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Porsche started life as a hot-rod VW Beetle... they did OK managing their brand...
I don't see why a "Chevy" has to be eternal ban to automotive hell... you perform, you win.
A mid-engine car is no more expensive to produce than any other car... again, Porsche has the Boxster/Cayman as their entry level product.
There is absolutely a market for a high-performance, track oriented mid-engined Corvette at a $150K price-point...
Buyers in this market do not "choose" between one car or another... they just buy both.
If you think a Corvette buyer who would happily pay $100K for a loaded Z06 to drive to the coffee shop on Saturday would not simply add a mid-engined car to his collection, you don't understand the market.
I don't know one of my car buddies that does not own at least 4 cars... I know plenty that have 8 or 10.
A mid engine Corvette is likely though who knows when. Simple physics says a car with a mid engine will corner better than one with weight spaced out at the ends, such as every Corvette ever made has been. Sure, Chevy finally balanced the car's weight front and rear but the weight is still in the wrong place. Just look at figure skaters who spin faster by pulling in their arms as a prime example of conservation of energy. Corvette Racing will have to have one sooner or later to remain competitve and it will find its way into production for the masses. There may be a higher cost due to redesign and retool but the C7 is a completely new car and they kept the price similar to C6 models so who knows. Can we afford it? Some can.
I would rather keep the front engine Corvette instead of trying to change the legend of Corvette. American made not following foreign cars. It's a fantastic sports car. I don't even like the pictures of what it might look like. Sort of like a lousy Porche.
In my personal opinion, the so-called prototype looks nothing more than a 1980's Ferrari 308 GTS.
" Not acceptable".
GM, you can do better than this.
This was my first time that I purchased a GM car since 1987, my 2014 C7 was love at first sight, I did not even road test the car, It was and still is an American ICON and looks like one.
However, this Mid-engine protoype as far as what I can see looks unacceptable.
Thinkmoula
Originally Posted by Detroit Steel
Forget about building a mid-engine Corvette to compete with the Ford GT, how about competing with Porsche and Ferrari?
While the mid engine is a nice dream, somebody in Bowling Green better quit the dreams and get the present C7 straightened out. This month's Consumer Reports gave the C7 a dependably rating of "Much Worse Than Average". That does wonders for growing your ownership base. It is not like this is a first years model with the usual teething pains. Do what you do well and get the current model fixed.
While the mid engine is a nice dream, somebody in Bowling Green better quit the dreams and get the present C7 straightened out. This month's Consumer Reports gave the C7 a dependably rating of "Much Worse Than Average". That does wonders for growing your ownership base. It is not like this is a first years model with the usual teething pains. Do what you do well and get the current model fixed.
I'm glad I bought an extended warranty package last month.
I discussed the future C8 with my dealer's salesman the other day. He feels that the average Corvette enthusiast will not spend upwards to one hundred fifty thousand dollars. A price that high will kill demand and the future of the Corvette will be questionable. If GM does go mid engine it will have to coexist; Z06 ($100,000) versus Stingray ($60,000).
I discussed the future C8 with my dealer's salesman the other day. He feels that the average Corvette enthusiast will not spend upwards to one hundred fifty thousand dollars. A price that high will kill demand and the future of the Corvette will be questionable. If GM does go mid engine it will have to coexist; Z06 ($100,000) versus Stingray ($60,000).
I could get a Stingray at $60k, even though I drive a 30 year old Vette today. But if I'm going to spend over $100k on a machine, it needs to have a turbo and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet. Or at least floats and fishing gear.
It looks Corvettish, but is there THAT much to be gained with a mid-engine arrangement?
If there were no advantage you would still be seeing front engined roadsters at Indianapolis. Don Panoz tried competing in sports car racing with a front engined car. Maybe it's not that important with street cars, but Chevrolet is trying to compete on the international stage in Motorsports and use it as a marketing tool.
When Ford brought back the GT-40, it set the mark. It's a monster that can deal with P and F. Corvette has to get cooler then this to make the mid-engine a car we all want.
Do we know the provenance of this rendering? It appears to be someone's best "guess" as to what it MIGHT look like so I wouldn't base any comments on what we're seeing The Corvette design studio is probably laughing at all the speculation.
There are 4 reasons why I would never buy a mid-engine car:
1. I've driven many mid and rear engine cars - Ferrari, 911, Cayman, Boxster, and more, and my first car was a Corvair. On the freeway, every one , the front of the car bounced a lot - very annoying, uncomfortable and disturbing.
2. No luggage space - I like long trips.
3. They are usually more difficult to get in and out of because of wider door sills.
4. Much higher price.
Not interested!
There are 4 reasons why I would never buy a mid-engine car:
1. I've driven many mid and rear engine cars - Ferrari, 911, Cayman, Boxster, and more, and my first car was a Corvair. On the freeway, every one , the front of the car bounced a lot - very annoying, uncomfortable and disturbing.
2. No luggage space - I like long trips.
3. They are usually more difficult to get in and out of because of wider door sills.
4. Much higher price.
Not interested!
My first car was a Corvair, too. What a doozy of a car! Ralph Nader was right!
Last edited by F4 Phantom; 06-11-2016 at 03:42 PM.
There are 4 reasons why I would never buy a mid-engine car:
1. I've driven many mid and rear engine cars - Ferrari, 911, Cayman, Boxster, and more, and my first car was a Corvair. On the freeway, every one , the front of the car bounced a lot - very annoying, uncomfortable and disturbing.
2. No luggage space - I like long trips.
3. They are usually more difficult to get in and out of because of wider door sills.
4. Much higher price.
Not interested!
Totally agree with you on all points. We don't need the only new Corvette offering to cost 150k! Funny thing, I had a '62 Corvair in '65 and the front end would raise up so much on the freeway, I put a sand bag in the trunk (up front). Guess they didn't worry much about down force back then.
03-09-2016, 04:34 PM
I could get a Stingray at $60k, even though I drive a 30 year old Vette today. But if I'm going to spend over $100k on a machine, it needs to have a turbo and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet. Or at least floats and fishing gear. 
