GM Starts The 2020 ME Tease Leading To Its Reveal
06-06-2018, 07:26 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
GM Starts The 2020 ME Tease Leading To Its Reveal
While Corvette team staff continue to deny that there will be a 2020 ME, in fact their only response saying, “we do not discuss potential future product,” GM’s own actions are already teasing the ME by conspicuously and deliberating displaying three past Corvette ME prototypes.
Thanks to Corvetteblogger and to DtRockstar1 for the article and videos below.
If GM is already starting the tease process now, could its reveal be as far away as 220 days from now at NAIAS?
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2018/...erm=2018-06-06
Thanks to Corvetteblogger and to DtRockstar1 for the article and videos below.
If GM is already starting the tease process now, could its reveal be as far away as 220 days from now at NAIAS?
Originally Posted by CorvetteBlogger
Mid-Engine Corvette Prototypes to Detroit Grand Prix (By Keith Cornett)
With a new mid-engine Corvette on the way, Chevrolet may doing some stealth marketing as they prepare for the most radical redesign in Corvette’s 65+ year history.
Although the Corvette C7.Rs didn’t race last weekend at Detroit’s Belle Isle, that doesn’t mean that Corvette fans weren’t there either. The IMSA race did have a Corvette corral and many of the area clubs caravaned to watch the action along the temporary street circuit.
We also learned that Chevrolet brought out several historic Corvette prototypes and concepts from the GM Heritage Center for the Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle. Positioned around the great white fountain, were three mid-engine Corvette prototypes, the Aerovette, the Reynolds concept and the Corvette Indy concept. Also on display was the ultra cool 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer.
Youtuber DtRockstar1 captured the Aerovette and Reynolds mid-engine prototypes on video and we get to check them out as they are running, along with the demonstration of several features including the interior, engine compartments, and cargo storage.
The Aerovette was designed in 1973 by Bill Mitchell and his design team as a showcase for GM’s rotary engines. Under the sloping rear glass was an experimental four-rotor engine. The almond-shaped prototype was fitted with bi-fold gullwing doors and was sterling silver with silver leather interior. After GM ended the rotary engine program, the Aerovette was fitted with a small-block Chevy V8.
The Reynolds concept (XP-895) was constructed in 1972 as one of a series of experimental Corvettes designed for testing alternative engine layouts as well as the use of aluminum in car manufacturing. The names comes from the car’s joint development program with Reynolds Aluminum. The Reynolds Concept has a 400 ci Chevy small block V8 mounted transversely behind the driver.
The 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer campaigned in SCCA racing in 1959 and 1960 at the personal expense of GM Design Chief Bill Mitchell with the Flying Dentist, Dr. Dick Thompson doing much of the driving. Following its life on track, the car returned to Detroit where it was freshened up and Mitchell would occasionally be seen behind the wheel.
A radically new Corvette is coming and Corvette enthusiasts can be downright intransigent when it comes to embracing new designs. Remember the controversies about the C6 Corvette utilizing fixed headlights or that the C7 taillights weren’t round so it’s not a real Corvette? With the display of these historic prototypes, Chevrolet could be utilizing them as a way to bridge the gap from the front engine design as well as remind their core customers that such a radical change was even envisioned by the likes of Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell.
Or, it could just a group of really cool old cars hanging out together at the races.
Source:
DtRockstar1
With a new mid-engine Corvette on the way, Chevrolet may doing some stealth marketing as they prepare for the most radical redesign in Corvette’s 65+ year history.
Although the Corvette C7.Rs didn’t race last weekend at Detroit’s Belle Isle, that doesn’t mean that Corvette fans weren’t there either. The IMSA race did have a Corvette corral and many of the area clubs caravaned to watch the action along the temporary street circuit.
We also learned that Chevrolet brought out several historic Corvette prototypes and concepts from the GM Heritage Center for the Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle. Positioned around the great white fountain, were three mid-engine Corvette prototypes, the Aerovette, the Reynolds concept and the Corvette Indy concept. Also on display was the ultra cool 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer.
