Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
09-05-2015, 04:56 PM
#41
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
"Lutz says the company has been thinking about a mid-engine Corvette for more than a decade, and he believes the stars may be lined up now for such a car.
He even saw rough plans for a mid-engine Corvette in 2003.
This is not just wishful thinking on the part of magazines and enthusiasts. There’s science behind all this talk about a mid-engine Corvette.
If it happens, we can thank the likes of chief engineer Tadge Juechter, who way back in 2003 as Chevy was beginning work on a replacement for the C6 did a PowerPoint showing, “very credibly,” according to Lutz, that the C6 ZR1 was at the limit of usable rear-wheel-drive performance.
“The problem was really the front-mid-engine layout—we couldn’t get the engine low enough and far back enough for proper weight transfer to the rear wheels under acceleration,” Lutz writes.
While Lutz was afraid that a mid-engine car would move the Corvette into a much higher price category, Juechter said back then that though the transmission would be more expensive, the final MSRP wouldn’t be more than $5,000 higher."
the date on this Lutz interview from corvetteblogger was january 16, 2015. Tadge's comment that they could do this for an extra $5000 was made, according to Lutz, around 2003, so, if accurate, the mid engined model would not have to be super expensive. with the photos of the mid engine mule shown by car & driver, it is obvious that someone in gm is examining and experimenting with the possibilities of a mid engine car.
He even saw rough plans for a mid-engine Corvette in 2003.
This is not just wishful thinking on the part of magazines and enthusiasts. There’s science behind all this talk about a mid-engine Corvette.
If it happens, we can thank the likes of chief engineer Tadge Juechter, who way back in 2003 as Chevy was beginning work on a replacement for the C6 did a PowerPoint showing, “very credibly,” according to Lutz, that the C6 ZR1 was at the limit of usable rear-wheel-drive performance.
“The problem was really the front-mid-engine layout—we couldn’t get the engine low enough and far back enough for proper weight transfer to the rear wheels under acceleration,” Lutz writes.
While Lutz was afraid that a mid-engine car would move the Corvette into a much higher price category, Juechter said back then that though the transmission would be more expensive, the final MSRP wouldn’t be more than $5,000 higher."
the date on this Lutz interview from corvetteblogger was january 16, 2015. Tadge's comment that they could do this for an extra $5000 was made, according to Lutz, around 2003, so, if accurate, the mid engined model would not have to be super expensive. with the photos of the mid engine mule shown by car & driver, it is obvious that someone in gm is examining and experimenting with the possibilities of a mid engine car.
09-05-2015, 05:37 PM
#42
Drifting
There has been talk of a mid engine Corvette since the mid 60's. According the latest Car and Driver, the current Z06 is the second fastest car to run their Lightning Lap at VIR being beaten only by the $900,000 Porsche 918. At this point, I will believe it when I see it.
09-05-2015, 05:49 PM
#43
Le Mans Master
09-05-2015, 07:37 PM
#44
Drifting
Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
Originally Posted by LS3 MN6
Yep, and I just heard from my guy that 2019 is the date now as well. This was yesterday. Previously it was 2017, but some delays have happened. Probably the C7 MCE refresh for 2018 has gotten priority as well as some sorta super 65th anniversary version, parts had to be changed because the Z06 is getting a larger pulley and they need more belt clearance.
For the C7 generation the ME is only for the ZR1 and a Cadillac Super Car. The C8 rumor is that the "base" car will be on an evolved C7 platform, while the Z06 and the ZR1 move to the mid-engine platform. This may continue indefinitely, or maybe by the C9 the whole thing goes ME.
For the C7 generation the ME is only for the ZR1 and a Cadillac Super Car. The C8 rumor is that the "base" car will be on an evolved C7 platform, while the Z06 and the ZR1 move to the mid-engine platform. This may continue indefinitely, or maybe by the C9 the whole thing goes ME.
09-05-2015, 07:44 PM
#45
Race Director
"Made him look like a fool"????
How so?
The man designed a new Corvette that has been very successful. If that makes Tadge a "fool", I'm certain there are lots of car guys who would sign up to be a "fool" also.
Jimmy
PS. I am curious. Do you know Tadge? You write like you do and you certainly aren't shy about throwing him under the bus. Again, just curious, I don't know HIM or YOU.
