Mid-Engine Corvette Closer Than Ever
It is no secret that GM has flirted with mid-engine Corvettes for decades. Until now, the company has lacked the motivation, consensus, and/or resources to move to a mid-engine layout.
However, this is the new GM.
The feds are no longer calling the shots and the General has been upstaged by Ford for too long. GM now possesses the financial wherewithal, control, and competitive spirit to harness its resources and once again compete for the title of America’s finest sports car.
In 1992, the Corvette’s leadership was challenged by the Viper. Dodge’s V-10 supercar failed to eclipse the Corvette in America’s imagination and GM could afford to ignore it. However, in 2005, the Corvette was unseated by the Ford GT as America’s finest sports car. The two products are not direct competitors, but GM has nonetheless been frustrated by its penultimate position vis-à-vis Ford. During and immediately following the great recession, GM had little choice but to pretend the GT did not exist. Full-line mainstream manufacturers like Ford who produce supercars do so for their intangible benefits, not for their financial windfall.
The mid-engine Vette will get thrust from an advanced derivative of the LT1/LT4 engine family. This one will feature a pair of parallel or sequential turbochargers with output north of 700 horsepower. It’s not clear if GM plans to get exotic with the transmission or if the mid-mounted engine will require a new or significantly adapted transmission. Nonetheless, a three-pedal seven-speed manual as well as a two-paddle eight-speed auto are almost certain. Down the road, GM may also employ the super-Vette as an early recipient of advanced NMC battery technology.
The C7 has been a critical and commercial success for Chevrolet. Sales have returned to pre-recession levels and its one billion dollar development cost is well on its way to being fully amortized. The C7 will remain in the Chevy lineup, at least through the end of its life-cycle. When GM introduces the mid-engine car, it and the C7 will share the Corvette moniker.
GM is not concerned about the mid-engine Vette cannibalizing C7 sales because the new car will slot well above the current front engine car, which will continue at the $55,000 to $120,000 price range. The new mid-engine model will be priced much higher. Our best guess is that it will sticker close to the $400,000 Ford GT and Lamborghini Aventador.
Look for GM to upstage the forthcoming Ford GT with an official announcement in late 2016 or 2017.
Twenty year auto industry professional. Currently CEO at Turbo International, the premier American manufacturer of OEM replacement turbochargers for the global aftermarket.
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- George How Could the old car have any connection with the new car as performance and wheel size?
- ToolGuy Spouse drives 3 miles one-way to work 5 days a week. Would love to have a cheap (used) little zippy EV, but also takes the occasional 200 mile one-way trip. 30 miles a week doesn't burn a lot of fuel, so the math doesn't work. ICE for now, and the 'new' (used) ICE gets worse fuel economy than the vehicle it will replace (oh no!). [It will also go on some longer trips and should be a good long-distance cruiser.] Several years from now there will (should) be many (used) EVs which will crush the short-commute-plus-medium-road-trip role (at the right acquisition cost). Spouse can be done with gasoline, I can be done with head gaskets, and why would I possibly consider hybrid or PHEV at that point.
- FreedMike The test of a good design is whether it still looks good years down the line. And Sacco's stuff - particularly the W124 - still looks clean, elegant, and stylish, like a well tailored business suit.
- Jeff Corey thank you for another great article and a great tribute to Bruno Sacco.
- 1995 SC They cost more while not doing anything ICE can't already do
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Corvette misses the super car label by quite a bit as it now stands, being noisy, uncomfortable and poorly assembled. It is however, cheap (note the above as the reason why.) I cannot blame GM for any of this as the buyers still overlook all of this for cheap thrills. The auto press also bows down to the fun of hooning these plastic marvels to death and then still bragging about how good they are.
If it looks like the prototype, I'm in. I have no intereste in a corvettey-looking generic supercar.