jagamajajaran

I will update this post throughout the session. Photos of graphics will be posted later today or tonight.

Tadge is up first...

Year in Review

- Grand Sport reveal in Geneva. The GS stole the show there.
- Glowing media reviews of the GS throughout the year.
- Tadge is telling the story about Joe Biden asking him to help him pick a new Corvette to purchase. Tadge recommended the Grand Sport.
- Race season successes.

Harlan is up now...

2017 Sales Data

- 2017 Sales down 8.9% but still far outselling all other sports cars in the class
- Corvette Sales - Stingray = 41%, Grand Sport = 38%, Z06 = 21%
- A8 sales are around 80%, 71% on Z06
- Arctic White = 19%, Watkins Glen Gray = 18%
- 970 GS Collector Editions built to date


Tadge

What's New for 2018

- 2018 Corvettes can be ordered now.
- 13 week down period to upgrade plant - August/September/October.
- Last chance to order a 2018 that will be built before down period is June 12.
- The down period will change the way the cars are painted and built by rearranging and improving material flow within the plant resulting in an improved process and overall quality.
- This is the Corvette Team's biggest To Do List (getting the plant retooled).

Harlan

- 2018 Corvette Chassis and Electrical Changes
- Grand Sport J57 brakes without getting Z06 package
- Stingray - Reduced price magnetic rid available stand alone
- HD radio is back and standard in all trim levels
- PDR Cosworth Toolbox additional data channels recorded - All 4 individual wheels speeds, all 4 suspsension displacements, Yaw Rate, intake and ambient air temperatures.
- Improved rear camera resolution and view
- Heads up horizontal adjustment
- Stingray - 19"/20" wheels standard
- Stingray - New factory wheel options - Sterling Silver, Black, Machined, Chrome, Red Stripe, Yellow Stripe, Torque Design in silver and chrome, motorsport design in black and


Ryan is up to discuss interior changes

- Color break up changing in 2LT - getting contrasting colored bat wing (same as Z06 has been)
- Blue accent stitch package available (paddles do not come in blue)
- Enhanced black suede package
- Carbon fiber wrapped rim, high gloss, upper and lower steering wheel


Harlan

- 2018 = 65 years of Corvettes!
- 65th Anniversary is the Carbon Fiber Anniversary
- Carbon 65 available to order now
- Limited to 650 globally (450 USA, 200 Export - approximate)
- New Ceramic Matrix Gray (Blue Top on Convertible)
- Available on 3LT Grand Sport and 3LT Z06
- Grand Sport gets GS Sport Cup Wheels and Z06 gets Z06 Blade Wheels

Ryan - Carbon 65 Interior

- Carbon fiber rim steering wheel
- Carbon fiber IP trim in high gloss
- Black leather, black suede, blue stitch
- Carbon 65 dash plaques are specific to GS or Z06

That is the end of the prepared presentation. Q&A...

- Can you update PDR software for previous model years? No
- What percentage of the new building is paint shop? 100%
- When will the C8 be revealed? Definitely in the future!
- Will 100 octane tune be made available for the Stingray and Grand Sport as well as Z06? No plans to do so and not really necessary.
- There will not be a DCT in the C7.
- There will not be an A10 in the C7.
- Why will public plant tours be down for so long? Because they are working on so many changes they haven't mapped out a tour route. It's not the number one priority at this time. They hope to get it back as soon as possible though.
- Blue calipers will only be available for the Carbon 65 Edition.
- The Dodge Demon HP does not worry the Corvette Team because the demon is a muscle car and doesn't compete with the Corvette on a road coarse track.
- Are you considering a customer experience center like Porsche has? Yes, they are considering something like this and customer feedback helps it gather momentum.
- Could you offer a low dust brake pad option? If you have high performance brakes, you get dust. The option is to buy ceramics. Note: Regulators are making it more challenging and some states are not allowing copper in brake pads.
- Any consideration for inboard brakes? It's not practical.
- Why doesn't AFM work at idle? Because you would hate it. The shaking forces at 500 RPM between 4 and 8 cylinders would be very annoying and provide no benefit.
- Would the new paint shop be capable of a paint to sample option? The difficulty is colored parts that come already painted from various vendors.
- Price increase for 2018 is $45 on all models. Carbon 65 edition package is $15,000 and is a bargain when you add up all the included options.
- Will Corvette ever have start/stop technology to improve fuel economy? For a lot of cars, you hardly notice when an engine stops. For cars with a lot of character, hearing the engine stop is disconcerting. While the herd is going that way, we are going to be trailing behind in this area.
- We aren't putting turn signals in the mirrors so we can keep the mirrors smaller, which create less wind noise and drag.

jagamajajaran

Greg00Coupe

I hope they reveal something more then new colors!!!!

capecodvette

I think you mean last chance for 2017 to be ordered?? Last chance to order a 2018 that will be built before down period is June 12

Rooster OG

Not much there but it's not surprising. That plant transformation is gonna consume all of their time this summer.

mountainears

Doesn't seem like anything we didn't already know unfortunately...oh well, this group is good at getting information!

jagamajajaran

No, 2018 order window is open now and the last chance to place a 2018 that is built prior to the end of July shutdown is June 12.

BaylorCorvette

Yup, pretty much knew all this. However the quoted two pieces of information are good to get confirmation on.

capecodvette

Thank you sir. I realized after I hit to post. My bad...!!

jagamajajaran

^^^ No worries.

OnPoint

Jeremy - Thank you very much for doing this.

The Forum is much better off having you as a member given all your contributions.

jagamajajaran

^^^ I am certainly glad to provide helpful information. I just wish I was telling you about what is coming soon...but just not soon enough.

Scoobydoobydoo

Appreciate the info Jeremy, you're the best !

BaylorCorvette

OHHHH really

george vee

Thanks for posting this thread. I think the paint shop is the best news.

z edge

Am I missing something....where is the ZR1?

Splitter

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ColoradoGS

Was it clear if this is just additional information being recorded by the PDR or is it data coming from additional sensors?

I didn't order the Nav/PDR option so I would have to use a third-party solution. I'm curious if this new information is already available from the ODBC port on current models or would only be available on 2018s.

Thanks for the detailed report.

Z06NJ

Pls keep the updates coming!!!

mountainears

Still making runs on the track...and being saved for a larger press event....