09-05-2015, 07:52 PM
#46
Race Director
Why? While values of the first Ford GT have soared, it was a disaster for Ford at the time. There's a reason the GT was only made in small numbers for a very short time; they didn't sell well. Ford doesn't have anything like the Corvette, yet Chevrolet should "match" Ford? Good thing you're not running a car company.
JImmy
09-05-2015, 07:54 PM
#47
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Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
Originally Posted by jimmyb
Oh, come on....
"Made him look like a fool"????
How so?
The man designed a new Corvette that has been very successful. If that makes Tadge a "fool", I'm certain there are lots of car guys who would sign up to be a "fool" also.
Jimmy
PS. I am curious. Do you know Tadge? You write like you do and you certainly aren't shy about throwing him under the bus. Again, just curious, I don't know HIM or YOU.
"Made him look like a fool"????
How so?
The man designed a new Corvette that has been very successful. If that makes Tadge a "fool", I'm certain there are lots of car guys who would sign up to be a "fool" also.
Jimmy
PS. I am curious. Do you know Tadge? You write like you do and you certainly aren't shy about throwing him under the bus. Again, just curious, I don't know HIM or YOU.
I have opinions on most of the guys who work on the program, 95% of them great people. The other 5%, well they are ******.
09-05-2015, 10:37 PM
#48
Drifting
09-06-2015, 12:44 AM
#49
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=jimmyb;1590428037]Oh, come on....
"Made him look like a fool"????
How so?
he was referring to this:
"i remember when jalopnik came out with drawings of the c7 over a year before its actual release. gm denied that they were accurate, but they turned out to be dead on."
"Made him look like a fool"????
How so?
he was referring to this:
"i remember when jalopnik came out with drawings of the c7 over a year before its actual release. gm denied that they were accurate, but they turned out to be dead on."
09-06-2015, 09:55 AM
#50
Race Director
[QUOTE=senah;1590429536]
My point is how did the Jalopnik renders make Tadge look like a fool?
Was Tadge supposed to sit in the studio with the car 24/7?
As the person who posted the "fool" comment has pointed out, he is NOT a fan of Tadge (which is his prerogative), so the statement is tinged with dislike and, IMO, a little over the top. Tadge is the chief engineer, not the security guard.
JImmy
Was Tadge supposed to sit in the studio with the car 24/7?
As the person who posted the "fool" comment has pointed out, he is NOT a fan of Tadge (which is his prerogative), so the statement is tinged with dislike and, IMO, a little over the top. Tadge is the chief engineer, not the security guard.
JImmy
09-06-2015, 09:58 AM
#51
Race Director
[QUOTE=senah;1590429536]
In regards to the Jalopnik renders, go back and look at them...they were REALLY good, but not "dead on".
Jimmy
Jimmy
09-06-2015, 10:20 AM
#52
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Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
Originally Posted by jimmyb
In regards to the Jalopnik renders, go back and look at them...they were REALLY good, but not "dead on".
Jimmy
Jimmy
This leak caused a deep dive into leaks and many people were terminated.
09-06-2015, 04:14 PM
#53
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=jimmyb;1590430600]
http://jalopnik.com/5858683/exclusiv...chevy-corvette
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...RR-Afc#imgrc=_
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...RR-Afc#imgrc=_
09-06-2015, 05:22 PM
#54
Drifting
Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
Originally Posted by senah
09-06-2015, 06:36 PM
#55
Race Director
Those where final stage drawings. They were of the Z06. The design guy (forget his name) who was to go to Europe to head Opel design was walked out of Warren the week before he was set to leave. It was either because he directly leaked these, or because he knew who did and didn't take action (he was a director of design and therefore had a lot of guys under him, he reported to Welburn)
This leak caused a deep dive into leaks and many people were terminated.
This leak caused a deep dive into leaks and many people were terminated.
Jimmy
09-06-2015, 07:12 PM
#56
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Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
Originally Posted by jimmyb
Not according to Jalopnik. They (Jalopnik) say they were in the room with THE car and had their artist do the renders.
Jimmy
Jimmy
09-06-2015, 07:34 PM
#57
Le Mans Master
I don't see the financial drive to come out with a ME ZR1, and a FE C8. That seems like a waste of money designing and building two difference chassis. I could see a ME ZR1 come out a couple years before the ME C8, so they could flush out issues, gain production experience, and work on getting the production cost down for a C8 version.
Michael
Michael