Youtuber DtRockstar1 captured the Aerovette and Reynolds mid-engine prototypes on video and we get to check them out as they are running, along with the demonstration of several features including the interior, engine compartments, and cargo storage.
The Aerovette was designed in 1973 by Bill Mitchell and his design team as a showcase for GM’s rotary engines. Under the sloping rear glass was an experimental four-rotor engine. The almond-shaped prototype was fitted with bi-fold gullwing doors and was sterling silver with silver leather interior. After GM ended the rotary engine program, the Aerovette was fitted with a small-block Chevy V8.
The Reynolds concept (XP-895) was constructed in 1972 as one of a series of experimental Corvettes designed for testing alternative engine layouts as well as the use of aluminum in car manufacturing. The names comes from the car’s joint development program with Reynolds Aluminum. The Reynolds Concept has a 400 ci Chevy small block V8 mounted transversely behind the driver.
The 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer campaigned in SCCA racing in 1959 and 1960 at the personal expense of GM Design Chief Bill Mitchell with the Flying Dentist, Dr. Dick Thompson doing much of the driving. Following its life on track, the car returned to Detroit where it was freshened up and Mitchell would occasionally be seen behind the wheel.
A radically new Corvette is coming and Corvette enthusiasts can be downright intransigent when it comes to embracing new designs. Remember the controversies about the C6 Corvette utilizing fixed headlights or that the C7 taillights weren’t round so it’s not a real Corvette? With the display of these historic prototypes, Chevrolet could be utilizing them as a way to bridge the gap from the front engine design as well as remind their core customers that such a radical change was even envisioned by the likes of Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell.
Or, it could just a group of really cool old cars hanging out together at the races.
Source:
DtRockstar1
Last edited by elegant; 06-06-2018 at 07:27 PM.
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06-06-2018, 07:36 PM
#3
Instructor
Last week GM also put a mid-engine Corvette Daytona on display at the GM Renaissance Center
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2018/05/...ssance-center/
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2018/05/...ssance-center/
06-06-2018, 07:48 PM
#4
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I love especially three sentences from Keith Cornett’s above article...
“A radically new Corvette is coming and Corvette enthusiasts can be downright intransigent when it comes to embracing new designs. Remember the controversies about the C6 Corvette utilizing fixed headlights or that the C7 taillights weren’t round so it’s not a real Corvette? With the display of these historic prototypes, Chevrolet could be utilizing them as a way to bridge the gap from the front engine design as well as remind their core customers that such a radical change was even envisioned by the likes of Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell.”
“A radically new Corvette is coming and Corvette enthusiasts can be downright intransigent when it comes to embracing new designs. Remember the controversies about the C6 Corvette utilizing fixed headlights or that the C7 taillights weren’t round so it’s not a real Corvette? With the display of these historic prototypes, Chevrolet could be utilizing them as a way to bridge the gap from the front engine design as well as remind their core customers that such a radical change was even envisioned by the likes of Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell.”
Last edited by elegant; 06-06-2018 at 07:48 PM.
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06-06-2018, 08:03 PM
#5
Instructor
I love especially three sentences from Keith Cornett’s above article...
“A radically new Corvette is coming and Corvette enthusiasts can be downright intransigent when it comes to embracing new designs. Remember the controversies about the C6 Corvette utilizing fixed headlights or that the C7 taillights weren’t round so it’s not a real Corvette? With the display of these historic prototypes, Chevrolet could be utilizing them as a way to bridge the gap from the front engine design as well as remind their core customers that such a radical change was even envisioned by the likes of Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell.”
“A radically new Corvette is coming and Corvette enthusiasts can be downright intransigent when it comes to embracing new designs. Remember the controversies about the C6 Corvette utilizing fixed headlights or that the C7 taillights weren’t round so it’s not a real Corvette? With the display of these historic prototypes, Chevrolet could be utilizing them as a way to bridge the gap from the front engine design as well as remind their core customers that such a radical change was even envisioned by the likes of Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell.”
