I think you are referring to Michael Simcoe replacing the last year retired Ed Welburn as the GM Vice Presdient for Global Design. Bet he will be, beaming, on stage at the ME’s reveal.

Simcoe was quoted as saying in one of his first interviews that he was aware that his career would be known for the next generation Corvette, that he was already feeling some pressure on how well it will be received.

At the same time, vehicles’ appearances are finalized (excepted last minute aero adjustments such as for our Corvettes) years before they go into production, so perhaps Simcoe could get an emblem design, a taillight component, or a front fender vent design changed to reflect his input, but probably nothing bigger than that.

Here, thanks to Keith Cornett, is that interview:

http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2017/...rvette-design/

Based on the leaked bumpers and CAD drawings, as well as spy photos of the interior, the upcoming Corvette does not appear to reflect the design language of the latest Chevrolets.

I hope to see a recurring theme in the design of the car. If you look inside and around any new Lamborghini, you’ll notice hexagons EVERYWHERE: grille mesh grille opening, headlight housings and shape, taillight housings and shape, exhaust tips, plastic trim(on a lambo???), seat inserts, a/c vents, dash/infotainment screen backgrounds at all times, most buttons, door handles.... I could go on and on, but you get the point. Corvette needs a theme like that, in my opinion, to make it unique. Let’s just hope that if a theme like that is present in the car, it isn’t the squircle...

Above design was the initial C7 sketch (more below) — which was done four years before the C7 was produced.

The design of the ME was 99% locked in under the skills and immense capabilities of Ed Welburn and his entire team. This was confirmed in a couple of different ways during the last couple of months.

Given that, Michael Simcoe’s could have final say in the very minor things. I am not demeaning his abilities in the slightest, nor his influence, just that in the automotive field almost all visual designs are locked in long before a car’s production manufacturing starts, so Simcoe’s influence will be on such things as the front fender badges/design, the front and rear emblems, the font and size of the Corvette letters on the rear fascia and similar items. I read and re-read his quotes above, but in all due deference, while he could well blamed by all who do not like the ME’s design, its design truly pre-dates him. And the reverse is true, that all those that love the design could well heap praise on Michael Simcoe, but it should instead be attributed to Ed Welburn and the rest of the design team who worked under Ed on the ME’s exterior design.

And all the above need to be considered in terms of fact that no design of a Corvette comes from one person. Yes, the initial sketch will be one person’s, but that sketch’s transformation to the final product gets modified by the entire design team, and also very influenced on the Corvette, by the aero and engineering teams input — for that also must go into the Corvette to make it successful. As to who the initial designer of the ME is, we do not know, but if I had to bet, I would again bet that Hwasup Lee, who did the initial top-of-post design on the C7 and also worked on the C7 ZR1, could have had a major hand in the ME’s design— in not just as one of its high quality team members.

Other who are clearly skilled and who have significantly contributed to the ME’s exterior design include Tom Peters and Kirk Bennion. As for its interior design, that is under the leader ship of Ryan Vaughan.

Hope some of this is useful.

Elegant, your above post got me thinking Mr Lee’s design shown may be resurrected in part to the ME as you suggested he still contributes to Corvette Design as late as with the C7 ZR1.

Elegant: “As to who the initial designer of the ME is, we do not know, but if I had to bet, I would again bet that Hwasup Lee, who did the initial top-of-post design on the C7 and also worked on the C7 ZR1, could have had a major hand in the ME’s design— in not just as one of its high quality team members.”

What if the rear facia actually looks very similar to his design, updated to reflect new taillight design as FVS illustrates. Subtle, but dramatic difference IMO. One aspect would be that the extended side behind the door on the rear quarter panel would visually be less pronounced. And maybe even suggest a storage compartment behind the engine. Think golf bag (1) with room for another in the frunck.

Easily hidden behind all that foam cladding. But, I can see the possibilities speculating what’s underneath.

Intersting thought. Maybe space for one golf bag as you suggested...

The first gen NSX had a small stoppage area behind the motor. However, when I first saw it, I laughed, for it one could have perhaps fit two of large paper grocery sacks in it, though to do so, might have involved squishing the groceries a tad.

As a visual and center of mass devotee, I would hope that the rear does not stick out an extra 8” just for a golf bag or grocery sacks. I hope instead that the long tail on the ME IVERS, as noted by Bikerjulio re the Colorado picture of all the license plate needing to be bent backwards at roughly a 40 degree angle, is just to accommodate the extra-thick, camo padding in the rear fascia, for IMO the Corvette ME would look far better and perform better without an NSX-extended-length, rear tail.

So to re-examine the golf bag possibility, I just went back to two CAD drawings, and while I am far from a CAD-reading specialist, I do not think they would allow enough side to side width to accomodate a golf bag. Perhaps someone who is a CAD specialist, could re-look at them and determine for sure?

ELEGANT: “As a visual and center of mass devotee, I would hope that the rear does not stick out an extra 8” just for a golf bag or grocery sacks.”

Actually, I think that what I see is that the bottom of the rear facia goes IN by ~8” from what is shown by FVS so as to not stick out beyond what appears to be an intergral side to side curved spoiler with thrird center lights. I’ll try to explain. Look at the Camo pic we’re (A) to (B) is an arc defining the spoiler with 4 holes for the center brake light. (C) is the lower corner where the lower piece (D) curves into it. From (D) look up and see the upper center (with straps attached) is on the same plane as the BOTTOM of the license plate which then tilts inward ~10 degrees to be recessed under the center of the spoiler. The center of the spoiler is on the same plane as (D) upper and the bottom of the license plate.

When you then look at the leaked molded red rear facia, (E) lines up on the same plane as (D), license plate BOTTOM, and (G) the center of the spoiler with the third brake lights. Finally look at (F) which appears to show how the bottom ends near or at the wheel well. NOTE, IMO that the molded red rear facia is tilted backward thus giving a false appearance that the bottom sticks out from the center of the spoiler. The curve in those tail lights may be more than we think at this point. Lots of block Camo under that rear end so what do I know.

i could care less about golf bags in the frunk, rear or elsewhere. I play pool thus my cue is in two short pieces..

Opps! Forgot the pictures.

Good observations. Interesting how the license plate in your picture CRABBY is straight up and down, not bent as we saw on the Colorado picture of about a week ago.

That bent license plate is so different and contrary to the one I show, maybe deceptive on purpose. Notice also on my Camo ME there is what looks like Camo showing along the bottom of the plate and even other small holes in the camo that can give evidence of how it is underneath. Subject to various interpretations, interesting.

The spy pictures of the night the C8 engineers got the munchies and hit the McDonald’s drive through are the most revealing to date.(not much padding)
That was almost a year ago.

From an article on 02/07/2018 thus on or before that date. Same car from the other side with a little better angle to show depth along the rear facia. Plane A sticks out from top center spoiler to the top of the lower valence center which then curves under to its bottom. The license plate bottom is on that same plane but tilts back ~1” at the top. I suspect that is were the license plate light resides as the facia above the license plate returns to the outer plane A. A to B steps in ~2”-3”. B to C steps in ~1”-2”. The arrow points to a wedge of padding that is thick at the back then tappers in to being very thin at the front suggesting a slight roundness on the rear facia corner.

EDIT: If all this is true, the ME IMO will be the antithesis to the C7 in exterior design as well as mechanical substance.