C8 may kill Corvette
 

Do you think such a radical departure from the proven Corvette formula has the potential of killing off the Vette? We will see.

Let's see what the value proposition looks like, that is Corvette tradition. All the performance for the buck is icing on top. Only way I'll be out is if that dollar formula moves to far up.

PC

Did the c4 Corvette kill it? Nope, and those things are UGGGGGLLLLYYYYY

Of course, anything is possible. Even someone expressing how bad one gen of Corvette is...maybe compared to some other. There are far too many variables to make a prediction now.

Lessons from the past in the car world are, you can have the best car or even the best-selling model of a car and mess it up with the next version of that car. So much so, that the brand or line completely disappears eventually (think Cutlass and its subsequent Cutlass Ciera).

In a way, Corvette is betting a lot on this new model and generation. But looking at the various improvements from one generation of Corvette to another culminating in the C7, I am optimistic. :thumbs:

Do you know what would kill the Corvette? Thinking we are still in the '70's, '80's and '90's and failing to evolve. Becoming the Dodo bird.

The C8 will make the Corvette awesomer (yes, I know that's not a word :D).

Yes, GM could do something stupid and price the car out of the market but, aside from that, the C8 will simply allow the Corvette to evolve and compete with sports cars into the future. A mid engine platform will improve performance. Where the engine sits doesn't ruin the car... it will do the opposite. They won't ruin the look. The sun will rise tomorrow and the world of Corvette will continue.

I find it interesting how people have such a hard time with change.

Tell that to Sears, Blockbuster, Kodak... the formula that "worked" may not be the exact same formula the will continue to work. The evolution of the Corvette into a ME car will simply keep it relevant and allow GM to push performance even further. They can keep the parts of the formula in place to ensure they keep selling 30K+ units. In my view, the only thing that will kill them is a hideous design (it won't be) or a crazy price (it won't be).

It could, but if enough new buyers like the look and high tech AND it is priced competitively Corvette should survive and do well. Another factor is the economy. If we have a hard recession that may not bode well for the C8 and a lot of other unnecessary consumer products.

I understand... I'm suggesting they will find a way to keep a lot of that and still evolve the car. Just my bet that GM knows what their customers want (all of their customers) and will make it work. If they don't on the C8 then I believe they will keep a FE car.

P.S. When you say the benefit of a ME design is lost on the majority, that's a sad statement to me. A sports car is about performance at its core... otherwise, it's a glorified grocery getter and there are better options. That's just my view.

No.

I am not sure we will ever see the days of 30k plus Corvette sold every year.

I think the C8 will start somewhere around 70k and quickly get over a 100k with options.

Also the mid engine is not a great a GT car as a front engine rear drive layout.

But the mid engine driving experience will blow away any previous Corvette.

I think we will see a smaller displacement V8 with DOHC TT with a proper DCT. This will make for a great driving experience .

I also think that GM will sell 10k mid engine that will have a MSRP of 100k plus.

Many of the C7 Z06 that sold 8 or 9k units per year where at 100k plus.

I also think GM does not expect sale like previous generation.

The plant capacity has been reduced to 33k unit per year at max firewall.

I think GM my finally right size production so they don't have to throw money at the Corvette to sell after year 3 .

I also think there maybe a C8 mid engine that start at 90k and goes north of 100k with minimal options.

I think this will only be the case if GM plans to continue the front engine car as a entry level Corvette that sells for 60k.

Maybe a combination of front engine and rear mid engine would allow GM to sell 33k unit. Although I also expect a Cadillac version as well so maybe 4 k Cadillac and 10k Chevrolet C8 and the 15k front entry level gets GM to 30k units per year.

Here's another thought...

GM does not NEED to sell 30,000 Corvettes to be successful and profitable. Look at Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, etc. Who knows, they may choose to go down the route of a higher priced (higher margin) and lower volume Corvette. That wouldn't kill the Corvette, it would simply change their business model around the car. I'm not suggesting that is what they will do, I'm just saying that everyone seems to think they need to sell a bazillion cars to survive and that's simply not the case. Completely depends on their strategy and what they want to do with the Corvette as a halo car/brand.

Maybe the car becomes a $120,000 car with 10,000 units a year and that is what GM wants from a strategic perspective for whatever the reason. It doesn't kill the Corvette, it just changes it.

No OP! People's failure to evolve even just a little bit might result in losing some of the "stuck in the past" buyers! But it will gain some new fresh clientele so it should balance out. One can never be too old to evolve and catch up to the times, whether it's in cars or clothing or whatever but unfortunately so many people on here are stuck in the past and that was clearly evident from going to my one and only ever Corvette event and saw what 70% of the people wearing which would have been out of date in 2000 let alone current times.

That's the only thing that could kill it. If it's priced too high. Look what happened to the Viper.

That said, I don't think it will be priced too high. I'd bet the base model C8 will come in for under 70k.

Its a real chance. Midengine brings a lot of packaging isssues that may cause issues for many buyers. A midengine car would likely bring higher cost, which could turn off buyers. The performance of it may end up being lackluster, as many midengine cars are. It could be that the buyers theyre hoping stick around dont, and the conquests are more badge oriented than people think. It could be a massive failure.

But, theres no way they didnt do risk analysis on it. With the risk scores this would have, no executive in the world would green light a change like this. Most likely, theyll do a limited production model to test the idea, then MAYBE one day switch over. Until then, i guess theyll just have to keep setting records at tracks with their "outdated" car...