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Move it to a different platform and change the pricing model.
If anyone remembers the FRC was supposed to be a $35K no leather inexpensive model Corvette.
And that was a dismal failure. From SuperChevy:
When the new C5 was being developed, management issued a mandate—“25,000 units per year, or else!” Fortunately, Dave Hill and his team had a three-prong plan for the Corvette to hit its sales numbers. 1997 sales came in at 9,752—not good. But then again, the car wasn’t introduced until January 1997 instead of in the autumn of 1996 along with the rest of the 1997 Chevrolet models. But with the introduction of part two—the new convertible—in 1998, sales rocketed to 31,084 units.
Part three was supposed to be an “inexpensive” fixed roof, hardtop version. Almost from the beginning in 1953, there has been a contingent of management in GM that wanted the Corvette to be something other than what it was. (Remember the proposed four-seater ’63 Corvette?) The planning days of the C5 was no exception. In an attempt to boost sales, a “cheap” Corvette was seriously considered. The strippo model was to have a smaller 4.8- or 5.2-liter engine, cloth seats, roll-up windows, smaller wheels and tires, and an automatic transmission only. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? (NO!)
A few prototypes were built and marketing tests were ordered. Fortunately, the strippo didn’t light anyone’s fire. Those surveyed felt that a $32,000 Corvette would cheapen the entire line. So the final decision was to make the hardtop a performance model with a manual transmission only and the Z51 suspension. The hardtop would be slightly cheaper with limited options, weigh a little less and be faster, but not by much. This was the pathway to the C5 Z06—but the cake wasn’t yet fully baked.
Except that article is not entirely correct. It was not supposed to be a smaller wheel and tire package, just decontented and there was no talk of a smaller motor since the smaller variants were all iron, not aluminum and they were still a year away from production anyways.
Are you in automotive marketing or have you done a study to disclaim this? It works for Porsche, Ducati, Audi etc. And the Camaro is not a stepping stone for the Corvette. The Stingray is a steppingstone to the Z06 and then ZR1. Again, the C8 would be the full on Corvette and the C7 would be the junior. The camaro doesn’t offer the same driving experience, culture or mystique.
First of all, the companies you mention are manufacturers that make multiple models. The Corvette is one model from a manufacturer. While a two model (platform) Corvette line up is a possibility, it most likely isn't a probability. You are correct in that the Camaro culture and mystique are different, though the driving experience is as close as it ever has been right now.
If they were to make two Corvette platforms, the ME would represent the higher end, and I would think the FE would stay as is. I don't think it would be wise, for branding sake, to make a "cheap" Corvette. While many folks driving the more expensive and exclusive cars in the segment may look down on the Corvette for its interior, paint, and fit and finish shortcomings, all side effect of mass production, and of course, that it is mass produced and just about anyone with reasonable credit can own one, these folks rarely, if ever, mention poor performance as a reason for not buying one. Creating a lesser performing Corvette would be a huge mistake.
Now, there is room in the line up for such a two seater. The sales figures for the Solstice and Sky were really not dismal by any stretch, for such a car. The numbers for the long gone Fiero were not all that terrible either, once they let go of the idea of an economy car and started to make it a 'fun to drive' car. Done correctly, with today's technologies, on the correct platform, either one of these could work very well to get the up and coming crowd teethed on a performance two seater and looking for a Corvette when that promotion comes. But making a devalued Corvette would not be the answer, I don't believe.
FYI, The 2 Corvette platform concept received a huge boost a couple years ago when the panel manufacturer for the C7 submitted a legal document to their local planning board requesting approval for plant expansion. The document stated that this supplier would need to expand to support their customer, GM. The document went on to state that panels for the current model (C7) would continue to be manufactured through 2020 while panels for a new vehicle (assumed to be the ME) would need to be provided to GM in 2019. The document went on to state that the C7 would be discontinued but GM is planning to launch a new vehicle in 2022 (an FE replacement?).
I haven't read that document for some time now so cut me a little slack on some details, but the thrust of the document was they needed to plan to supply panels for two cars to GM, one of them being the current C7.
Keep in mind, this was based on GM plans that are at least three years old, maybe more. Business plans change and it's possible that GM as now decided to drop the C7 if sales are too slow. However, at one time, it's clear GM did intend to manufacture two Corvette models.
FYI, The 2 Corvette platform concept received a huge boost a couple years ago when the panel manufacturer for the C7 submitted a legal document to their local planning board requesting approval for plant expansion. The document stated that this supplier would need to expand to support their customer, GM. The document went on to state that panels for the current model (C7) would continue to be manufactured through 2020 while panels for a new vehicle (assumed to be the ME) would need to be provided to GM in 2019. The document went on to state that the C7 would be discontinued but GM is planning to launch a new vehicle in 2022 (an FE replacement?).
I haven't read that document for some time now so cut me a little slack on some details, but the thrust of the document was they needed to plan to supply panels for two cars to GM, one of them being the current C7.
Keep in mind, this was based on GM plans that are at least three years old, maybe more. Business plans change and it's possible that GM as now decided to drop the C7 if sales are too slow. However, at one time, it's clear GM did intend to manufacture two Corvette models.
There's an EV sports car planned for '22 or '23. Could be they're supplying panels for it.
Except that article is not entirely correct. It was not supposed to be a smaller wheel and tire package, just decontented and there was no talk of a smaller motor since the smaller variants were all iron, not aluminum and they were still a year away from production anyways.
Source for your version?
The SuperChevy article was by K. Scott Teeters as written for Vette magazine (formerly Corvette Quarterly) and then republished by SuperChevy.
Keep in mind, this was based on GM plans that are at least three years old, maybe more. Business plans change and it's possible that GM as now decided to drop the C7 if sales are too slow. However, at one time, it's clear GM did intend to manufacture two Corvette models.
But I think GM would realize that C7 sales are slow only because of the rumors around the ME (which everyone thinks is the C8, but could be a completely new model). The ME has alot of people (myself included) sitting on the decision to see what's coming and what it will cost. If I find I don't like the car or the price point (and FWIW, I think it will and am ok with it being more expensive than the current car IF they address the fit and finish and put a world class interior in it), I'll go down and order my C7 and not have a second thought. If it turns me on I'll rush right down and get on the list for the ME. I'm sure there are large numbers of people in the same boat.
So I think sales numbers being down are not as simple as the market being saturated with and/or over the C7. If it comes in the starting price of the ME is 6 figures, I'm sure C7 sales will jump.
And I can definitely see the FE continuing on. The C7 isn't that long in the tooth, it hasn't been a long production run so it is entirely possible they could let it go another couple of years while they release the ME then start on a new FE. As has been pointed out, the new chassis and GM's new direction with chassis design could mean the ME could be quickly adapted into a FE as well.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
