And, I really like the current Ford GT - but then it's only $400K+.

You can do a lot when price goes up, that can't be done at a lower price point. That said, if anyone is up to the challenge, the GM team has been (mostly) moving in the right direction. Not a fan of all the angular lines in the C7. Would love to see more smooth flow, like we see in the better sports cars - and what I love about the C6.

 

Probably have to buy that red Equinox my wife wants me to get.

 

"this sounds absurd until you look at the all new mid-engined 2017 Ford F40....."

"F40".

I think a lot of the success for Ford came from "history". The first comeback vehicle (the 2005) created a lot of driving force for the brand because they were "bringing back" a version very close aesthetically to the American icon that is the GT40. There is a lot of history, emotion, and American pride (whether you are a Ford fan or not) that surrounds motorsports and the GT40. People went wild for the concept in 2002 because it looked a lot like the original, and there is an emotional attachment to the original for many, so when they came around to production of the 2005 people actually bought it. For folks to buy a 6-figure Ford product, we can consider the design a success, and I think much of that success was due to the excitement that Ford was creating a tribute car (or "recreating") to an American icon. An "after all these years we're bringing it back" sort of thing. That's what drove the success of the first GT, this current version gets the privilege of riding the coat tails of the previous model. Not to say the new model isn't a nice vehicle, but it wouldn't have had the same impact on the name re-entering the public's mind because it doesn't capture those iconic design hues.

The simple fact is that while a mid-engined Vette isn't a new idea at all, the driving force here isn't history like above, it's competing with Ford. If it does come to fruition, I don't think it should come across with Corvette in the name. Even though Corvette is essentially a brand of it's own, it's not - it's a Chevrolet, it's one model, regardless of powerplant or trim level. Test the water with Cadillac if you want to compete with Ford or just call it a Chevrolet "___________". The name "Corvette" has a long proud production and motorsports history behind it; I think changing the car from what we have currently into a M/E supercar wouldn't be a good end to that history, nor do I think would it duplicate the success Ford had with it's GT.

 

It is always fun to speculate.