C8 will be at NAIAS 2019
01-03-2019, 09:36 AM
#21
Race Director
Just my opinion, but..
This really makes no sense at all... if GM wants the most attention from all of the media outlets that would provide the best/most exposure for the new ME platform, they would be pre-hyping the reveal as much as possible, just like they did with the C7, with all the pre-reveal teasers they sent out months before the final reveal.
A “surprise reveal” would be one of the dumbest marketing moves ever...unless...they have no plans to sell the car this year...and are only reavealing the ME as a prototype/concept as they did with previous ME designs, which I sincerely hope is not the case...
This really makes no sense at all... if GM wants the most attention from all of the media outlets that would provide the best/most exposure for the new ME platform, they would be pre-hyping the reveal as much as possible, just like they did with the C7, with all the pre-reveal teasers they sent out months before the final reveal.
A “surprise reveal” would be one of the dumbest marketing moves ever...unless...they have no plans to sell the car this year...and are only reavealing the ME as a prototype/concept as they did with previous ME designs, which I sincerely hope is not the case...
01-03-2019, 09:40 AM
#23
Burning Brakes
Yep, I agree 100%... that’s my point... “surprise reveals” are only good for concepts that are not planned to sell for awhile...if at all, ever...so I would really hope a surprise reveal is not GM’s plan, because it would signal a much longer time to market for whatever was revealed as a surprise...
01-03-2019, 09:47 AM
#24
Burning Brakes
Counter-point. Ford GT. Nobody knew that was coming, and it was a shock when they pulled the cover off. I'm still amazed they managed to keep it secret.
Now the mid-engine Corvette is the worst kept secret in Detroit, but they could still do a surprise announcement. It wouldn't work as well as the Ford because everyone knows it's coming, But they could still do it, and it could still be moderately successful.
I don't think they will though.
Now the mid-engine Corvette is the worst kept secret in Detroit, but they could still do a surprise announcement. It wouldn't work as well as the Ford because everyone knows it's coming, But they could still do it, and it could still be moderately successful.
I don't think they will though.
(Eta: also, everyone knew the GT was coming, just didn’t know exactly what the final design would look like until it’s reveal.)
Last edited by kozmic; 01-03-2019 at 09:49 AM.
01-03-2019, 09:51 AM
#25
Le Mans Master
I sure hope you are right on this one versus the $169,900 base price!! I have always thought that GM would acknowledge or reveal the C8 sometime in January, be it the Detroit auto show and or live broadcast internet. We will have to see .......
01-03-2019, 10:00 AM
#26
Le Mans Master
Don’t mean to be argumentative, but I feel the Ford GT is a bad comparison... that particular car isn’t/wasn’t meant to be sold to masses of folks on open market... in fact, most (if not all) serial numbers were sold prior to the reveal with pre-purchase criteria requirements... so, this is very much apples to oranges.
(Eta: also, everyone knew the GT was coming, just didn’t know exactly what the final design would look like until it’s reveal.)
People "knew it was coming" in the sense that I "know" there will be a 70th anniversary Corvette. It was likely they were going to do something for the 65th anniversary of their original Le Mans run, but nobody had any idea what, if anything, that would be.
01-03-2019, 10:16 AM
#27
Or at Barrett Jackson Scottsdale AZ. On live TV? I’m guessing the 19 th. Ask Jay Leno.
01-03-2019, 10:28 AM
#28
Burning Brakes
The GT was revealed in Jan 2016. The application process didn't open until Feb 2016. They didn't announce it, let alone sell a single one, prior to the reveal.
People "knew it was coming" in the sense that I "know" there will be a 70th anniversary Corvette. It was likely they were going to do something for the 65th anniversary of their original Le Mans run, but nobody had any idea what, if anything, that would be.
People "knew it was coming" in the sense that I "know" there will be a 70th anniversary Corvette. It was likely they were going to do something for the 65th anniversary of their original Le Mans run, but nobody had any idea what, if anything, that would be.
(eta: here is just one article from 2014: https://www.motor1.com/news/50090/ne...rn-to-le-mans/)
Last edited by kozmic; 01-03-2019 at 10:30 AM.
01-03-2019, 11:07 AM
#30
Drifting
The "big reveal" is going to be the official showing of the 6th Gen Camaro with the ZR1 LT5...not the ME car. #noMEREVEALinDETROIT2019 sorry, not sorry
01-03-2019, 11:16 AM
#31
Burning Brakes
GM has nothing on the Jan 14 schedule.
https://naias.com/press/press-conference-schedule/
The only GM event for the entire show is the Jan 13 reveal for the Cadillac XT-whatever.
