Watch the Autoline video on this forum with Bob Lutz posted yesterday FE is over by by. C7 was going to be an ME bankruptcy stoped it. No need for this post and thread.

I believe the most likely scenario is that 2019 model year will be the swan song for the C7. If there is a 2020 C7, it’s because the C8 isnt ready for full scale production until the 2021model year. BUT, GM has been too willing to show us virtually all angles of the C8, to a degree that renderings are 98% USDA prime quality. Doing this now would make a 2020 C7 model a lame duck. THERE WILL NOT BE C7’s snd 8’s made side by side IMO. To do so would require a second assembly line and hiring many skilled workers. (From where). They wouldnt do this to get another year or two out of the C7.... and why confuse the issue... if the C8 is the better platform, why create a doubt about it by making the C7 “just in case” people dont believe it. There is an interesting aspect to my theory from a personal standpoint: if I’m correct, it will make the C7 ZR1 a one year run. I have discovered that only 3 WGG ZTK satin graphite wheel 7M cars were made (if GM’s search engine on the ZR1 is accurate.. when adding the napa comp blue stiching the number drops to 1... will that increase the value of my ZR1...HELL NO!!!!!!! But think about this... if the ZR1 does prove to be a 1 and done there will only be 2000-2400 in private hsnds total. By comparison the $1/2mil Ford GT is on schedule to have 1000 made (by Multimatic of Ontario)...250 a year for 4 years. They are making a car a day. I think GM priced the ZR1 a little higher than expected because knew from day one it would be a low production unit and had to amortise their development costs over fewer units. Ill be the first to admit that the Z06 is s bargain next to the ZR1.... especially if you got (or get) a discounted new 2017 or 18.

Hopefully the planners at GM know what they are doing... LoL. Seriously though, I think that would not be optimal for sales unless they are positioning the ME for a different buyer and competitor niche. This goes back to directly competing with the Ferrari, labmbo, etc. yes they can do it ( ME for the rich and FE for the poser masses ). They would avoid the cross cannibalizing of sales between both cars that way but is that consistent with the history of the Corvette? IMO, it’s not.

Some may want that but does that produce A) optimal levels of profit, B) Justify the expense, C) produce conquest sales in the ME segment sufficient for A &B? OR, would they stomp the American sports car market by going ME only with attainability in its tier pricing? After all the corvette has always been seen as a car that older people got... because they had to save / work they way up to it. But they were able to attain to that.

Just about the only GM nameplate known globally thanks to Le Mans racing success is Corvette. If GM is smart, then they’ll leverage this cachet into a line of cars running from 70K to 180k, front me and rear me, and an suv. Also GM should build some overseas to avoid traiffs and taxes so they will be locally competitive on price and there should be rhd models. The advice, GM, is free.

The Camaro will fill the void left by the exit of the FE C7... those wanting more luggage space will find it quite capable. GM’s vision for the future Corvette is mid engine RD now and hybrid electrict front drive ME rear drive down the road a bit. It will happen sooner than most believe IMO. I believe the first C8’s will make 450-500 hp.. GM is reducing the #’s of different models: not increasing them. Logistically, producting the C7 and C8 at the same time would be a nightmare and an unprofitable venture, let alone undercut GM’s introduction of the C8. I don’t believe that option is on the table. The ZR1 was the “going away gift” from Corvette. Adios amigo.

Everything you say is true but it overlooks a very sad sad fact for us old FE Corvette buyers: We are getting older and wont be buying too many more new Vettes. Its “only business” that GM isnt concerned about what its loyal “geriatric fan base” wants. We’ll continue to ooo and ahhh at earlier generation Vettes of our youth while GM is calculating what todays teen will be buying in the years to come. Even though the C7 drew a somewhat younger buyer than the C6, or 5, the average buyer’s age is still much too high. The C8 will be aimed at an average age even lower. The C7 will be burried with along with it’s baby boomer generation. R.I.P. If you want one, there will be plenty out there to chose from for years to come. GM made way too many C7’s: a mistake I dont think they plan to do with the C8. If they hadn’t, they wouldn’t have ended up selling many of them for virtually no profit near the end (now). They are starting to think “Euro” IMO. Build less than there is demand for and charge enough to make good margins. It’s not a charity organization. Porsche fans might bitch about getting ripped off for everything related to their beloved car yet they continue to stand in line to get them. Gm would love to have that problem.