Is the C7 really a C5?
07-22-2013, 12:37 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Is the C7 really a C5?
Reflect back on the degree of change from C1 to C2, C2 to C3, C3 to C4, then C4 to C5. Each of these changes were dramatic, represented a major change and evolution from the previous generation and were ahead of any vehicles in production at the time of the introduction. IMO the C5, C6 and C7 are essentially the same car in structural layout with only system changes and electronic upgrades. I anxiously await a Corvette that moves us forward like the concept Corvettes of the late 70's and 80's.
07-22-2013, 12:47 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
More like C3 to C4. C4 to c5 to c6 was more like a continuous evolution, but all modern cars. The C7 is similar to the C6 in structural architecture, but the technology content has been dramatically increased.
07-22-2013, 12:54 PM
#6
Race Director
Reflect back on the degree of change from C1 to C2, C2 to C3, C3 to C4, then C4 to C5. Each of these changes were dramatic, represented a major change and evolution from the previous generation and were ahead of any vehicles in production at the time of the introduction. IMO the C5, C6 and C7 are essentially the same car in structural layout with only system changes and electronic upgrades. I anxiously await a Corvette that moves us forward like the concept Corvettes of the late 70's and 80's.
The C7 is also a dramatic change vs. the C6 in exactly the same things, including not all that much of an HP boost vs. its direct predecessor.
I thought that was what you were getting at, so I was surprised to read your analysis, with which I strongly disagree....
07-22-2013, 12:54 PM
#7
Intermediate
Member Since: Jul 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can see where people can say the c5, c6, and c7 all look very similar. Why mess with a good thing though? I think it's a very nice evolution where some body work has been changed unlike the Porsche's, where they change only the headlight and taillight design and call it a new model
07-22-2013, 01:19 PM
#10
Are C5 and C7 suspension parts interchangeable like they were with the C6?
07-22-2013, 01:19 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Sep 2004
Location: North/Central NJ - a.k.a. Gotti in the CFNE section
Posts: 7,740
Received 1,544 Likes
on
527 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
I've been here a while and have owned several gens, most recently a C6, and before that a C5 z06 and before that a C5, etc...
I can safely say a C6 is really a C5.5 ... but honestly the C7 is like the C4 -> C5 (huge changes).... C7 isn't even close to a C6... now the car isn't out yet, but from the pics, seeing it in person, and all the new technology, frame, engine, etc..... its VERY different.
To me the C6 drove similar to the C5 (just more refined), haven't driven a C7 yet but from all the things I am hearing it's going to drive much more ala porsche/ferrari
I can safely say a C6 is really a C5.5 ... but honestly the C7 is like the C4 -> C5 (huge changes).... C7 isn't even close to a C6... now the car isn't out yet, but from the pics, seeing it in person, and all the new technology, frame, engine, etc..... its VERY different.
To me the C6 drove similar to the C5 (just more refined), haven't driven a C7 yet but from all the things I am hearing it's going to drive much more ala porsche/ferrari
07-22-2013, 01:34 PM
#12
Please tell us you don't really believe that.
The C7 has an entirely new frame with welded sections of different gauges depending on need. The C7 employs composites in many more locations. The C7 has entirely new
amounts of individual tailoring allowed in suspension choices, dash display choices, economy choices, exhaust note choices. The C7 has a completely new seat design.
Those are a lot of changes and we haven't touched the subject of aerodynamics. Each of the Corvette designs were significant improvements over their predecessors = the C5 to C6 maybe the lesser amount of change than in the other cases. The C7 has only two parts carried over from the C6 - cabin filter and removable top latch.
The C7 has an entirely new frame with welded sections of different gauges depending on need. The C7 employs composites in many more locations. The C7 has entirely new
amounts of individual tailoring allowed in suspension choices, dash display choices, economy choices, exhaust note choices. The C7 has a completely new seat design.
Those are a lot of changes and we haven't touched the subject of aerodynamics. Each of the Corvette designs were significant improvements over their predecessors = the C5 to C6 maybe the lesser amount of change than in the other cases. The C7 has only two parts carried over from the C6 - cabin filter and removable top latch.
07-22-2013, 01:55 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
The C6 was simply smart of GM to produce rather than doing what they did on the C3 and C4 where they made changes every year.
Compare 3 sets of cars...
