skank

We have seen the leaked photos at the Bowling Green plant of the freshly painted red front and rear fascia's. We've also seen horizontal inserts in the two outboard openings that will separate and direct the incoming air to internal air ducts funneling air to the brakes and other fluid cooling radiators. The new ZR1 already uses these dual functioning ducts to manage airflow. The center opening will also have these ducts to manage the incoming air, with or without the front license plate insert bracket. Since GM has now trade marked the ZORA name worldwide we can assume they will be selling the car with left hand and right hand drive to more countries then ever before. That will require 3 different license plate insert brackets to accomodate the various license plate sizes of that country. The photos of the ZORA testing at the Nurburgring ring showed the center section with a front license plate insert bracket that appears to be aerodynamically designed. Below are the 3 main worldwide license plate standards that will require the appropriate space for the front and rear license locations. Also a great video of Kirk Bennion explaining the C7 License plate insert.

Early 20th century plates varied in size and shape from one jurisdiction to the next, such that if someone moved, new holes would need to be drilled into the automobile (often on the bumper) to support the new plate. Standardization of plates came in 1957, when automobile manufacturers came to agreement with governments and international standards organizations. While peculiar local variants exist, there are three basic standards worldwide:

• 520 by 110 mm (20.5 by 4.3 inches) or 520 by 120 mm (20.5 by 4.7 inches) - in the bulk of European countries and many of their former overseas territories, as well as North Korea and South Korea.
• 305 by 152 mm (12.0 by 6.0 inches) or 305 by 160 mm (12.0 by 6.3 inches) - in the majority of North America and Central America, and parts of South America; occasionally in Switzerland and Liechtenstein; and many Persian Gulf countries.
• 372 by 135 mm (14.6 by 5.3 inches) - in Australia and some other Pacific Rim countries, about halfway between the dimensions of the other two standards, longer than Western Hemisphere plates but taller than European ones.

skank

Here's a map of the States that require front license plates.

https://www.cars.com/articles/2013/1...icense-plates/

RandomTask

Anecdotal story;

About a year ago, taking my vette to the dealership, there was a C7Z there. The thing was MURDERED out. Slammed, 5% tint ALL around (including front glass), no plates front OR rear.

Lady is getting into it, I approached her to compliment the car. . .
“Mam, this thing is sick, but I have to ask, how do the cops not [fornicate] with you non-stop?”
Her response “Oh, it’s my boyfriends. . .he’s a DC cop so they let him. . .”

I have no reservations about not running a front plate. I'd rather get the ticket . . .

dexterkatt

It is unusual to be stopped for missing front plates in metro cities in Texas in my experience.

warhawkmcdaniel

Don't you need a car to hang plates?

skank

The reason I wrote this thread was to call attention to the fact that the front fascia will require 3 separate inserts where front license plates are required and the rear fascia will have to accomodate a 20 1/2" W by 6 3/8" H flat surface minimum to be legal in all markets. But the main reason was to call attention to how plates that large affect the aerodynamics of the front end. The front center section had a very large insert when they tested the car at the Nurburgring. They should optimize 3 separate front inserts for the 3 main plate sizes. I can't imagine C7 ZO6 drivers forgetting about the overheating issues in the 2015 and 2016 cars.

vndkshn

Except Allen, TX. I used to get pulled over in my e46 M3 all the time. I got pulled over for a front license plate while the cop ignored the guy who was trying to get me to race and went ripping down the road at probably 90 in a 35. He didn't see that guy, but he sure noticed me doing the speed limit with my dangerous behavior of not having a front license plate.

Atari_Prime

Educational. Say what you want about the South, the lack of a front plate is something they got right.

skank

Ironically, the front license requirement is a huge revenue generator for some states.

ROUTE 66

Just think of it as job security for the ones in lockup..
It is nice not having to have one in front.

ROUTE 66

I received one in Dallas for no plate some time ago.

mschuyler

Really? Can you cite some examples of this? Washington requires a front plate, but they do not charge more for it, nor does it need the annual sticker. It just sits up there in the way.

JoesC5

How can you assume that GM will offer the mid engine car in a right hand drive just because they trademarked "Zora"?

