MikeLsx

The corvette performs like a 911, yet it cost like 40 grand less than the cheapest 911. So its going to lack in certain areas, and might have problems.

GM wont build a car if it were to fall apart because the warranty claims would cut into there profit.

The only reason why most mid engine cars are expensive is because they use carbon fiber everything, and spend crazy money/time producing v10/v12 engines.

GM can make a mid engine car with less carbon fiber, and a motor thats similar to one found in a truck.

C8Jake

great info

Mike Campbell

If Ford can build one then GM can too! However, when I hear the constant whining about the trans and the colors and whatever it get's really old. If you're that unhappy spend another 50-60 K and get a Porsche for Pete's sake!

robert miller

A rear engine to the other guys in here is the motor is behind the drivers back.

JoesC5

If you are going to quote me, then quote my full posting and do it without modification.

unstressed

Pretty funny, when GM releases anything that threatens to make our current Corvette less than "the latest" we immediately feel threatened and go negative.

Crossed Flags Fan

IF GM builds a limited edition "mid engined sports car" it would be sold at VERY select dealers. I will be a hybrid. It will be priced well above $100K. At it's initial offering it will not be available to the general public. It too will have quality issues.
The "mid engined sports car" will not replace the front engined Corvette.
Bank on these above statements.

MEJ

No.
I wish they would concentrate on fixing the issues with the current car before building an entire new one...

jimmyb

So, let's start a thread using a 32 year old GM car to prove our point....
And while we're at it, let's just guess that a mid-engine Corvette will cost anywhere from $100K to $400K, never mind the fact that Tadge said he could do a mid-engine car for $5K more than the current (C6) platform way back in 2005 (feel free to read the interview with Bob Lutz in R&T from 2 years ago to confirm).
Ah, and the TC problem with the early 2015 8 speed autos. I agree that it is unacceptable and I would be very unhappy.
As far as my 2 year old C7 (delivered 3/2014), it has been flawless.

Jimmy

Rgeezer

I bought a Fiero new in '85. Worst car I've ever owned, constant problems and had to dump it at 20k miles. Took me almost 30 years before I bought another GM product, which was the C7. Things have no doubt changed in 30 years, but I sure won't be ordering an early one, no matter what the price.

Mike Campbell

Mine has been too. But back in 2006 I had my A6 crap out with only 1500 miles. I wasn't happy that it happened especially during a 4th of July parade (exactly 10 years ago this Monday). But, GM fixed it and I kept that car until I got my Stingray and had over 150 runs on the strip and never even had a burp from that car. So, the odds are the A8's problems will be fixed and the Corvette will get better. Whether they go mid engine or not I really don't care. For all the odds stacked against Corvette they seem to do pretty well anyway.

OnPoint

I think they can build a quality rear/mid engine Corvette.

They just need to not release it like they did the C7. The C7 was underfunded and rushed.

A mid/rear engine - whether coming first as the top dog C7 (ZR1/Zora, whatever), or as the all-new C8, will need to be done well.

Fund it right, GM, and then roll it out slooooooowwwwwllllyyyyy, and only after you've got it right.

Cuz you'll have a white hot spotlight on you if you build it. So, if you pheck it up, you'll do major damage to us Corvette fans, the model, your brand and the co.

Boiler_81

These are not mutually exclusive. Every OEM I have worked with over the last 34 years has an advanced team and a current production team for each vehicle line.

JoesC5

It's possible that a mid engine Corvette could be produced at a cost of $5,000 above the current C7, but I believe it would require that all 35,000 built each year would have to be mid engine, for the economies of scale to kick in.

First of all, I think a mid engine Corvette would lose a lot of current Corvette owners, more than what they would pick up, so that production would be less, thus driving up the cost of each Corvette built.

I don't think there are 35,000 people that would buy a mid engine Corvette each year.

If the mid engine is built on an entirely different platform from the other Corvettes(which is what I believe will happen and will be built separately in the vastly enlarged facility now under construction in Bowling Green) then it will be a lower production Corvette which will further drive up it's price.

RocketGuy3

You guys really think this is going to just be a halo car? Was really hoping it might be a re-work of the Corvette, even at entry level. :/

*sigh* If not, oh well. Guess I'm out again.

64drvr

Capable- yes. Probable- no.


Current Chevy designs are atrocities:

roadbike56

And if GM comes out with a mid-engine Vette that costs about what a C7 Z06 sells for, you'll have to get on line and wait to get one. Some dealers already have deposits for one.

gve

With the ZO6 being pretty close to even balanced weight front to back and the fact that it beats a lot of the more expensive midengine sports cars what is the big push to build one?

jimmyb

Well, Joe...it's a first for you and me....we agree. I think the "idea" of mid-engine is a lot more sexy than the "reality" of mid-engine. There's little doubt that a good deal of the Corvette's appeal (especially C5 forward) is the car's flexibility and usefulness as a day to day car. Now, if GM can make a mid-engine car with the utility of the current platform, then I'm all for it and I think they could sell 35,000 of those. But, making a mid-engine car with that utility is going to really be tough. Certainly, no one's done it so far (good utility in a mid-engine car) but I don't know how hard Ferrari/Lamborghini/etc were trying TO actually accomplish that.

Jimmy

Foosh

What is the big push to build one?

That's a very good question, and I can't claim any particular insight into GM's thought process. However, I can speculate w/ the best and am very familiar w/ regulatory trends.

Large-displacement V8 engines (even forced induction ones) are an endangered species due to ever tightening CAFE and environmental regulations. Even our beloved C7 engine is a part-time V4. The noose will continue to get tighter and tighter.

Even the various racing series rules and regs are currently favoring smaller displacement engines and forced-induction these days, as they also reflect societal trends. Witness what happened at LeMans a couple of weeks ago.

In the not-too-distant future, engines over 4L will be "legislated" out of both racing and street cars. My guess is that GM has seen the writing on the wall for some time now, and wants Corvette to continue to be regarded "best bang for the buck," high-performance car on the market. In order to do that, they'll eventually have to go mid-engine and smaller-displacement, forced-induction or hybrid/electric.

I think GM has been ready to do this for the last couple of generations, but the current customer demographic has kiboshed it. That demographic will begin dying off soon, so the time is nearing to make a total break w/ the past.