Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
09-03-2015, 03:52 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
09-03-2015, 04:05 PM
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2012
Location: Anger Island
Posts: 45,940
Received 3,288 Likes
on
1,399 Posts
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
No.
09-03-2015, 04:07 PM
#3
Moderator/Tech Contributor
Member Since: Jun 2001
Location: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
Posts: 18,198
Received 3,813 Likes
on
2,060 Posts
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Please stop...
09-03-2015, 04:09 PM
#4
Safety Car
Member Since: Nov 2007
Location: Tarpon Springs FL
Posts: 4,446
Received 308 Likes
on
198 Posts
FL Events Coordinator
09-03-2015, 04:12 PM
#6
Moderator
<p>
</p><p>That does not seem to be consistent with the previously published spy photos of what is clearly a mid-engine mule that has a C7 cockpit. If there is to be a mid-engine Corvette (or Cadillac or both), it will be denied by GM until they are ready to release information.</p><p> </p>
When I picked up my Vert at the Museum August 12th...my "guide" was "Dan" who worked at the factory for 30 yrs. He knows Tadge personally and was told at the Corvette Bash by Tadge that as long as he (Tadge) is in charge of the Corvette...there will NEVER be a mid engine Corvette. His reasoning according to Dan was that we just about beat everything around us with a rear wheel car (C7r) and the costs involved in developing such a car vs the return are prohibitive....just thought I would pass it on.
09-03-2015, 04:39 PM
#7
Team Owner
09-03-2015, 04:47 PM
#8
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."
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2015/...vette-program/
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."
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2015/...vette-program/
09-03-2015, 05:37 PM
#9
Corvette Enthusiast
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Troy & Dearborn, Michigan
Posts: 5,339
Received 917 Likes
on
610 Posts
All I know is there is a Mid-Engine program, it's being run by the same guys who run the Corvette. It also has two steering gears. How do people know it's Mid-Engine?
A steering gear usually has poor placement due to the engine (in front of it for RWD, behind it for FWD) and compromised King Pin Axis. With Mid and Rear Engine (911) this isn't the case as basically the steering gear is the only thing up front that takes up any sort of space.
The "Performance Vehicle" program, as it's called sometimes, has an optimally placed steering gear and extremely low rack loads. This basically points to a Mid-Engine platform.
Oh and anyone who said Cadillac is also right. There are two variants of the gear, volume of things like this don't suggest two trims, but rather two vehicles with different criteria in mind.
So I expect to see a 2017 Cadillac Mid-Engine car and a 2017 Corvette ZR1 that is Mid-Engine.
Also, don't believe anything Tadge says, he doesn't tip his hand like old school guys. He's STONE COLD and not really a nice guy to work with unless you are in Marketing.
If you piece together other things the Corvette (at least) will have an LT6 a Twin Turbocharged version of the LT1 making 750-850 HP going to a custom Dual-Clutch Transmission based on an Allison HD Transmission. This Transmission and Engine will be shared with the "Uber" Camaro (Marketing hasn't decided the hierarchy of the new gen), but be detuned in that car as it's Front Engine.
A steering gear usually has poor placement due to the engine (in front of it for RWD, behind it for FWD) and compromised King Pin Axis. With Mid and Rear Engine (911) this isn't the case as basically the steering gear is the only thing up front that takes up any sort of space.
The "Performance Vehicle" program, as it's called sometimes, has an optimally placed steering gear and extremely low rack loads. This basically points to a Mid-Engine platform.
Oh and anyone who said Cadillac is also right. There are two variants of the gear, volume of things like this don't suggest two trims, but rather two vehicles with different criteria in mind.
So I expect to see a 2017 Cadillac Mid-Engine car and a 2017 Corvette ZR1 that is Mid-Engine.
Also, don't believe anything Tadge says, he doesn't tip his hand like old school guys. He's STONE COLD and not really a nice guy to work with unless you are in Marketing.
If you piece together other things the Corvette (at least) will have an LT6 a Twin Turbocharged version of the LT1 making 750-850 HP going to a custom Dual-Clutch Transmission based on an Allison HD Transmission. This Transmission and Engine will be shared with the "Uber" Camaro (Marketing hasn't decided the hierarchy of the new gen), but be detuned in that car as it's Front Engine.