06-06-2018, 09:02 PM
#6
Miles of Smiles
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I love especially three sentences from Keith Cornett’s above article...
“A radically new Corvette is coming and Corvette enthusiasts can be downright intransigent when it comes to embracing new designs. Remember the controversies about the C6 Corvette utilizing fixed headlights or that the C7 taillights weren’t round so it’s not a real Corvette? With the display of these historic prototypes, Chevrolet could be utilizing them as a way to bridge the gap from the front engine design as well as remind their core customers that such a radical change was even envisioned by the likes of Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell.”
“A radically new Corvette is coming and Corvette enthusiasts can be downright intransigent when it comes to embracing new designs. Remember the controversies about the C6 Corvette utilizing fixed headlights or that the C7 taillights weren’t round so it’s not a real Corvette? With the display of these historic prototypes, Chevrolet could be utilizing them as a way to bridge the gap from the front engine design as well as remind their core customers that such a radical change was even envisioned by the likes of Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell.”
with you elegant. It might be that GM is making a subtle move towards helping a few "traditionalists" recall that the ME has always been a part (if not a vision) of many of the other Corvette "traditionalists".
Last edited by FrankLP; 06-06-2018 at 09:03 PM.
06-06-2018, 09:26 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
The rear buttresses on that Reynolds car are certainly interesting...
06-07-2018, 01:39 AM
#8
You nailed it, John.
This is the first REAL tease of the ME.
We're really getting close now.
This is the first REAL tease of the ME.
We're really getting close now.
06-07-2018, 09:37 AM
#9
Safety Car
While Corvette team staff continue to deny that there will be a 2020 ME, in fact their only response saying, “we do not discuss potential future product,” GM’s own actions are already teasing the ME by conspicuously and deliberating displaying three past Corvette ME prototypes.
If GM is already starting the tease process now, could its reveal be as far away as 220 days from now at NAIAS?[/B]
https://youtu.be/iMB5Pp-xsrQ
If GM is already starting the tease process now, could its reveal be as far away as 220 days from now at NAIAS?[/B]
https://youtu.be/iMB5Pp-xsrQ
06-07-2018, 09:47 AM
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
There are more upcoming specific/concrete plans made, but outside GM it is not known how soon or how far into the future we will be teased.
Inquiring minds want to know!
Inquiring minds want to know!
Last edited by elegant; 06-07-2018 at 09:58 AM.
06-07-2018, 12:17 PM
#11
Yes they do.
06-07-2018, 03:17 PM
#12
Interesting how those two concepts have transverse mounted motors. What did the 80s ME concepts that used to be at the NCM have?
06-07-2018, 03:48 PM
#13
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Good question Tool Hoarder. I do know now. Sure someone here does.
However, as some point we will see them again, then united together with their other Corvette “ME brothers/sisters.”
However, as some point we will see them again, then united together with their other Corvette “ME brothers/sisters.”
Last edited by elegant; 06-07-2018 at 03:58 PM.
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06-07-2018, 06:23 PM
#16
Instructor
And recall that in January 2017, GM bought back the CERV I at auction for $1.32M, probably to gather all their mid-engines together for the C8 reveal:
http://www.autofocus.ca/news-events/...ackson-auction
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2017/0...ge-collection/
http://www.autofocus.ca/news-events/...ackson-auction
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2017/0...ge-collection/
Last edited by RedDropTop; 06-07-2018 at 06:28 PM.
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06-07-2018, 07:16 PM
#17
And recall that in January 2017, GM bought back the CERV I at auction for $1.32M, probably to gather all their mid-engines together for the C8 reveal:
http://www.autofocus.ca/news-events/...ackson-auction
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2017/0...ge-collection/
http://www.autofocus.ca/news-events/...ackson-auction
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2017/0...ge-collection/