68 / 82
84 / 96
97 / 13
GM did do more of a change for the C6 than they did over the C4 or C3 years but fact is it's simply an evolutionary change. GM realized they would sell more cars, make more money, etc. by calling the C6 a new generation rather than simply applying the updates to the C5.
The C7 is all new as well. There is a reason why the tooling change is taking so long this time, as it did in 1997. In 1997 they built less than half of what they did in 1996 (they built less than 10,000 '97 cars). Fast forward to 2004/ 2005. They built MORE 2005's (37,000 I think, vs 35000 from 2004). Furthermore, they didn't short change 2004 (sometimes what the manufacturer will do is a short ending run, in 04 they built about the same as they did in 03).
What GM did in 1996 and again in 2013 is build more cars than the prior years. Then they go through months of retooling to build the new cars, followed by a short production run the first year. This follows suit back to C3 to C4 when they took so long they missed the entire 83 model year!
This tooling change, or lack thereof, is the most telling thing about how different a platform is.
Compare 3 sets of cars...
68 / 82
84 / 96
97 / 13
GM did do more of a change for the C6 than they did over the C4 or C3 years but fact is it's simply an evolutionary change. GM realized they would sell more cars, make more money, etc. by calling the C6 a new generation rather than simply applying the updates to the C5.
The C7 is all new as well. There is a reason why the tooling change is taking so long this time, as it did in 1997. In 1997 they built less than half of what they did in 1996 (they built less than 10,000 '97 cars). Fast forward to 2004/ 2005. They built MORE 2005's (37,000 I think, vs 35000 from 2004). Furthermore, they didn't short change 2004 (sometimes what the manufacturer will do is a short ending run, in 04 they built about the same as they did in 03).
What GM did in 1996 and again in 2013 is build more cars than the prior years. Then they go through months of retooling to build the new cars, followed by a short production run the first year. This follows suit back to C3 to C4 when they took so long they missed the entire 83 model year!
This tooling change, or lack thereof, is the most telling thing about how different a platform is.
07-22-2013, 02:53 PM
#14
Race Director
07-22-2013, 03:08 PM
#15
Race Director
The c7 is a revolutionary change in design. From the parts you see to the parts you don't.
The c5 and c6 shared much design work as the bar was set so high. The c6 in its final years still outperformed its competition and that's after a 9 year production run.
The c6 was an improvement on the dramatically different c5 (from the c4)
The c7 is an all new technology and foundation.
The c5 and c6 shared much design work as the bar was set so high. The c6 in its final years still outperformed its competition and that's after a 9 year production run.
The c6 was an improvement on the dramatically different c5 (from the c4)
The c7 is an all new technology and foundation.
07-22-2013, 03:22 PM
#16
for the C6 I feel competition has a lot to do with it... they were already way ahead of most.. so why do a complete re-design.. just make it look a little newer, add some fancy little buttons and gimics and there you go.. focus on refinement.
as for c7 i feel it was far more thoughout and designed.. while some same and similar components probably be used because of a HUGE amount of work already put into them... why change when what you have works.... many others will be completely new.
as for c7 i feel it was far more thoughout and designed.. while some same and similar components probably be used because of a HUGE amount of work already put into them... why change when what you have works.... many others will be completely new.
07-22-2013, 03:54 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
The c7 is a revolutionary change in design. From the parts you see to the parts you don't.
The c5 and c6 shared much design work as the bar was set so high. The c6 in its final years still outperformed its competition and that's after a 9 year production run.
The c6 was an improvement on the dramatically different c5 (from the c4)
The c7 is an all new technology and foundation.
The c5 and c6 shared much design work as the bar was set so high. The c6 in its final years still outperformed its competition and that's after a 9 year production run.
The c6 was an improvement on the dramatically different c5 (from the c4)
The c7 is an all new technology and foundation.
07-22-2013, 04:38 PM
#19
Safety Car
07-22-2013, 04:46 PM
#20
The new Corvette still has 4 wheels, an engine, 2 seats, a steering wheel, a speedometer, tachometer, and odometer. So, to the uninformed or casual observers, nothing has really changed at all.
Or, you could read up on all the other changes and see how many things have changed with the C7. It is a pretty long list and all the information is readily available for anyone that wants to expand their knowledge base.
Or, you could read up on all the other changes and see how many things have changed with the C7. It is a pretty long list and all the information is readily available for anyone that wants to expand their knowledge base.