roadbike56

There's been a lot of discussion, deservedly so, about the new mid-engine Corvette. But what about the new car that's being developed right on the heels of the new ME Corvette? The information brought to light in the CSP legal document that forum member elegant posted discloses a new GM car to be launched in 2019 (obviously the ME) to be sold along with the C7. Two years later the C7 is retired and the space at the CSP plant will be used for a "second new line" according to the document. So the question is, What is the second, new car? Is the second car the true C8, a front engine Corvette? Is it a new Cadillac halo car take off of the ME Corvette? How about a Corvette SUV?
I've included the excerpt from the CSP disclosure below.
"CSP could be awarded “two significant product lines” that would launch in 2019, Reid said. The first line would be body panels for the new generation of Corvettes. The body panels now being made in Huntington are for the current C7 Corvette; Reid says the plant is working to win the right to manufacture body panels for the eighth generation of the sports car.

The current model would continue to be manufactured for two years after production of the new model begins, Reid said, necessitating the addition of 110,000 to 130,000 square feet to the current 165,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
“We want to expand the facility so we can make both at the same time,” he said.
Once production of the C7 body panels ends, he said, that space would be used for the second new line — a line Reid said is still secret, but would be a new introduction to the market. The entire project would increase CSP's work force from 323 to about 480, he said. The jobs pay in the range of $15 to $16 an hour, he said."
So what do you think?

elegant

CSP does work for more than GM, so the additional line could be composite panels for any brand. Or it could be panels for a 2022+ Cadillac, all-electric ME (though that would be a very limited production model — say 2,000 units per year), or another GM product.

If you believe the latest flurry of news that the Viper is coming back in 2021 (which I do not), it could be panels for the Viper, but as CSP’s Reid made this announcement in 2016 when the Viper was already circling the grave, I highly doubt that. IMO, there are many current reasons why the Viper is forever extinct, and not even DNA cloning could nor will bring it back.

One other SWAG, there are also rumors that there will be 2022, a C7.5 FE Corvette replacement — which would be a refreshed C7 with new body panels, with the 500 HP LT1 that is first going into the 2020 ME, and some similar interior refreshings. Not buying that at this time — for GM will first gauge ME sales before approving the final business case for a replacement FE Corvette.

However, full disclosure, I am just speculating with the above ideas. Anyone?

Michael A

Obviously, this is just conjecture on my part, but I don't see GM building a Cadillac two seater at this time. Cadillac sales have been plummeting, and they just announced they are discontinuing the ATS. I can't see them taking on a low volume two seat car that is likely to lose money. They need to focus on building up the SUV and CUV offerings, and fast if the Cadillac division is going to survive.

CRABBYJ

Back on 09/16/2016 I made a post #187 to the below CF thread trying to rationalize why the effort developing the new C7 frame. Just to save weight didn’t convince me, now it is becoming increasingly clear. Personally, I now think they have always been committed to producing both an FE and ME simultaneously but unsure if it is a refresh of a C7 (C7.5?), a new FE C8 either along with the obvious developing ME. Otherwise, why the the C7 frame adaptability to both concepts.


https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1593068512

elegant

I totally agree that Cadillac has much more important, CUV/SUV product holes to fill at this time.

And why I suggested the earliest for a Caddy ME would be 2022. As GM has announced that it is moving forcefully into more all electric vehicles, that would be a good fit for a limited production Cadillac ME version.

C5Driver

I hope the Viper comes back with vengeance. I hope the price point hits squarely at Corvette. GM needs the competition in this segment. It also might be a less expensive ME C8 V6 replacement built off of the TOL Halo C8 in 2020.

sunsalem

If it does, it wouldn't be a "Viper."
During 60+ years of Corvette success, neither Ford nor Chrysler has tried to compete...not once.
Why?
I dunno.
Maybe they're too involved with their Muscle Cars to care....

acrace

jschindler

I've said all along I don't believe the mid engine car is really a C8, I believe it is a separate stand alone model of some sort. The reason GM sells 35,000 Corvettes a year has a lot to do with cost and practicality. I don't think a mid engine car will qualify on either.

