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View Poll Results: would you perfer a mid eng or front eng corvette
keep front engine
46
24.60%
go to mid engine
37
19.79%
build both gives options to customers
87
46.52%
I don't care
17
9.09%
Voters: 187. You may not vote on this poll

Mid engine vs front engine

Old Sep 14, 2016 | 08:15 PM
  #41  
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Im ok with both FE & ME, but I think they should make the ME a unique model, separate from the Corvette.
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Old Sep 14, 2016 | 09:15 PM
  #42  
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it should be something like a "GTS" type model. Chevrolet "C8-GTS" or "CGT" something like the corvette but have it's own designation. no way chevy abandons us.. imo
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Old Sep 14, 2016 | 11:44 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by JerryU
My guess is they will aim for 45% front and 55% rear. With weight in the center and low polar moment of inertia (neither end acting like a pendulum, like my modified Corvair) that is a good ratio.

Suspect that light weight turbo V6 I bet they use to help their corporate mpg average will keep the overall weight low. While speculating on the engine, one reason for mid engine is the overhead cams it will no doubt have are too high an engine profile for the current Vette low hood!
The XLR was based on the C6 Corvette and it had those horrible overhead cams(and a supercharger between the heads on the XLR-V). I don't think they raised the base of the windshield(cowl) on the XLR to get the Northstar to fit under it.
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Old Sep 14, 2016 | 11:55 PM
  #44  
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If GM is watching, they have to be encouraged by the poll results. Nearly 70% are in favor of seeing a mid-engine car, even though a majority want both options available.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 12:18 AM
  #45  
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Given the relatively small number of Corvettes that are sold per year, ~30,000 to 45,000 or so (for comparision, over 1.2M Corolla's were sold in 2014), I would imagine GM exec's aren't financially thrilled with the prospect of funding a front and mid-engine Corvette, at least for very long. But if so, perhaps only over a transition period, based on what turns out to be the higher selling design.

As for weight distribution, I agree with those that say the C7 its nearly perfect now, why mess with it? On the flip side I just read the 911 GT3 carries 74% of its weight on the rear tires and while basic logic makes me think the 911 is tail heavy, modern versions of the 911 always get excellent handling reports, so who the heck knows? The engineering is way over my head.

Last edited by Rave; Sep 15, 2016 at 12:19 AM.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 09:45 AM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by Rave
Given the relatively small number of Corvettes that are sold per year, ~30,000 to 45,000 or so (for comparision, over 1.2M Corolla's were sold in 2014), I would imagine GM exec's aren't financially thrilled with the prospect of funding a front and mid-engine Corvette, at least for very long. But if so, perhaps only over a transition period, based on what turns out to be the higher selling design.

As for weight distribution, I agree with those that say the C7 its nearly perfect now, why mess with it? On the flip side I just read the 911 GT3 carries 74% of its weight on the rear tires and while basic logic makes me think the 911 is tail heavy, modern versions of the 911 always get excellent handling reports, so who the heck knows? The engineering is way over my head.
It's more than just 50-50 or not. And the GT3 has way less than 73% over the rear.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 06:23 PM
  #47  
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Mid-engine. It is long overdue.

Building both would dilute the brand, and each would probably cannibalize sales from the other.

My only concern about a mid-engine Vette is that GM may price it past what I and many other Vette enthusiasts would pay. It's already there with the price of the Z.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 11:12 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by Higgs Boson
yeah they hang the motor behind the rear bumper of a VW Beetle, that frees up a lot of space. The 911 is a rear engine car, not even a mid-rear engine. As a mid-front rear drive vehicle, the Corvette is not conducive to AWD. And quite frankly the spy shots of the mid-rear car look pretty terrible, hopefully it doesn't have anything close to the same shape. There are some beautiful cars out today and leave it to GM to late release something that looks like it was dreamed up in 1989.
You're essentially talking out of your rear here. The Caymen is a mid the 911 is rear yes I know that and both are smaller than the vets hence my point. A mid engine corvette could be fantastic and an awd system easily can fit in any car once engineered correctly. Plenty of smaller cars or similar sized cars than the corvette have awd.

Your problem is you don't like change. The typical old man corvette owner that wants everything to stay the same. The corvette is supposed to be a sports car for the common man. That's the mission. Not a pushrods v8 or rwd forever kind of car. That kind of thinking gets you the viper.

Last edited by gatti-man; Sep 15, 2016 at 11:19 PM.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 12:20 AM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by gatti-man
You're essentially talking out of your rear here. The Caymen is a mid the 911 is rear yes I know that and both are smaller than the vets hence my point. A mid engine corvette could be fantastic and an awd system easily can fit in any car once engineered correctly. Plenty of smaller cars or similar sized cars than the corvette have awd.

Your problem is you don't like change. The typical old man corvette owner that wants everything to stay the same. The corvette is supposed to be a sports car for the common man. That's the mission. Not a pushrods v8 or rwd forever kind of car. That kind of thinking gets you the viper.
Yeah....I'm an old man. tell me more about me that you don't know.

It really doesn't make a hill of beans to me what GM does with the Corvette or any other car. I don't get off on brands. I get off on people trying to prove pointless points, like merits of mid engine vs whatever. That's what I have fun with. I'll poke you with a stick for as long as you tell me it tickles.

