been a while since that happened, with production numbers being about half of that.
The article also says a "higher" production car, not a high production car. Most cars with CF body panels have lower production numbers than the Corvette.
10-02-2012, 04:57 PM
#11
Team Owner
There was talk a while back by Harlan or Tadge,I get those guys mixed up,about the use of carbon fiber and lighter weight for the next Vette.The Vette sales always slow down towards the end of the model run and we had that little thing back in 08 and so on with the economy going south.The Vette sells well over all.Now if they go price it at 4 million dollars to get in,then that might be an issue!