RonnieC6Z

I spent the weekend before last in Monterey at Laguna Seca for the races. Tadge, Doug Fehan and 4 of the chief C7 engineers spoke at the track and at the Saturday night banquet, and it was very interesting.

I can tell you with almost 100% certainty that the C7 run will NOT include a mid engine ZR1, Zora or any other named car. Will the C8 be a mid engine car or include a mid engine car? The answer is that if anyone at GM knows, they will not say until the C8 is introduced, and the C8 introduction is a minimum of 4 to 6 years away. The C7 is hitting 40,000 in annual sales, and the introduction of the Grand Sport will keep sales very high for years to come. Keep in mind that the C5 and C6 had 8 and 9 year runs, so enjoy your C7's for they will be making them for a while.

I spoke to the head engineer of C7 interior design about interior leather care, since I have a 2016 C7 with the 3LT package and suede inserts. He confirmed to me that using ANY leather cleaner and/or protectorate is a waste of money and completely unnecessary. The leather is coated and all that is needed to clean it is a damp microfiber towel. If really soiled, a very small amount of either simple green or dish soap is all that is needed. And nothing is needed to protect the leather, even in a convertible.

I also spoke to the Tadge and the head drive train engineer about the notchy manual gear box. (I have a manual). I was speaking to them and the head instructor at Spring Mountain was standing with me and we both expressed our trepidation with the notchy manual. The engineer was very familiar with the complaints and said that the dealers very recently received a bulletin from Chevy. Below the shifter, there is an extra environmental plate which can be removed, and this will solve the problem. The center console must be removed, but it is a pretty easy task that the dealers can do.

I asked Tadge why the C7 does not have front and rear parking sensors, and he said that because of the design of the bumpers, it just did not work. Sensors were considered in the design of the C7, but all ideas were scrapped.

Tadge also was asked why the Corvette, unlike the Porsche 911's, did not have a rear wing that rose at certain speeds. His answer was very cool. He said that because of the sloping rear design of the 911, a wing is needed for very high speed traction on turns on the track. However, the C7 rear end was designed without a slope for the same kind of down force in turns without the need of an electric wing. Furthermore, unless a 911 is tracked at high speeds, the electric wing is really just for show.

The new paint factory was discussed at length. It opens next year and there will be a slow phase-in from the current factory to the new one for the 2018 models. Quality will be greatly improved, but the number of colors offered will stay about the same. And unlike some of the exotics, there will not be custom special ordered colors.

It was a great weekend, and driving home from Monterey to L.A. in my C7 was even more satisfying after hearing how much went into the research and development of this amazing car.

Larry/car

Thanks for the information.

Stan0324

Good Stuff

MostlyHarmless

Great info, thanks Ronnie

So does anyone have any info on the Environmental Plate that can be removed on the M7? Would love to make that change if it makes the shift less notch

Mark

roadbike56

Thanks for the input. FYI, I would not recommend Simple Green on the interior unless it was followed by saddle soap or Lexol or another leather specific cleaner that is pH balanced. Not just me saying this, the guy that worked on my C5 leather seats gave me an education about pH and leather. I do use Simple Green for cleaning bicycle gears and bearings.

mpuzach

Great info - thank you. We missed Tadge and Ryan at the museum bash (same weekend); it's good to know they were spreading the love at Laguna Seca.

rmorin1249

Great post, thanks. Coated leather doesn't absorb anything so you are right on. A mild dish soap like ivory should be good if the seats are really dirty but a damp microfiber towel is adequate in most cases. Any discussion about the A8 tranny?

RonnieC6Z

No A8 tranny discussion in the 2 seminars.

He said simple green is fine but only use a tiny amount on a damp microfiber towel.

Call your dealer's service dept. I was told they received a recent bulletin.

C7 x 2

Thank you for this information. By chance was anything said about the A10?

RonnieC6Z

Not a word.

rcooper

Thanks for relaying the information. I enjoyed your take on their talks.

SublimeZ06

I take it that there was no discussion on possible tweaks to the 2017 C7Z?

Great info. Thanks.

cor66vette

Really informative. Thanks for the post.

Gary '09 C6

Steve Garrett

Well done, Ronnie....thanks.

SnowyATX

Environmental plate??? Only thing under the shifter itself is a gasket; between it and the shifter box. Not sure what else he could be talking about.

I'd love to know what he was referring too as well.

elegant

He issue of potentially putting the A10 was discussed at the BASH. Harlan said it simply will not fit in a C7 because it is too long.

RC000E

Fehan and Corvette Racing info of any interest? Fehan talk about the Long Beach incident and/or any aftermath between Corvette/Porsche/IMSA?

defaria

Excuse me but what is a "notchy manual gear box"?

Vetteman Jack

Great info. Thanks for sharing it with us.