I'm much more interested in what happens between IVO and spark.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 12:34 AM
  #50  
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i picked i dont care.

I bought the c7 because it was a badass two seater that performs. I also like having a v8 engine.

where the engine sits is not important factor. if i was very wealthy i would have both.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 02:38 AM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by UsaBest
Front V8 push rod engine rear wheel drive. In simpler terms it will be a mid engined car that follows nothing of its seven generations before it. It will be called a Corvette in name only. The true Corvette will die in 2021.
Ugh. I really hate posts like these.
I guess a 2021 Corvette should still have a solid axle, drum brakes, and carbs too, right?
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 04:52 AM
  #52  
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Front engine or mid, I want the largest displacement NA V-8 I can get. 6.2L minimum.

The C7 is more of a GT car. A mid-engine, lighter Vette with a smaller displacement TT V-8 would be more of a true sports car.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 05:00 AM
  #53  
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Originally Posted by marcouvo
Front engine or mid, I want the largest displacement NA V-8 I can get. 6.2L minimum.

The C7 is more of a GT car. A mid-engine, lighter Vette with a smaller displacement TT V-8 would be more of a true sports car.

How about BOTH?
Why not a lighter mid-engine Corvette AND retain a 6.2L V8 ???
We can hope.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 08:19 AM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by Higgs Boson
The Corvette is a mid engine vehicle already.

If I want a rear-mid then I would have bought something else. If the Corvette is rear-mid then I will compare it with other rear-mid cars and then end up not buying a Corvette.

A big part of why I buy Corvettes is because they are front-mid engine with rear wheel drive. It's what makes it a Corvette.
By this definition the Porsche 911 is a mid-engined vehicle. The engine sits in front of the rear axle.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 10:41 AM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by CriticalmassGT
By this definition the Porsche 911 is a mid-engined vehicle. The engine sits in front of the rear axle.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...11-gt3-feature

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads...ngine.2305202/

http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorspo...-rear-engined/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear-engine_design
Notable rear-engined cars
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
blah blah blah
Porsche 356, 911 and 959
blah blah blah

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/09/m...tory-featured/

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/f...n-the-911.html


https://www.porschedriving.com/exper...vs-rear-engine
Further Details
At the heart of the Porsche Cayman or Boxster sports car is a mid-mounted boxer engine located just 30 cm from behind the driver. Offering a low center of gravity and near perfect weight distribution, it combines power and agility into one intelligent design solution. Above all, the Porsche Cayman or Boxster is true to itself, built for one fuel that's plentiful supply: pure, unedited adrenaline.

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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 11:06 AM
  #56  
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I think it needs to replace the C7 layout all together.

The problem is 80 percent of Corvette owners won't notice the difference. Face it the Corvette is the value purchase, yes its a great car and all, but it is still the value purchase.

Price it like a 911 and people will go buy 911's.

The dealership network is the #1 problem. Walk into a Porsche dealer and walk into a Chevy dealer. It is not just the cost of the car, it is the entire experience.

Unless your bringing in your 911 Turbo S your getting something good to drive as a loaner. Bring in your Corvette and MAYBE they will get you a Sonic or a Cruze, maybe.

Chevy has to create the market for that car IMO, it does not exist and it never will because of the dealers. Unless they are going to limit sales to certain dealers and hold them accountable if its dollar for dollar, HP for HP, priced near a 911 they have no sale.

It just won't happen. Porsche dealers have 7 high dollar, high profit cars to sell to run their dealers. Chevy's have 14 cut throat price deals they run daily and 1 halo car. They will not sacrifice profit for the sake of 1 car line.

They may price it at 130K+ but it'll have the worlds biggest discounts. Comparing to the Ford GT is not reality.

I doubt you would find 1 exec at Ford before the original GT launch that thought it was going to go as well as it did. It is one of the rare cars that appreciates.

Look at Cadillac, they have tried and tried but their high end cars still end the year with 15-20 percent off. $63,000 ATS-V's were for lease here for $429 a month. They struggle to sell their halo cars, Chevy's problem will be worse.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 11:14 AM
  #57  
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Build both because the mid engine will cost a fortune.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 12:38 PM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by Rave
What happens to weight distribution when the front of the car is just an empty storage space?
You fill the space with electric motors!!!
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 12:52 PM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by gatti-man
You're essentially talking out of your rear here. The Caymen is a mid the 911 is rear yes I know that and both are smaller than the vets .
Which of the following is the 911, C7, and 488 Italia?

Car A.
Wheelbase 97
Length 177
Height 51
Width 74
Weight 3500-3700

Car B.
Wheelbase 107
Length 177
Height 49
Width 74
Weight 3300-3500

Car C.
Wheelbase 104
Length 180
Height 48
Width 77
Weight 3,400

Last edited by jim2527; Sep 16, 2016 at 12:56 PM.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 11:55 PM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by jim2527
Which of the following is the 911, C7, and 488 Italia?

Car A.
Wheelbase 97
Length 177
Height 51
Width 74
Weight 3500-3700

Car B.
Wheelbase 107
Length 177
Height 49
Width 74
Weight 3300-3500

Car C.
Wheelbase 104
Length 180
Height 48
Width 77
Weight 3,400
I'm going to guess 911, c7, 458
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