jrs 427

It seems many racing articles combined with owner fuel economy stats the C-7 should be a sub 3k car . Current details indicate 3300 to 3600#. They have aluminum frames, aluminum engines / drive train, light weight smc body panels, plastic trim panels & aluminum wheels. Many areas have been revised to reduce weight in components but the numbers do not fall enough. The racing program could surely gain and be more competitive with lighter weight competition. Owners could see gains in multiple areas. The emphasis always seems to revisit the drive train. Additional gearing, transmissions and horse power. Better handling through less weight would certainly take advantage of the current horse power levels. Manufacturers probably visit this concern daily looking for the solution.
It seems what ever the Corvette is up against the sacrifice in weight is the largest factor to over come.

DickieDoo

Yes they can reduce it more, here's how...
1: remove AFM
2: as a result of AFM removed, replace torque tube with CF or Aluminum
3: Carbon Fiber wheels
4: non-runflat tires

In 2016 they improved body panel weight with almost as light composite panels with air bubble in them. So not much more you can do there, as it's almost as light at CF, dunno if they actually updated the vehicle weight since introduction.

in High perf models Infortainment delete, or reduce the number of speakers.

stevebz06

If you will read some of the posts on this forum, you will see that a significant percentage of them are from people wishing the car had additional convenience/comfort/tech features. I think that the car is near its' limit on additional systems from the standpoint of space, but the car won't get substantially lighter without changing the philosophy on gadgets that seem to be the main path to customer satisfaction these days.

Ernest_T

^^^ I agree, the only way to reduce weight is get rid of things like electric windows and seats.

robert miller

You have heard of the saying 10lb's of shi* in a 5lb bag With all the stuff these cars have in them today. I think they have done good with the weight of the car.

These cars have stuff stuffed in ever fender well and corner in the car.

LT1 Z51

Most weight in cars today is due to 2 things:

1. Comfort Features
2. Safety Features

The first one is demanded by the market (therefore you must provide it). The second is demanded by the government (and again therefore you must provide it).

3300 lbs for a car is extremely light. Lotus which makes some of the lightest cars removes the interior (basically) and they struggle to get the car near 2200 lbs (1000 kg). That's also with a 4 cylinder not a V8.

1stTimeforEverything

One way is to quit eating pie.

Smart Line

:d:d:d

juanvaldez

Ceramic brakes are lighter. Non runflats save around 20 lbs, I believe. Wheels could be lighter. Thinner glass like on the C5 Z06. Lithium battery could save 30 lbs.

It would be nice to have a real stripper like the original fixed head coupe, no power seats, no power anything, kinda like the original Porsche 356 Speedster.

Indy-hp

The base C7 1LT weighs 3298 lbs. per GM.

The base C6 was 3179 lbs., also per GM, 119 lbs. lighter, even though the C6 had a steel frame, fiberglass hood, plastic roof, and other pieces heavier than the C7's.

Something in the C7 design added quite a lot of weight, despite the greater use of aluminum and CF to try and offset it.

robert miller

Back to the question, if you look at almost every car curb weight is like 4,k plus on them. Look at the hellcat and others 4,k plus...

Larry/car

^^^^ You have a valid point. People want lighter cars then drag around 50+ pounds of excess fat with their bodies. Stop eating all the garbage, exercise and the weight will come off.

roadsterboy

Leave the bitch at home and join the gym, that reduces about 120 for her and 100 for many men. The vette is perfect for a guy 6' 150 and hugs your butt. There's your weight savings.

jksvet

Yep, I read an article on it. The government mandated/ safety stuff adds weight. Difficult to get much more out of these cars and have something people would buy.

2cnd Chance

Chevy switched to dry weight this year in their marketing...why? That's how the European's measure and market their sports cars. Check out the Corvette's dry weight, very competitive.

juanvaldez

I'm fixin' to build a car that will scorch a Corvette. Little 2.3l (almost) stock Ford motor, no power anything, no radio, no heater, no windshield wipers, no windshield! Basic design goes back to the early '60. The car will be street legal, about 200 hp, 1,100 lbs without driver. It is the Birkin version of the Lotus 7 and comes from Africa. I should have it done by summer.

I think a Z06 has a hp/weight ratio with driver of around 3700/650. Birkin 1280/200 = 6.4.

ExRedRacer

Sad that you think of your woman as a bitch.

Steve_R

Could GM make it lighter? Sure, but that would also make it even more expensive, and the vast majority of buyers don't care what it weighs and don't want to pay even more for a lighter version.

LT1 Z51

Engine/drivetrain complexity (fuel system for direct injection, AFM, etc).

EPS weighs more than HPS at least on the gear level (don't know if it's less if you account for the pump, tank, hose and fluid that is removed).

Fixed mounted calipers definitely weigh more.

Finally more base electronics in the C7 than on the C6.

I could go on...

mulalleybs

The current numbers going around 33XX+ is the wet weight then I gather?