I won't go into detail about who or where, but a very knowlegable source was speaking about how the C7 was on hold. He noted that although the BG plant was to have also built the next gen.Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, The line couldn't run two basically different types of construction, eg: body on frame and unibody. This means that the plans to run the next gen. Solstice and Sky at BG required the next gen Corvette to be a unibody construction. Since the design for the C7 was pretty far along when the decision was taken and announced to the unions, the logical conclusion is that the body on frame construction is going away in the C7.
Interesting info.
GM
Oh yeah, He also said that the C7 would likely be smaller and lighter, and that we're about at the max power output that we'll be seeing for the time being.
GM
How exactly is there going to be a next gen. Solstice and Sky when GM is getting rid of Pontiac and Saturn? Im not sure who your source is and Im not saying their wrong but IMO, I doubt the C7 will be a unibody. They tried that already with the C4 and had too many problems. Thats why the C5 went back to a solid frame.
I'm just saying that much of the engineering for the C7 was done around the idea that the new Solstice and Sky were to be built at BG, and that if they were unibody, then the C7 would have to be also. They were designed around GM's newest platform, and it probably had the flexability to be altered for the C7. I don't think there is going to be a Solstice and Sky anymore. But, because of lead times involved, much of the basic engineering of the C7 platform had been done already.
GM
The original Kappa twins (Solstice/Sky) were body on frame using a chassis based on the Corvette's hydroformed rails, so it is strange they would make the next generation unibody when both the 'Vette and Kappas are already BOF, so it would make sense to continue this way, especially if they were to be built in the same plant (I had heard about the Kappas moving to BG also though). As said, now it seems like there won't be a next gen of the the Kappas at all. I guess we'll have to wait and see until more information is released about C7, thanks for passing this along, interesting to think about, and I hadn't heard anything about Kappas going unibody prior to this, so makes for some interesting (unfortunate?) possibilities in the future.
It was on hold. Its now back on as a 2015 model out at dealers in the fall of 2014. Of course things being what they are at GM it could all change again tomorrow! The C7 will be body on frame, unibody is not rigid enough.
Last edited by JetStreamBlu; 06-07-2009 at 02:40 PM.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JetStreamBlu
It was on hold. Its now back on as a 2015 model out at dealers in the fall of 2014. Of course things being what they are at GM it could all change again tomorrow! The C7 will be body on frame, unibody is not rigid enough.
you can make a unibody very ridgid just look at race cars. Also saves weight so it is not a crazy idea.
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1999 C5 NO MODS
2001 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummin's Quad cab St. Louis built.
2004 Excusion 6.0 Powerstroke built in Kentucky
All production Corvettes, including the C4, have been body on frame. Sports cars from Porsche to Ferrari are currently unibody. Corvette is the last major holdout. Unibodies can be stronger and lighter than body on frame with more interior room. Hopefully the C7 will join the rest of the world!
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C7 will lose body on frame??