Last edited by LT1 Z51; 09-03-2015 at 05:40 PM.
09-03-2015, 05:39 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
Looks to me like someone is trying to sell a few extra fish-wrappers with a little photo shop work. A concept C8 Mid Engine with C7 Z51 wheels....don't think so 
But sources tell me the boys and girls back in Milford are working on a mid-engine, carbon fiber frame edition.....remember, you got it here first
But sources tell me the boys and girls back in Milford are working on a mid-engine, carbon fiber frame edition.....remember, you got it here first
09-03-2015, 06:27 PM
#11
YES, A mid engine car is in the works. It will replace the ZR-1 as the Chevrolet Corvette super car. This car will also have a Cadillac mid engine stable mate to share the costs. Both Chevrolet and Cadillac need a little WHAM-BANG in the showrooms to bring people in to buy other models and to show off what the GM brands can do. The Corvette version will be $200K+ same for the Cadillac both will be limited to 1500 cars each. However the car will re appear re worked as the C8 Z06 in about 2022/3 and come in at about $125K for the base Z06 Corvette. A RWD Stingray C8 will also be made for the po folks in the $75K base price range.
Last edited by Black&White; 09-03-2015 at 07:49 PM.
09-03-2015, 08:48 PM
#12
Safety Car
<p></p><p>That does not seem to be consistent with the previously published spy photos of what is clearly a mid-engine mule that has a C7 cockpit. If there is to be a mid-engine Corvette (or Cadillac or both), it will be denied by GM until they are ready to release information.</p><p> </p>
09-03-2015, 09:15 PM
#13
Corvette Enthusiast
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Troy & Dearborn, Michigan
Posts: 5,339
Received 917 Likes
on
610 Posts
Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
Originally Posted by meyerweb
Tadge has publicly stated that there is no mid-engine Corvette in development. That mule could be a Cadillac. Or a test bed for various technologies that might or might not see production some day. Or it could be something else entirely. Looks a lot like a pickup truck to me.
Suppliers of course have loose lips, and if you are in the industry you can find out things.
I now wait for some retort from you that will amuse me. Ignorance is bliss.
09-03-2015, 09:46 PM
#14
Burning Brakes
YES, A mid engine car is in the works. It will replace the ZR-1 as the Chevrolet Corvette super car. This car will also have a Cadillac mid engine stable mate to share the costs. Both Chevrolet and Cadillac need a little WHAM-BANG in the showrooms to bring people in to buy other models and to show off what the GM brands can do. The Corvette version will be $200K+ same for the Cadillac both will be limited to 1500 cars each. However the car will re appear re worked as the C8 Z06 in about 2022/3 and come in at about $125K for the base Z06 Corvette. A RWD Stingray C8 will also be made for the po folks in the $75K base price range.
09-03-2015, 09:51 PM
#15
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
thanks for those who added their very interesting input.
no doubt Tadge will attempt to keep almost everything secret until release time. that is expected of all the employee insiders.
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.
no doubt Tadge will attempt to keep almost everything secret until release time. that is expected of all the employee insiders.
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.
09-03-2015, 09:56 PM
#16
If it's a limited run and they produce the right amount.......500-1000/year for a specific # of years (2-3) they will have a long waiting list and sell every single one at $200K!
09-03-2015, 10:10 PM
#17
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2012
Location: Anger Island
Posts: 45,940
Received 3,288 Likes
on
1,399 Posts
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
If I was looking to spend $200k there's no way I'd consider a Chevrolet no matter where the engine is or how many they made.
09-03-2015, 10:19 PM
#18
09-03-2015, 10:23 PM
#19
Corvette Enthusiast
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Troy & Dearborn, Michigan
Posts: 5,339
Received 917 Likes
on
610 Posts
Is this the 2018 mid-engine Corvette Zora?
Originally Posted by senah
thanks for those who added their very interesting input.
no doubt Tadge will attempt to keep almost everything secret until release time. that is expected of all the employee insiders.
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.
no doubt Tadge will attempt to keep almost everything secret until release time. that is expected of all the employee insiders.
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.
