1985 Corvette

With companies like Porsche and Lamborghini, they’re primary focus is performance, but they have creative control over their vehicles. Corvette is part of a large portfolio of vehicles managed by parent company GM, master of mass produced autos. Doesn’t make sense to them to take creature comforts out of the car and charge more on a mass produced vehicle targeted to a demographic that wants performance AND comfort. Close enough is good enough for them.

I agree, it’s a heavy car but I don’t foresee any lightweight options coming. Same reason they won’t offer a manual is the same reason they’ll never offer a lightweight option: not enough takers to justify the R&D cost.

JockItch

I’ve been guessing that we might get a lighter weight edition of the Z06 later on in its lifecycle, borrowing from the higher end variants. This particular Z06 literally screams for it.

The modular Bedford 6 frame is where most of the weight savings might be had in my opinion, but changing these materials to something more light weight like magnesium didn't fit in the Z06 budget. Same thing with the magnesium DCT case that was rumored. These type of changes have significant costs and are better suited for the ZR1/Zora price range… but a Z06 Carbon edition that borrows these parts from these upper models would be epic. Regardless, no way this vehicle is losing 500lbs unfortunately. 200lbs would be a significant accomplishment.

Shifterkartdrvr

Why don't you jut get something like a Radical SR8 and call it a day. It nears LMP2 performance.

WalterSobchak

Then why are you here whining like a bitch? I could give literally zero ***** who can do more laps in a 5 hour period.

ArmchairArchitect

This is why the C8 Z06 as it currently sits should not be priced more than ~$85k, IMO. All it is, essentially, is an engine upgrade package and virtually nothing more.

Telepierre

Enlighten us of what that wider perspective is.
So far all the arguments can be reduced to the emotional Starbucks analogy I made earlier. If you want to strip content out of the car than charge me less money. It's simple as that.
The half the car for double the price may have had it's moments due to exogenous factors but that play is over and done with.

Telepierre

Let's be fair now... let's count all the part numbers that are different....
Tires
wheels
brakes
cooling
all panels
software
DCT
Engine
..........

Telepierre

I bet you they have all that in place IF needed... just like they had the 'specials' in the past ready when needed...
Does it look like it is needed at the moment?

vndkshn

And somewhere... Zora is rolling over in his grave.

For a group of "car enthusiasts" like Corvette owners, who hold tradition and history so important, it is hysterical to watch so many forget that ZR-1 stood for Zora Racer 1. And the first ZR-1 cars were anything BUT "having all of my conveniences". No power steering, no radio, no AC....

SRF7879

Yes in deed!

Jetolso

I thought this may be obvious but:

- Some lower weight components are of greater cost.
- Removing things from the car, and producing alternative (lower weight) components in lower numbers results in higher cost per car produced.
- Yes, there is also marketing BS and you are charged for branding / exclusivity.

Racer X

Actually they don't. They probably have orders for at least two years production. So what you state as an imperative, isn't it is a pipe dream. You are welcome to buy a Z06 and strip out whatever you don't need a replace the things you do need with lighter weight replacements. Then come here and tell us what you did, how much weight loss, how much it cost, and what your performance gains were. Stop whining and actually do something instead of telling us what someone else "HAS TO" do.

The alternative is to buy the other 3000 pound wet, 670 HP NA Flat plane sports car that costs $90k that is on the market........ Oh wait, there isn't one. What price is there a stock car that meets your criteria?

OnPoint

And Congress has to stop spending more $$ than it receives in revenue.

I'll skip holding my breath for either that or GM pulling 700 pounds out of the Z.

Jeff V.

There's always got to be that one guy

TARANTULA

Cool story, Now tell me how the new C8 Z06 rides please.

Telepierre

Examples please.

Telepierre

I will. At first it was all Z06 exhaust noise here and exhaust noise there but now that I know it can all be turned off I am back in. .

-ZEEOHSIX-

I think the problem with asking this question is understanding the fundamental reason why the car weighs as much as it does in the first place. I'm sure they weren't just adding on weight arbitrarily while flipping potential customers the bird. Lightweighting has been a holy grail for a lot of track rats but, I suspect that some concessions are always made. With that being said, the effort involved in trying to make the C8 lighter from the factory is likely not going to happen in any substantiated way from GM. Maybe a couple of small parts here in there to take 20-40lbs off but, nothing like 700lbs. We are well past the C5 and C6 years of analog vehicles with minimal safety features, creature comforts or anything of that sort. Could GM pull it off? You bet. But it would be an incredibly niche vehicle at an exorbitant price that GM will most likely sell next to none of.

I'd love a lighter weight Corvette but, I have to be realistic. If I want that out of my C7 or higher Corvette, I have to do it myself.

Telepierre

And if you do Poor-sha threads web site and videos are an excellent source of the art of the possible.

-ZEEOHSIX-

Indeed. I'm familiar with his threads and his posts. I followed them closely for quite a while. Granted, I no longer own a Corvette but, the threads were informative for sure.