So unless they're going to do it after hours and off site, I'm calling shenanigans.
Because when the car is officially announced, it's a real product. People are allowed to have expectations about it. They're allowed to ask, why isn't it out, and GM has to have a reply.
When it's not announced, GM doesn't have to say anything at all. They can always claim it was planned for 2021 and it's not late at all.
They can't really do it as a concept car because nobody would believe that it's "just a concept" thanks to all the leaks and public sightings.
https://naias.com/press/press-conference-schedule/
The only GM event for the entire show is the Jan 13 reveal for the Cadillac XT-whatever.
So unless they're going to do it after hours and off site, I'm calling shenanigans.
Because when the car is officially announced, it's a real product. People are allowed to have expectations about it. They're allowed to ask, why isn't it out, and GM has to have a reply.
When it's not announced, GM doesn't have to say anything at all. They can always claim it was planned for 2021 and it's not late at all.
They can't really do it as a concept car because nobody would believe that it's "just a concept" thanks to all the leaks and public sightings.
https://naias.com/wp-content/uploads...nference12.pdf
01-03-2019, 11:46 AM
#33
Melting Slicks
Well Corvette has got to do something interesting since sales collapsed in 4Q2018: Down 37% and off 25% for all of 2018 to under 19,000.
Meanwhile, Porsche set a new record: "Porsche Cars North America Inc. said Thursday it had record U.S. retail sales in 2018, selling 57,202 vehicles, up 3.2% from the record set in 2017."
Meanwhile, Porsche set a new record: "Porsche Cars North America Inc. said Thursday it had record U.S. retail sales in 2018, selling 57,202 vehicles, up 3.2% from the record set in 2017."
Last edited by PCMIII; 01-03-2019 at 11:46 AM.
01-03-2019, 11:57 AM
#34
I completely agree. Why would GM not hype the reveal.
It makes no sense from a marketing stand point to spring the car on the media and the Corvette faithful.
When GM is ready to intro the car you can bet it will have a similar lead up as Dodge did with the Demon.
I had no interest in the Demon but I still followed all the hints of what was coming because I am a car guy.
Dodge marketing did a great job with the hype.
GM seen that and like most all successful business marketing strategies GM will copy it to some degree.
I think Dodge seen GM roll the C7 out and took the marketing to another level when doing the Demon.
I hope I am wrong as like many I had my heart set in a January 19 reveal. I like nothing more to be totally wrong and we see the car in next 2 weeks.
It makes no sense from a marketing stand point to spring the car on the media and the Corvette faithful.
When GM is ready to intro the car you can bet it will have a similar lead up as Dodge did with the Demon.
I had no interest in the Demon but I still followed all the hints of what was coming because I am a car guy.
Dodge marketing did a great job with the hype.
GM seen that and like most all successful business marketing strategies GM will copy it to some degree.
I think Dodge seen GM roll the C7 out and took the marketing to another level when doing the Demon.
I hope I am wrong as like many I had my heart set in a January 19 reveal. I like nothing more to be totally wrong and we see the car in next 2 weeks.
"I had no interest in the Demon but I still followed all the hints of what was coming because I am a car guy."
hahahhaha me too... watching all the Demon videos...they released one by one, I loved it too...
01-03-2019, 12:18 PM
#35
Team Owner
Well Corvette has got to do something interesting since sales collapsed in 4Q2018: Down 37% and off 25% for all of 2018 to under 19,000.
Meanwhile, Porsche set a new record: "Porsche Cars North America Inc. said Thursday it had record U.S. retail sales in 2018, selling 57,202 vehicles, up 3.2% from the record set in 2017."
Meanwhile, Porsche set a new record: "Porsche Cars North America Inc. said Thursday it had record U.S. retail sales in 2018, selling 57,202 vehicles, up 3.2% from the record set in 2017."
GM better be hoping that all those lost sales of the C7 are from people ONLY waiting to see what the new model is(and it's price tag).
PS-Camaro sales are just as bad at -25% down from 2017 sales, and GM is betting the farm on EV's even though the Spark dropped 40.9% in the 4QTR and the Bolt dropped 30.9% in the 4QTR.
Last edited by JoesC5; 01-03-2019 at 12:50 PM.
