Prosecutor

How long do you guys think this bodystyle will be around? A friend who works for GM, but probably actually knows nothing, told me there were plans to roll out a new bodystyle at the end of 2010.


Any thoughts?

steve miller

Probably not 2010. the c5 had an 8 year run, and the c3 WAY longer then that. Unless the public loses interest in the car, developmental costs are too high for a six year run.

shopdog

Given history, and the condition of GM's finances, I'd think that's a bit early. But who knows, it is a rapidly changing market.

Prosecutor

That was my thinking too, that 5 years was a bit of a short run...particularly, when looking at how long other body styles have stuck around.

LS WON

going to change it (mess it up). The C-3 body style went the longest from 1968 to 1981.

gringo

while doing my pre-purchase homework for a new C6 I seem to remember
reading somewhere that a C7 will be produced 2012..

RX4WRK

2010 is entirely plausible...

Stop looking at the history of the past averages...that is constipated thinking and planning...

It is a new day...new Millennium...

GM will be (and is) facing intense competition...

I don't see how this current style will survive more than 5 years...looking at what the competition has "work in progress"...

GM will be forced to keep up with the marketplace....5 years in today's marketplace is the equivalent of 10 plus years in the prior decades!!

C6Harley

7-8 years can be expected. Listen to interviews of GM execs and youll know it is going to be awhile.

Tom73

Another way to look at it is that GM does not want the style to get old to the younger buyers. Just think if a body style lasts 10 years. The new body comes out as you grad from HS. You love it. Best styling ever. You go on to collage, 4 years, you grad from there and the Vette is still the same style, and only 4 years into its life cycle. You go on to med school, the on to your residency, then when you complate that, another 4 years, the Vette is still the same. You can now afford to buy any car you what, but why in the world you want to buy such an old style car as the Vette. And it still has two more years left in its life cycle

The car must evolve and stay fresh. The market is moving way too fast these days to stay with one style too long. It should not stay around over 6 years. So 2010 is a good estimate.

tom...

LS WON

You guys might all end up driving Mustangs But for me it will be the GT-500

Nel727

When I saw the topic of this thread it was my instinctual reaction to say 4-5 years.

'06 Quicksilver Z06

There is no indication that this body style will have only a 5 year run.

When it comes to sports cars and sports sedans in this price range, body style changes tend to be a long time in coming.

The following are just one man's observations, opinions and pure speculation.......... but another point I would make is that this particular generation Vette is going to become a bigger presence in Europe, perhaps more so than any other generation of Corvette. They really want this car, and the Z06 version of it, to become major players not just in the US, but in Europe as well.

They have definitely upped the ante with the C6 and the C6 Z06 and appear to be aiming for a bigger share of the sports car market in Europe with these cars.

On a side note, I get such a kick out of people who gripe about the straight line 1/4 mile times of the C6. GM has much bigger fish to fry than "muscle cars" which do only one thing well, and thats travel fast in a straight line. But I digress.

In Europe body styles are very slow to change. If the Vette is to achieve the goals that GM has set for it on a global level, I suspect that appearance/ recognition will play a big role.........not only will it have to perform well................but they cannot afford to change the body style every 5 minutes. In other words, people have to be able to look at it and tell immediately that it is a Vette!!!!!! Same as they can a Porsche.

Otherwise, it becomes nothing more than another Nissan Z car.

'06 Quicksilver Z06

Keep in mind, however, the style of the 911 Porsche. I traveled the route you describe above and the styling of the 911 Porsche is timeless. And ageless.

The Mercedes SL also changed very little over several years. The BMW 3 series, also very little change. The Mazda Miata, little change since it's introduction.

Other cars also have followed the same path. Consider the present Lexus LS 430.

If you dreamt about the big Lexus in college, there was very little change from your freshman year untill the time you could afford one.

Also consider the "retro" look that some manufacturers are going towards like Ford with the Thunderbird, Mustang, and the Jaguar XK, Chevy with the SSR.

I think this body style for the Vette will be around at least as long as the C5 was.

C64BC

LS WON, your own math should show you that your statement is incorrect. Realizing that the C5 started in 1997, the C4 run was 1982-1996 which was actually 15 model years .

But back to the question...5 years is a very short run realizing all that is involved in creating a new model. But in this day and age...who really knows

ilkhan

umm... C4 was 84-96...

WWK888

It's always a good idea to get YOUR facts correct before you go correcting people. C4 1984-1996.

Victor

The C2 was only from 1963-1967...

shopdog

Ouch! You make good points. GM's financial condition is another consideration. And gas at $3 a gallon also changes the calculus. GM has been depending on its trucks and SUVs for its profitability. High gas prices are going to hurt those vehicles most, and GM is going to have to direct most of its resources toward addressing that problem. There won't be much to spare to devote to the Corvette for the next several years.

LS WON

But you need correcting also C-4 generation is 1984 to 1996
My interest and knowledge is primarily 1968 to 1972 Corvettes and now interest in the 63 to 67 Corvettes.

LS WON