Stew24

What's the REAL reason for putting the motor in the back of a Corvette? .. I mean, ... 99% of all other vehicles have the engine where it belongs, .. *In the front*! This just seems like some novelty at it's core, to me. I know the claims of better handling, ..but the current Vette handles SO awesomely, ... what more is needed? 51/49 front bias, as opposed to 51/49 rear bias, ... really??? The generated talk might gen up some addiional sales, .. so I guess so!

Iker

Darion

It's more like 41/59 and ya can take it from there.

PC

Shaka

An old lady asked Fats Waller what 'Swing' was. He answered,"Maam, if you gotsta aks, you'll never know?

mitchydkid

I'm no engineer, but I've read the whole 50/50 thing being ideal is not true. Formula 1 cars are ~55% to the rear. I assume having less weight over the wheels that steer makes it more nimble. I assume more over the wheels that push gives better traction. If the FE Vette is "good enough" then there are plenty to buy. For those that want even more, the ME Vette is the way to go.

elegant

gthal

Do a Google search for the science and then drive a ME car. There is a difference in rear end grip, balance and capability all things equal. GM wouldn't invest this much money in just a novelty concept. They are doing it to continue the evolution of the Corvette platform beyond what they can reasonably accomplish with a FE design.

Stew24

I've never driven a Lambo, Ferrari or Mclaren. My C7 GS handles like nothing I've ever experienced, and wonder how much better it can get? I assume, as do you ... having less weight over the wheels that steer makes it more nimble, but is that better? Nimble can be thought of as nervous, at times. If a motor in the back has all these positive virtues, it would seem you'd see it applied far more in the marketplace.
P.S., .. That video of the ME running at the Nurburgring didn't *appear* to be handling any faster than any other Vette or Camaro I've seen there.

PurpleLion

You are asking NOW? Where have you been for the last 50 years?

I have been waiting for a mid engine Corvette since 1973 when the mid engine Wankel Corvette was supposed to come out!

eyedeekay

This. I believe Motor Trend had an article of the Zr1 talking about how the platform as a whole is basically at its limit. Besides the vette, viper and maybe the GTR, their really arent many front engine cars out there competing with the top end cars. Making a FE car as competitive as a ME car is hard, and GM for the longest time has been able to keep up with the competition despite this. I think they are ready to go the next step though with this next generation. The only exception I could think of is the Aston Martin Vulcan, but that car can only be driven on the track, plus its $2.3 million.

Stew24

Well, with a little research, I guess I've answered my own question. The fastest 4 do all seem to be mid engined cars ....

Fastest Nurburgring lap times 2018

• Lamborghini Aventador SVJ - 6:44.97s.
• Porsche 911 GT2 RS - 6:47.3s.
• Lamborghini Huracan Performante - 6:52:01s.
• Porsche 918 Spyder (Weissach Package) - 6:57s.
• Dodge Viper ACR - 7:01.03s.
• Nissan GT-R Nismo - 7:08.59s.
• Mercedes AMG GT R - 7:10.92s.
• Gumpert Apollo Sport - 7:11.57s.

smitty1966

ByRiver

You get more space in the cabin because there is no transtube hump.
No need to run pipes back to the rear.
Easier to drop the motor and transaxle.
I'm sure the parasitic HP loss is less too.

I love my mid-engine Toyota MR2 Spyder.

range96

GM couldn't match the Dodge Demon's horsepower, so they decided to put the engine in the back to beat the Porsche GT2 RS!

vndkshn

Seen the ZR1 power?

Comparing a Corvette with a car that is so heavy it has it's own gravity is ridiculous.

Stew24

Uh, ... I'm a Corvette fan, .. but something tells me GM ain't fixing to beat the Porsche GT2 RS with a ME Corvette , right out the gate! ...
Fastest Nurburgring lap times 2018

• Lamborghini Aventador SVJ - 6:44.97s.
• Porsche 911 GT2 RS - 6:47.3s.
• Lamborghini Huracan Performante - 6:52:01s.
• Porsche 918 Spyder (Weissach Package) - 6:57s.
• Dodge Viper ACR - 7:01.03s.
• Nissan GT-R Nismo - 7:08.59s.
• Mercedes AMG GT R - 7:10.92s.
• Gumpert Apollo Sport - 7:11.57s.

fasttoys

NineVettes

You are right, of course. But...….I think your 15 Z just might have been just a bit less overwhelmed under hard acceleration if it had not had 20' rims on the back combined with run flat tires. We will see what a smaller (19" rim) and non run flat high performance (but street legal) tires does in terms of my '19's controllability under hard acceleration. Again, not questioning that an ME or a 911 layout definitely is superior for hard acceleration...

Sometimes it is just a matter of picking your compromises. Like the FE, the ME will have its own compromises.

Bandit's C4

IIRC... current racing rules doesn't allow a manufacturer enter their race version car if they move the engine to the rear... if the designed OEM passenger version wasn't that way to begin with (In other words... why the C7.R is currently restricted ... however the hypothetical C8.R will not).

NemesisC5

It's the way the torque is delivered that makes it harder to manage. Roots style blowers have tremendous TQ at 2k rpm making it harder to hook while most exotics turn higher rpms and torque builds. Although the TVS 2650 in ZR1 was built to continue building power higher in the rpms they didn't do it at a cost down low so it has big power at lower rpms and spins tires accelerating hard out of corners.