GM has covered the European license plate requirement for some time now with the cars they export to foreign countries, such as this C6 ZR1.

skank

Of course different states have different fines, but California has a $117.00 fix-it fine for a License Plate Display Failure. If you immediatly fix it you can get it all reimbused except for ten dollars. If you don't get it fixed and continue to drive then get picked up again it goes up to $197.00. If you are still obstinent enough to drive without it goes up big time but varies by county.
A License Plate Display Failure ticket will cost you $197 in fines plus $1,000+ in insurance hikes and penalties.

skank

They have trademarked the ZORA name in all the Left hand drive British Common wealth countries (Great Britain,India, Australia,etc) as well as most rest of the world. It would only make sense to build both left and right configurations if they wanted to expand their market.

JoesC5

I'm pretty sure that you can import left hand drive vehicles into Great Britain and Japan, but not Singapore, India, or Australia.

Don't you remember when Tadge told a UK auto magazine that the C7, when it was displayed in Detroit, would be available in a RHD configuration, and the very next day, the #2 man at GM had to release a press notice that the C7 would not be available in a RHD version. Not enough market for the Corvette to make it RHD for a just couple of counties(especially if those countries are not into Corvettes in enough volume to warrant tooling up for a RHD).

For model year 2018, here are the export numbers.....

Canada-------587
Europe-------343
Mideast--------66
Mexico---------57
Japan-----------9

Michael A

Typical California. They make a big deal out of a license plate, but voted in a proposition that reclassifies drugging and raping a woman a non-violent crime. I wonder if you can use AB1810 to plead treatable mental illness, and avoid penalties and trial for a missing front plate like you can now do for murder and robbery.

firstvettesoon

skank

Whats really crazy is how many countries have different size plates. Most fall within the 3 main size configurations. Here's a additional list.

Additional sizes include:

• 260 by 110 mm (10.2 by 4.3 inches) - in Monaco.
• from 275 by 200 mm (10.8 by 7.9 inches) to 340 by 220 mm (13.4 by 8.7 inches) - two line pattern, optional in several European countries for 4x4 and Imported Vehicles;
• 275 by 205 mm (10.8 by 8.1 inches) - in Vietnam.
• 300 by 80 mm (11.8 by 3.1 inches) - Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
• 310 by 155 mm (12.2 by 6.1 inches) - in Saudi Arabia.
• 320 by 90 mm (12.6 by 3.5 inches) - in Iraq.
• 330 by 165 mm (13.0 by 6.5 inches) - in Japan.[citation needed]
• 330 by 140 mm (13.0 by 5.5 inches) - in Andorra.
• 340 by 150 mm (13.4 by 5.9 inches) - in Thailand.
• 360 by 125 mm (14.2 by 4.9 inches) - in New Zealand.
• 360 by 130 mm (14.2 by 5.1 inches) - in Chile.
• 360 by 110 mm (14.2 by 4.3 inches) - in Italy (front plates), and Oman.
• 380 by 160 mm (15.0 by 6.3 inches) - in Taiwan.
• 390 by 120 mm (15.4 by 4.7 inches) - in San Marino.
• 400 by 130 mm (15.7 by 5.1 inches) - in the Mercosur member countries, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and others. originally based on the 2008 Brazilian standard.
• 404 by 154 mm (15.9 by 6.1 inches) - in Ecuador.
• 430 by 110 mm (16.9 by 4.3 inches) - in Jordan.
• 430 by 135 mm (16.9 by 5.3 inches) - in Indonesia.
• 440 by 120 mm (17.3 by 4.7 inches) - in South Africa and Finland.
• 440 by 140 mm (17.3 by 5.5 inches) - in China, but 480 by 140 mm (18.9 by 5.5 inches) for New Energy vehicles.
• 450 by 100 mm (17.7 by 3.9 inches) - in Syria and Tunisia.

Previous sizes included:

• 320 by 150 mm (12.6 by 5.9 inches) - in Paraguay and Taiwan; Paraguay now uses Mercosur size plates.
• 330 by 155 mm (13.0 by 6.1 inches) - in South Korea, now uses European size plates.
• 340 by 110 mm (13.4 by 4.3 inches) - in Belgium before 2013.
• 340 by 120 mm (13.4 by 4.7 inches) - in Luxembourg before 2003.
• 350 by 155 mm (13.8 by 6.1 inches) - in Uruguay before 2016.
• 390 by 120 mm (15.4 by 4.7 inches) - in Finland before 2001.
• 420 by 120 mm (16.5 by 4.7 inches) - in Serbia before 2011, based on Yugoslavia's standard.

range96

Maybe they frown on German cars in Texas, drive a Corvette.