Nobull

I have a feeling a feeling that the ME Corvette will be introduced at the Detroit auto show this coming January. I have been following the development on many websites, and this is just a gut feeling I have.
Note the following:
1. The "paint shop" expansion is now complete. Let's get real. This
is really for another production line. Do you really think GM is
going to let this space sit idle for another year? In reality, the
production numbers for the ZR1 are never going to amount to much
so, in my opinion this additional space is irrelevant to the ZR1.
2. The mid engine has had a very long gestation period. Much of the
the development work started over a decade ago as the C7 was
supposed to be mid engined until Gm went through bankruptcy.
3. ME mules that were photographed came out several years ago, and
the actual car has been extensively photographed over the past year
going through cold weather testing, etc.
4. The chief engineer has been quoted as saying that because of fast
evolving events in the industry that development times and production
runs will be shortened in the future.
5. Considerable information has been recently leaked about panel
fabrication and future engine production runs.
Putting this all together I think we will see the ME this coming January
in Detroit. The Corvette is the all American car and it obviously will be
introduced in Detroit. Further, after it is introduced I think it will be available in the Fall of 2018 as a 2019 model. What do you think forum members?

OnPoint

Jan. 2019.

The ZR1 needs a few months to run before the ME sucks all the oxygen out of the room.

JerriVette

January 2019 intro date..but just a guess.

GM will let the ZR1 carry the flag till then.

f-16pilotTX

Very cool insight and opinion.

As for me, I believe it will be debuted 2019 Detroit as a 2020 model. This make much more sense to me. Alow the ZR1 to digest for a year!

firstvettesoon

Solid logic but I think it can go either way...but HOPE it will be this Jan!

sunsalem

As much as I would love to see it next month, my brain thingy forces me to agree with your logic.

ByByBMW

rgregory

It would be awesome if it is revealed but historically it always seems a photo leaked before the reveal which makes me feel it is farther off.

DebRedZR1

That is all........... 2019.....

Time for a C-5

Too many photos of test mules to try and push it out another year. I'm betting on January 2018.

FLS2K

I think they’ll show something in ‘18, but question whether it’ll be the production car. Really hard to say. Too many mules and info out there now for another year to go by IMO. If it doesn’t debut at Detroit in ‘18 I think it’ll bow somewhere else before Detroit ‘19. Either way, I’ll be in Detroit for the show.

c54u

I am going with that there will be a showing of a ME car in Jan 2018 at the Detroit auto show.

It's either going to be a Cadillac or Corvette.

It will be the introductory base model.

No way is GM going to keep that nice shiney new addition/renovation idle for another year. Spy shots of the ME at McDonalds....how ready do you want the ME car to be!

sunsalem

You have a point.
My guess is it is not about product development now (which I believe is done or nearly so).
It's about the MARKETING.


The ZR1 will carry the Corvette flag in 2018, then the ME takes over in 19.

tooold2race

I think it's a race against time.... The Corvette's clock isn't ticking as fast as mine is. My logic, like many above, is that the ZR1 will hold the spotlight for a year as the inventory of C7's 'corrects' then the C8 (ME) debuts in Detroit in January 2019 as a 2020 model,

Unfortunately I want a ME 'vert' and that won't show up until model year 2021 (my guess) and I'll be pushing 75 (not MPH either) by then. I hope I can still get in one! In the mean time the C7, Aston Martin and Ferrari in the garage will hopefully help me maintain some degree of physical flexibility. Otherwise I'll be the old guy with the walker drooling near the turntable in Cobo Hall.

RonnieC6Z

I am willing to bet anyone and everyone any amount of money that the mid engine Corvette will not be introduced at the January 2018 NAIAS in Detroit. This show is 6 weeks away and if the ME Vette was to be introduced in 6 weeks, the press would have gotten wind of it by now. Furthermore, with the production of the ZR1 beginning in March, GM has zero reason to get the ME Vette introduced this early. They want another full year or so to sell as many C7's as possible because once the ME Vette is introduced, sales of the C7 will drastically drop off. My feeling is that the earliest introduction will be January of 2019, and will begin production in the late summer/early fall of 2019 as a 2020 model.

LightningBolt

If you were in the market for a ZR1 and the ME was introduced, what would you do?
1) Keep your order for a ZR1?
2) Cancel your ZR1 order and order a ME?

IMO once the ME hits the market, the ZR1 is yesterdays news. If I were King at GM, there is NO WAY I would overshadow all the free publicity the ZR1 is getting right now.

firstvettesoon

not pretending to have the experience or knowledge of most here, but, the zr1 is at best a very limited sales numbers car? What are best guess sales for the zr1 in the next 18 months?

Wouldn't people wanting the ME simply wait until it is available rather than buy the zr1 anyway?

To me it is a different animal...especially if the "base" model is introduced first. The zr1 would still be the big bad beast for a while.

6714

I shure hope you are correct. Just put my 2014 up for sale!! Jimmy

sunsalem

Agreed.
I've heard rumors of a 3,000 production run, but who knows...

Maybe.

The performance difference between the 2 won't be comparable initially.
That would be plain dumb.
A base model with around 500hp should be the first ME released, with higher performance models to follow.
The ZR1 will rule for 2-3 years.

fasttoys

ME will be reveled in 2018, when is another ? Take it to the bank