jagamajajaran

The Corvette Blogger posted a blog with a link to a recent radio interview with Plant Manager, Kai Spande, in which we learn the following:

1) ZR1 production will begin 3-4 weeks after the 2019 MY production begins. This puts the ZR1 production start around 3/1/18.

2) The ZR1 will be limited to approximately 2,000 units produced during the 2018 calendar year.

3) While ZR1 pricing is still yet to be revealed, Kai speculates that since a fully loaded Z06 tops out around $120,000, a fully loaded ZR1 may MSRP as high as $150,000.

You can check out the blog with more info and a link to the full interview here: Corvette Blogger on Kai Spande Radio Interview

As I listed to the full interview, it reminded me of how fortunate we are to have Kai Spande as the BGA Plant Manager. He is doing an incredible job with the plant expansion and retooling projects that he is leading the plant through and I'm excited about what this means for the future of the Corvette...and for us as Corvette owners and enthusiasts!

skank

I also listened to the interview and I believe he said the C7ZO6 could be optioned up to 120K and therefore the ZR1 could go up as high as 150K or maybe more. I don't remember him saying anything about the C6ZR1 but maybe I heard wrong.

DebRedZR1

Thanks Jag We are lucky to have you as a source of useful credible info

Steve Garrett

Well done Jeremy!

jagamajajaran

Thanks, Skank, for the correction.

rob62

2000 units with how many leaving the states for the middle east? Sounds like only the rich and famous will be paying up for a 19. Bummed.

OnPoint

So this is a one-year only swan song for the C7, it appears.

jagamajajaran

I doubt it. I bet we have at least 2-3 years production based on the latest engine forecast production numbers.

OnPoint

Ah, so that was simply what was planned for '18 calendar year.

That makes sense.

Thanks for the info, Jeremy.

z edge

guess I will have to be happy with the 1:18 scale die cast version

0Tampa Tuning

Im with you!

HolyRoller

Most likely if people ordered more than 2,000 C7 ZR1s next year, Chevy would be happy to build them. But C6 ZR1 production went from 1,415 in 2009 to 1,577 in 2010, then plunged to 806 in 2011, 404 in 2012, and 482 in 2013. So 2,000 is probably more than customers will actually buy.

One of the few Corvette sales reps who's proven to be a reliable source told me a few days ago that ZR1 allocations will come down in February and it will be a hot item. But also he has good reason to believe that the C7 will stay in production through MY2023 alongside the C8, so we'll have more than one model year for the ZR1.

rob62

A C-7 and a C-8 side by side on the line? I seriously doubt that.

jvp

Those "sales guys" that "know a lot" usually come up with some fairly comical claims.

Monkey D. Luffy

X2

JoesC5

When the 2009 ZR1 was released in 2008, GM said they planned to build 2,000 annually for 3 years. The failing economy kind of screwed that up.

Every model C6 including the Z06 had sales that were horrible in 2009 through 2103...... that had great sales from 2005 through 2008.

I believe that if the economy had not taken a dump( US car sales fell from 17 million to 10.5 million annually in 2009), the C6 ZR1 would have easily sold it's projected 2,000 annually for 3 years.

HolyRoller

It's not the first time I've heard that. It might well be wrong, but not particularly comical. We all know BGAP used to make Cadillac XLRs. Nissan's Tochigi plant sprinkles GT-Rs right onto the same line as 370Zs and six different Infiniti models.

But, GM isn't Nissan and we also all know who has better sources on this board. Therefore I'm discounting the sales rep's prediction.

Raisin Man

How does this square with other persons - similarly involved with NCM - insisting the arrival of C8 means no more front engine C7 production?

jagamajajaran

Raisin Man, one of those similarly involved persons has adjusted his position.

Raisin Man

Roger that. I understand - generally anyway - the challenges associated with simultaneously building two platforms at BGA, particularly in the volumes necessary to keep Corvette prices competitive with other high-performance brands. Nonetheless, the Corvette brand could benefit from a bigger “tent” where more vehicle configurations flourish. Fingers crossed, anyway.

Thanks for the continuing information flow on all things Corvette.