LouieM

Here's the take on the C8 by stylist extraordinaire Robert Cumberford, who worked on C1 Corvette styling early in his career:
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/2...sign-analysis/

He can articulate in professional terms the disappointment that so many of us feel about the looks of the C8. Terms he uses in his article include:
generic
a day late and a dollar short
the multiple lines across the hood are fussy, messy, and essentially excessive.
There are entirely too many busy surface changes on the basic form.
Let your eye follow the rear door cut up the side of the car to see how many planes it traverses.
The stuff under the tail is complex, and one would like to credit aerodynamic studies for it, but it needs explanation. It’s just as well to have made it invisible with black paint.
Another grouping of non-quite parallel, not-quite horizontal hard lines. Busy, busy…
The backlight ..... is minuscule.
There are three inward-facing bands created by surface changes on each side of the roof and upper structure. Two would have been plenty. None might have been better.
This three-flat-sided construct on the roof and the indented, forward-pointing section on which it sits are hard to comprehend. It all seems like a lot of nice detailing to no clear purpose.
It’s apparent that the side scoops stand quite proud of the nominal main door skin, and that the C8 is very wide-hipped, rather like a dually pickup with its fat fenders.
A ‘square’ steering wheel seems a bit odd, but perhaps it is to evoke current F1 practice.
As commendable as the touchscreen is, this long slot of unergonomic tiny switches is distressing. I suppose after a long period each user will remember the what and where of 20 to 21 touches, but it’s asking a lot for people who drive more than one car regularly.

colo63sw

I think they overdid the pull-in of the doors to create big scoops for the engine. I would rather have the extra shoulder room in the cabin.

Tom Austin

Louie,

Thanks for posting this! I watched the reveal last night, and while I really like the car in general, I have to agree with Robert on a number of points . . . especially when it comes to the rear. The back end is just too busy, too many lines, too much stuff and it looks too much like a Camaro in the back. I also don't like how the top edge of the back dips down in the middle - I think the middle should be just slightly higher than the edges of the rear fenders to look right to me. Not sure @ some elements of the interior as well - the Nav screen {like so many cars today} just looks like an afterthought!

But . . . in spite of this, based on the performance and pricing, they're going to sell a gazillion of them! Well done Chevrolet!

Tom

Dad's '66 427

From all of your posts, you clearly don't like the car.....

Anything better going on in your world you can talk about?

LouieM

Tom,
I agree, Chevy will sell a lot of these. I'm simply in shock that a professional design team could work for years and years and come up with such a dog's breakfast of staying cliches and awkwardness.

Lou

warrenmj

With the exception of the rear, which I agree is too busy, I like it!

DansYellow66

First impression with out really studying the videos closely is that I like it better than the C7. But I haven't studied it nearly as closely as LouieM apparently has - so second impression may change. Like the C7 I suspect I will like it best in dark colors. I like the fact they seem to be trying to hold the pricing down somewhat - hope that holds true.

DansYellow66

Ohh - just saw a shot of the *** end of the car. Yeah, that's really unfortunate. Maybe in black.

vettebuyer6369

I think a lot of people have decided early on they won’t like the car no matter what it looks like and they will spend a lot of time trying to convince others how poor the design is. That’s their opinions and they have that right. Threads dedicated to how poor the design is seem to be bent toward that end.

Ive been disappointed by New Corvette designs several times now, but the car I saw last night was a breath of fresh air. Trying to nitpick apart that design seems like an odd excercise to me. It retains Corvette’s heart and carries out a new look consistent with the drivetrain change that thankfully found its way into this millennium at last.

I like the car quite a bit and will definitely consider buying one. The only downside to me is the cost is too low, so too many will be out there. But I’ll likely buy one anyway.

Frankie the Fink

I think that's true - with a $60K-$65K price tag they will be prolific - many spend that much on their designer pick-up trucks...

capevettes

They hit a home run with that car last night. It's an engineering and styling marvel at a remarkably low price point. When the Z06 comes out next year, it will be in my garage. They really did make Corvettes after 67.

Vettrocious

By and large, the car seems very nice. I could criticize the rear (a bit busy)and maybe the scoop is a tad too wide for my taste, but what design is perfect. It didn’t stop me from getting on the waiting list.

Mike

65hihp

Everytime a new generation vette has come out, a sizeable segment of enthusiasts bad mouthed it. And, if this new C8 comformed to everyone of Cumberford's criticisms, a sizeable segment of enthusiasts would be bad mouthing it. So, what else is new?
I generally don't even glance at any new generation of vettes since early C3s. It doesn't matter how many air spoilers and how many wings it has. They look dumb to me. This on the other hand looks slick. I'm liking it. I didn't even notice the details described above. And the price? Seriously? What a deal! if the thing doesn't develop a million gremlins and bugs I think it will be a huge winner.
Jay likes it, and even changed his pants and shirt to go check out here.

Railroadman

The '58 and the '63 were both "too busy" and cluttered. Both have become a bit more unique and desirable when viewed 50 years later. The 2020 could be the next SWC.

It takes me a while to adapt to any change. I recall being extremely turned off the first time I saw what the '67 BB hood was going to look like. Needless to say that opinion soon changed.

wolfman64

And 2X to 2.5X that on those silly restomods!......

R66

Love / Hate here!!

The mechanical advancements are a drawing card. The body design seems to reflect much of the Mattel Transformers style.

Then again, I loved the 62 C1 and hated the C2 when they came out. Guess everything grows on you (Opps, my wife just said "Not Everything" I don't think she was talking about the cars).

Kerrmudgeon

Zero to 60 in under 4 seconds in bone stock trim! ......what's not to like, and for 60K it's the bargain of the century.

Dan Hampton

And at $60-$65K, they will have all the distinctiveness of a designer pick up truck....

GM should have mustered some intestinal fortitude and attempted to build a Super Car like their European brethren.

BADBIRDCAGE

The car is a modern marvel at a bargain basement price. Which would I rather own? A 67 big block with 435 horsepower on the best day of its life on an engine dyno that will net me 16 mpg on a good day for $100K plus or a legitimate supercar that I can drive anywhere in comfort with more horsepower and unlimited creature comforts that will get me 30 plus mpg for $85K?

Then we can put them on the Nurburgring and see how that comes out. No contest. The C8 is an *** kicking automobile that will sell well and keep the Corvette name going forward proudly.

Bluffman

It’s got supercar lines and performance and a very achievable price, can’t wait to see what the z06 performance package will add to the price, Ian