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I don't get all this jet fighter talk. Its a car. It looks nothing like an airplane from any angle. But, I will say that the HTC is way better looking than the Coupe. The First Vette generation that I can say that.
From the early sportscars that followed WWI airplanes, the hotrods, the 1964 Ford Mustang (named after the plane) and a host of others.....airplanes have been inspiring car designers for years....
It's all up to your interpretation of it. That's not the best angle of the C8 for starters, although it does show a lot of busy equipment and colors present. Where is the design of Harley Earl? I don't see it.
You want it to have tailfins and fencing mask headlights?
It's pretty much the non-Porsche crowd; not only the C8 crowd. What's the Corvette look? C1? If so, then agreed. The C8 looks nothing like the C1. Neither does the C7, IMHO. I will admit though, the metal grille over the C1's headlights might have carried over well to the C8.
The thing is that at least from the C3 onwards, the Corvette had a distinctive look. It wasn't hard identifying them as being corvettes, if you knew what a previous generation corvette looked like. Personally, that's what I miss in the C8, something that obviously gives it away as being a corvette. One can go on about how a specific crease or bodyline pays hommage to the C1 or how the taillights are vaguely similar to the C7 taillights or how the square exhaust tips are reminiscent of the C4 ZR-1 but in the end, if you have to look hard at the details and squint a bit, it just isn't there. Similar to how my fiero never looked anything like a Lotus regardless of what my drunken neighbour thought ten years ago.
that said, the HTC looks better than the coupe. The widebody may look better than the narrowbody. And the C9 may actually look good from the get go.
Frankly, the C8 is another modern car where pictures do it absolutely no justice - at all.
- C8, You have to see it in person - It's a hell of a lot sleeker than pics show.
- Lamborghini Huracan, by far the largest offender - that front slant ONLY looks good in person.
- C7, Again - You have to see it in person - It's a hell of a lot sleeker than pics show......not as bad as the C8 but there is a difference.
- I heard the new big snout BMWs actually look decent in person? I have yet to see one in the flesh.
2D v 3D. Agreed. And you can say that about most things that actually have "style". Kept watching videos for a 3 row crossover and the palisade on TV looked way overrstyled yet on the road they catch my eye everytime and I think that looks nice. Pics and video do none of these newer vehicles justice imo. Especially the C8.
Sorry, the coupe has a better rear view, especially considering that's what HTCs will see due to their extra weight. Lol
For those that think that they can design a better rear or any other view, this is what happens. I guess that he was going for a useable trunk and no need for front screen protectors.
Form Follows Function! Glad GM has "professional designers" that did a great job, IMO of providing the Truck space I use for my DD as best they could with the constraints they are under.
Thought the high wing would look better BUT now that I found my Z51 wing came in body color (not black) and my exterior/interior color combo does not fit the "boy racer" high wing look - I like it! Yep 400 lb of downforce, large truck volume (compared to "0" in the nice looking similar size Ferrari 488) make it look great! Large vents are needed to get hot air out of the engine compartment and square exhaust tips fit the other design elements. Sharpe angles are a modern shape like my 2 C7s (that grew on me) versus that rounded look of my C6, which I liked back then but IMO looks dated now.
Well seeing as people on here are saying it looks like a Mclaren, Ferrari it has lost the look of the Corvette.
Originally Posted by PerKr
The thing is that at least from the C3 onwards, the Corvette had a distinctive look. It wasn't hard identifying them as being corvettes, if you knew what a previous generation corvette looked like. Personally, that's what I miss in the C8, something that obviously gives it away as being a corvette.
I do know what you guys are saying, but as people get used to each new generation, that's what's going to define the 'look' for many. For me, at least, the first impression defines the 'look' - and the C3 was the first Corvette I saw, so that to me defined what a Corvette looked like - with its distinctive long hood silhouette. It didn't look anything like a C1 to me when I finally saw what a C1 was. The drastic change to mid-engine configuration makes it really challenging to make it recognizable immediately as a Corvette to folk like us, who have grown up with the previous generations. However, I'm not sure it's a bad thing, as the change has attracted a whole new demographic and generation. From the looks of it, it hasn't alienated all of previous 'Vette owners either. So, I think the C8 has accomplished exactly what GM wanted, and even more. To those who weren't into Corvettes, the C8 might be the model that defines what a Corvette looks like moving forward.
It finally happened to me. I was getting gas and across the street was a waffle house with lots of large glass windos. A number of people came running over and thought that a McLaren had pulled into to get gas. When they discovered it was a corvette, they were amazed and very congratulatory to GM (and me). I had to keep backing up, none had masks and wanted to get all over me with questions.
Hmm, how big is the Trunk in the rear of the 911 that designers had to deal with including??
Hmm, wonder if the 911 IMSA cars have a trunk, since they were allowed to make it a ME to be completive??
Who needs a trunk when you have that large area behind the front seats? Nobody can sit there anyway.
I still feel that a bit of trimming and pruning of the rear fascia could have resulted in a nicer looking C8 rear treatment without sacrificing an inch of trunk space. No use complaining now, though.
Hated C7 rear. And now I hate this. I don't know why they have decided to use the same styling with the C8. C8'S rear looks cheap and dated. Simply doesn't belong to this car. They must redesign it. It needs softer lines and new tail lights.
c8 rear sucks so hard.
Who needs a trunk when you have that large area behind the front seats? Nobody can sit there anyway.
I still feel that a bit of trimming and pruning of the rear fascia could have resulted in a nicer looking C8 rear treatment without sacrificing an inch of trunk space. No use complaining now, though.
Just think what direction Porsche would have taken if Dr. Porsche was able to get the cost down on his 1st sports car the 1948 prototype ME 356. Did not fit the Germany economy of the day as they were recovering from the War. So he had to make production 356's from VW parts and what I consider a "plan utilitarian shape." Now when Carrozzeria Ghia designed the Karmann Ghia he showed what could be done. But again too costly with it's hand built body. Folks had also grown to like the looks of that simple upside-down wheelbarrow appreance.
Dr. Porsche knew the right place for an engine was in the middle from his 1930's German F1 days. That's where Zora got his myopic thinking that an ME was essential. Both GM and Porsche were able to design good handling cars with the engine in the "wrong" place BUT now both have finally got it wright. It's just a matter of time when all Porsche's will be MEs IF they continue to build ICE sports car. That's probably more questionable.
Hated C7 rear. And now I hate this. I don't know why they have decided to use the same styling with the C8. C8'S rear looks cheap and dated. Simply doesn't belong to this car. They must redesign it. It needs softer lines and new tail lights.
c8 rear sucks so hard.
The rear is so atrocious, dealerships don't want to inventory them. Instead they prefer to just deliver sold cars.
It's so bad First time Corvette buyers are very rare.
Both statements make as much sense as rear comments. No need to broadcast dislikes, vote with your pockets and move along. Other will do the same, but in a different direction.
Hated C7 rear. And now I hate this. I don't know why they have decided to use the same styling with the C8. C8'S rear looks cheap and dated. Simply doesn't belong to this car. They must redesign it. It needs softer lines and new tail lights.
c8 rear sucks so hard.
I don't mean to upset or antagonize anyone as some have mentioned that they have a Cadillac, but Cadillacs should never have sharp lines. Maybe fins and points in the 50s and 60s as a tribute to the space age, but even that is better than the current evolutionary direction. Somewhere around the '80s they started unrounding and totally lost their classy appeal for me. On that note, I wouldn't object to rounding a Corvette rear closer to the Ferrari style, but even that is getting dated now. The stealthy evolution of the C8 is an interesting direction. Time will tell, but it is far from unattractive.
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.