dcbingaman

John, what do you think about a new 4-door FE coupe - similar to the Mercedes CLS, the AMG GT 4-door, the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe and the Audi A7 ? That would be an interesting twist and would allow GM to share the drivetrain on two markedly different applications - both branded "Corvette". This seems to be the one growing market for sedans, so a Corvette 4-Door Coupe may be the best way for GM to hang onto some of this business.

pietro c7

roadbike56

The sentimental side of me hopes you are correct. I'd like to see Corvette compete with the P car using two platforms.
But another part of me thinks there's another possibility. A previous post suggests a 4 door Corvette (sedan). I don't think that will happen based on the poor sales performance that Porsche is experiencing. However, a Corvette SUV or CUV has been kicked around on the forums. Form a purely selfish standpoint, I'd love to see Corvette come out with a high performance SUV/CUV.

lt4obsesses

Yep, I'm sticking with the thought that the mid engine car is going be a separate model, whether it's going to be an ultra performance variety or just a different car that can utilize some of the stuff they say doesn't fit in the FE car, we'll have to see. But I think the actual 8th generation car is going to be traditional a chassis design.

tbasco 6

Quinten33

Just as McLaren said about their own cars, a Corvette SUV wouldn't be a a Corvette. The center of gravity is too high, its too heavy, Its too big, too slow, etc. Any high-performance(if you can call them that) SUVs should be made by Chevy and Cadillac, not under the Corvette brand. GM Will be selling 20 Different SUVs in the U.S. by 2020, including 6 from Chevrolet. No more SUVs are needed.

A Corvette Sedan would be more likely, as it would handle and drive more like a front-engine Corvette than an SUV and it would be able to look great. However, I doubt that either a Sedan or SUV will be made under the Corvette name.

Right now, it seems that there will be a mid-engine layout and front-engine layout for the C8, each sharing engines(not transmissions, as the FE could receive the 10-speed. ZERV said that it was under testing for transaxle configuration.), performance parts/options, and interiors. The customer would simply have the choice of Grand Tourer or Exotic/Sports car, and the benefits of each.

JoesC5

It makes no sense to me why GM would want to offer two different automatic transmissions in a Corvette. Both a front engine and a mid engine Corvette can use a single design auto transmission and benefit from the economies of scale by doing so.

elegant

Maybe down the road, but doubt it for the next four years — for GM has lots of Corvette sports car plans for us 2020-2023.

fasttoys

Don’t forget that Corvette is under Chevrolet and owned by GM. I know I take my C7 to the Chevrolet dealer for service. McLaren Is a manufture and Unless GM goes in a crazy direction and makes the Corvette it’s own, I don’t see an SUV or sedan under its model name. It seams pointless

Unfortunately Sedans are dead, The number one purchased Porsche is the Mecan then Cayenne and 3rd is Pannanera 4 door sedan. I have owned many Porsches and remember all the fights on the forum when Porsche was coming out with an SUV. Since Porsche is a manufacturer just like GM, Porsche had no choice to exspand their model line to survive. If Porsche only produceed sports cars they were going to die. What’s funny the number one purchased Porsche’s is an SUV, who would of thought that 10 years ago.

I think GM realized they needed to make a drastic change to the Corvette and going to an ME design is definitely a step in that direction. Time will tell if it was the best decision for GM no different than Porsche going to an SUV. Drastic Change is difficult for most to handel and not everyone will be happy.
Hopefully in the end it all works out.

senah

"What’s funny the number one purchased Porsche’s an SUV......"

which is why i will be surprised if there isn't a corvette suv on the planning board.

there was a comment from a corvette salesman about how much it would increase his business if gm produced a corvette suv.

also wouldn't be surprised if the me is a zora and the c8 is front engine.

lt4obsesses

If GM wants to compete in the Cayenne market, they will do so under the Cadillac umbrella. If it works, they may trickle down a version of it to Chevrolet. They'll never put more than two seats in a Corvette, no way.