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Is it me or does all mid-engine cars look alike ? And going to a Mid-engine solves what problem ? If all you can say is we finally went to a mid-engine just like Zora always wanted, that is pretty lame.
Chevrolet is making Corvettes as fast as they can and they are selling every C7 and there seem to be a small handful of Z06's left over at the end of the model year.
That does not seem like a good reason to cut the C7's run short.
Front Wheel drive electric Corvette. Who in the hell wants one of these? It just sounds like a bad idea. Are they going to sell us engine exhaust noise modules that would play on the stereo like everyone else does... I love having an exhaust that makes noise not a stereo that plays phantom exhaust noise.
Don't fix what is not broken!
The E-ray will have a motor and battery assist. Like lots of the hypercars do. FAST!!
My dog, Foley the Flat Coated Retriever, knows the night watchman's dog at Milford....there WILL be a C8. (now that's the kind of underground info we need!). And maybe it's mid-engine.
Is it me or does all mid-engine cars look alike ? And going to a Mid-engine solves what problem ? If all you can say is we finally went to a mid-engine just like Zora always wanted, that is pretty lame.
I think it might be little weird at first with corvette going mid engine. The corvette always a certain look to it.
now we are going to have a bunch of Audi R8 looking cars running around town.
I think it might be little weird at first with corvette going mid engine. The corvette always a certain look to it.
now we are going to have a bunch of Audi R8 looking cars running around town.
Assuming they do a mid-engine car, it had BETTER sell better than the Audi R8.
And the new R8 is really disappointing (IMO), styling wise. You can buy the R8's mechanical twin, the Lamborghini Huracan, for $15K more than the R8 V10plus. That's not a contest, looks wise (again, IMO). The Audi looks like an supersized TT from many angles, the Huracan looks like.....well, a Lamborghini.
A lot of people assume that the mid engine talk is about the new Corvette. I'd bet if there is a new mid engine car it's a low production "halo" car to go up against the Ford GT and NSX. The Corvette stays front engine because the success of the Corvette has a lot to due with its ability to be an everyday car. Mid engine cars have some inherent problems, primarily limited cargo space.
Assuming they do a mid-engine car, it had BETTER sell better than the Audi R8.
And the new R8 is really disappointing (IMO), styling wise. You can buy the R8's mechanical twin, the Lamborghini Huracan, for $15K more than the R8 V10plus. That's not a contest, looks wise (again, IMO). The Audi looks like an supersized TT from many angles, the Huracan looks like.....well, a Lamborghini.
Jimmy
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What you are missing is that the family resemblance of the R8 to the lesser Audis allows it to help sell the entire brand. Truth is though that I see R8s on the road very frequently. I see Lamborghinis on the road maybe 2-3 times a year. I think you are wrong about how the R8 sells. Let's be honest, any car that costs from $130-200k and only seats two people is not going to sell very many.
A 2014 or 2015 R8 V8 could be found on Autotrader brand new at about $125000. That was a year ago or more.
The R8 came around to having a popular appearance but the 2017 R8 doesn't look the same. Also, the V8 is no longer available but only the more expensive V10.
One more item, the R8 with all-wheel-drive is fairly heavy.
There was a plan to have a different named version of the R8 with a turbocharged inline-5 engine. Of course no one is going to buy an inline-5 when they know that an inline-six has perfect balance.
Strangely enough the C7, essentially with a high-torque truck engine, gets much better fuel mileage than an R8.
The 2016 Lotus Evora doesn't appear to be available with the base engine but only with the more expensive supercharged engine. This car has a 101.4" wheel base but it's probably too trim for the Corvette buyer:
The price winner is the Porsche Cayman at $52600. But the Cayman has a more ordinary chassis construction than the Corvette or Lotus. One note, the Cayman wheelbase is now longer than the 911-type wheelbase and that helps its appeal
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A high torque, low RPM motor is the one that can turn good fuel economy. the R8 engine and other exotic style engines. are smaller, and high revving racecar inspired engines.
trucks only get bad fuel economy because they are heavy. Put those same truck v8 engines into a car and turn 25 city, and 30+ highway.
What you are missing is that the family resemblance of the R8 to the lesser Audis allows it to help sell the entire brand. Truth is though that I see R8s on the road very frequently. I see Lamborghinis on the road maybe 2-3 times a year. I think you are wrong about how the R8 sells. Let's be honest, any car that costs from $130-200k and only seats two people is not going to sell very many.
I fully understand Audi's want for family resemblance, just not sure Audi's customers want what is now a $190,000 car (new generation R8 V10 Plus) that, IMO, looks like a big TT. As far as you seeing R8's on the road, you must live in R8 central, because based on 2007 - 2015 sales in the U.S., the R8 has only broken 1,000 units in a calendar year once (2011). I see many more Ferraris and Lamborghinis than R8's. R8's are probably tied with GT-R's and Vipers for the sports cars I see the least.
Average 799 cars per year. I took out 2007 as it's not a full calendar year of sales.
To put this in relation, the Lamborghini Gallardo averaged about 1,400 units a year in the U.S. for it's 10 year run (best selling Lamborghini in history). The 2 mid-engine V8 Ferraris that were in play during this time period (430/458) averaged about close to 2,000 units a year (or a little more sometimes) in the U.S.
Point being that people will spend big cash on a toy, but it needs to not look like a car that's 1/3rd the price, or be Italian, or both.
A lot of people assume that the mid engine talk is about the new Corvette. I'd bet if there is a new mid engine car it's a low production "halo" car to go up against the Ford GT and NSX. The Corvette stays front engine because the success of the Corvette has a lot to due with its ability to be an everyday car. Mid engine cars have some inherent problems, primarily limited cargo space.
The front engine corvette will pay the bills to keep the factory open while the mid engine corvette is being produced in a limited number for 150K.
Probably will be priced to compete with the Ford GT. If this is the case, I am NOT a buyer. Hopefully it will be a Cadillac or a separate Chevy model, i.e. Zora, and they will keep producing the Corvette for a while or as long as the government CAFE standards allow. I guess all of us Corvette owners should buy a Sonic or a Spark whenever we buy a Corvette.
Last edited by rmorin1249; 05-14-2016 at 09:44 PM.
And there's the rub. There wont be a mid-engine Corvette that'll keep the price point where it's at now.
Incorrect. Bob Lutz stated in an interview in Road and Track a few years ago that, during the dark days leading into GM's bankruptcy, Tadge had done a lot of work on a mid-engine platform (the C7 would probably have been mid engine were it not for the bankruptcy). Lutz states in the interview that Tadge said the mid-engine platform would be about $5,000 RETAIL higher than the C7 we have now is.
I'm guessing the Corvette will remain in its current form and GM will develop a mid engine model to compete with Ford GT. They need to keep buyers interested in the Corvette financially. If prices go up too much due to mid engine design that will price even more people out of the Corvette. I wouldn't be surprised to see a "base" model Corvette that is a V6 or gasp a 4 banger in the future to keep prices low to start, like Porsche and other manufacturers do so often. 911 became too expensive so they designed the Cayman/Boxster, now 4 bangers are coming for Porsche.
05-14-2016, 08:03 AM
The front engine corvette will pay the bills to keep the factory open while the mid engine corvette is being produced in a limited number for 150K.