01-03-2019, 12:27 PM
#36
Safety Car
So no GM press conference at NAIAS, and my true insiders, who are names that we have read and still read about on the mega automedia events/publications, often monthly, have not yet been invited..., know absolutely nothing about this.
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01-03-2019, 12:31 PM
#37
I want to see the car, but I would be disappointed if they just did a surprise reveal with no lead up. The way they teased the C7 with various release videos showing subtle little things was excellent. I wanted one so bad.
01-03-2019, 12:32 PM
#38
Yep...averaging 1303 per month is sales for the last 3 months of 2018 ain't good for the brand. The C7 ain't that long in the tooth(only 5 years in production), and overall light vehicle US sales are holding pretty steady at 17M. If that is what is expected in sales until a new model is actually available, the Corvette is in trouble.
GM better be hoping that all those lost sales of the C7 are from people ONLY waiting to see what the new model is(and it's price tag).
PS-Camaro sales are just as bad at -25% down from 2017 sales.
GM better be hoping that all those lost sales of the C7 are from people ONLY waiting to see what the new model is(and it's price tag).
PS-Camaro sales are just as bad at -25% down from 2017 sales.
So yea 5 years is long in the tooth. G.M has to know that after seeing the c6 and C7 tank in year 5 or so that it can no longer go 7 or 8 years without a model change and expect sales to hold.
Boy I wich I was old enough to remember when each model year brought a new and exciting design change from year to year.
I am a Corvette guy like you and it is easy to see the change in body's type and determine year with the C1 & C2 Corvette and even early C3.
Now it's hard to tell any difference when walking by a 2014 Stingray and a 2019 Stingray .
GM cannot possible believe that the C7 will ever return to the sale level of 14 15 & 16 .
No more 30k per year sold until next generation is available.
01-03-2019, 12:33 PM
#39
Yep...averaging 1303 per month is sales for the last 3 months of 2018 ain't good for the brand. The C7 ain't that long in the tooth(only 5 years in production), and overall light vehicle US sales are holding pretty steady at 17M. If that is what is expected in sales until a new model is actually available, the Corvette is in trouble.
GM better be hoping that all those lost sales of the C7 are from people ONLY waiting to see what the new model is(and it's price tag).
PS-Camaro sales are just as bad at -25% down from 2017 sales.
GM better be hoping that all those lost sales of the C7 are from people ONLY waiting to see what the new model is(and it's price tag).
PS-Camaro sales are just as bad at -25% down from 2017 sales.
Of the 57,202 units Porsche sold in the US in 2018, 34,237 were SAV/SUVs. 8K were 4-door sedans (Panameras).
2018 US Porsche Sales
Despite dramatic sales drops due to sagging interest and market saturation, C7s still outsold Porsche sports cars by a wide margin, because it beats Porsche by a wide margin on price. I've said it many times, but it bears repeating that the market for what are essentially 2-seat sports cars is very limited.
Porsche thrives on SAV/SUV sales.
Last edited by Foosh; 01-03-2019 at 01:04 PM.
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01-03-2019, 12:36 PM
#40
Joe this is 2019 and the Corvette has not had a single facelift or significant upgrade to an exciting model since it's introduction in late 2013.
So yea 5 years is long in the tooth. G.M has to know that after seeing the c6 and C7 tank in year 5 or so that it can no longer go 7 or 8 years without a model change and expect sales to hold.
Boy I wich I was old enough to remember when each model year brought a new and exciting design change from year to year.
I am a Corvette guy like you and it is easy to see the change in body's type and determine year with the C1 & C2 Corvette and even early C3.
Now it's hard to tell any difference when walking by a 2014 Stingray and a 2019 Stingray .
GM cannot possible believe that the C7 will ever return to the sale level of 14 15 & 16 .
No more 30k per year sold until next generation is available.
So yea 5 years is long in the tooth. G.M has to know that after seeing the c6 and C7 tank in year 5 or so that it can no longer go 7 or 8 years without a model change and expect sales to hold.
Boy I wich I was old enough to remember when each model year brought a new and exciting design change from year to year.
I am a Corvette guy like you and it is easy to see the change in body's type and determine year with the C1 & C2 Corvette and even early C3.
Now it's hard to tell any difference when walking by a 2014 Stingray and a 2019 Stingray .
GM cannot possible believe that the C7 will ever return to the sale level of 14 15 & 16 .
No more 30k per year sold until next generation is available.