In an interview with Inside Line, Ed Welburn, General Motors' head of global design, father of the re-born Camaro, told us the next Vette will follow the 2010 Camaro down the road of retro-inflected styling
This was hinted at by the Corvette Stingray concept that was used in the second Transformers movie. "That car is not the next Corvette," says Welburn, "But the split-window is something that I expect for the next Corvette."
This has "bad idea" written all over it. Why do they want to make a split window? Because 1 single year out of all 56 years of Corvettes had a split window? They should stop concentrating on going retro and move on. Fresh design. NEW features and stop dwelling on the past. What is with American car designers? The 05+ Mustang... Throw back. The Challenger... Throw back. The Camaro... Throw back. WTF?!
It's time to fire the next designer that says "Lets go back in time." Seriously, or technology has evolved so much since then that we can design better aerodynamically sound platforms and bodies. The only way to advance is to stop using old designs when we KNOW they're not efficient.
I personally would love to see this happen. It would be something that stands out from the rest of the pack!
I don't know what everybody has agains the challenger and camaro ... I think the new designs look just amazing.
I agree people should not dwell in the past, but I don't consider the new prototype a lack of inspiration at all. I would say the whole C4 - C5 - C6 are more inspireless. Fantastic cars but nothing special in the design departement.
Technology has moved on, and that is what they have to use. Make a new vette using kick ass technology. Use electro motors at the wheels (like the new beamer) in combination with a gasoline engine. Stop wining about the big V8 engine, sadly that is a thing of the past (and believe me, I love love love my gazz guzzling V8), not the design, that is timeless! It bathes in Corvette history.
The public loves over-the-top designs. They're interesting and they're fun to photograph. Actual buyers, however, are sometimes put off by controversial styling. Back in 1963 buyers who disliked the split window could choose a vert with hardtop instead. If the C7 actually makes it through all the committees and still has a split window, they need to be sure there's a normal looking vert available too.
This has "bad idea" written all over it. Why do they want to make a split window? Because 1 single year out of all 56 years of Corvettes had a split window? They should stop concentrating on going retro and move on. Fresh design. NEW features and stop dwelling on the past. What is with American car designers?
I dont even like the "retro" style C5's that are made to look like a '53, '57, or '63. The C7 needs a futuristic look not a '60's look. But thats just my personal opinion.
That concept is retro-freakin' UGLY, and if nearly any artistic aspect of it (especially the split window) makes it to production, that would be the end of my vette purchases. That thing makes the Nissan GT-R look good.
I was impressed with the inboard coil-overs though.
That concept is retro-freakin' UGLY, and if nearly any artistic aspect of it (especially the split window) makes it to production, that would be the end of my vette purchases. That thing makes the Nissan GT-R look good.
I was impressed with the inboard coil-overs though.
Except for the comment about the split rear window he said that the concept was NOT the new design. So no need to worry, right?
Split window? Please. This isn't an exotic. Corvettes have to be accessible, which means easy to drive for virtually everyone. I highly doubt GM is going to make a car in which you cannot see directly behind you by design.
'63 Split Windows are cool now because they're rare.
However, they're rare because they lasted only one year.
And they lasted only one year because IT'S A BAD DESIGN.
Last edited by irvbulldogs72; 09-26-2009 at 02:12 PM.
split window? Please. This isn't an exotic. Corvettes have to be accessible, which means easy to drive for virtually everyone. I highly doubt gm is going to make a car in which you cannot see directly behind you by design.
'63 split windows are cool now because they're rare.
However, they're rare because they lasted only one year.
And they lasted only one year because it's a bad design.
Split window? Please. This isn't an exotic. Corvettes have to be accessible, which means easy to drive for virtually everyone. I highly doubt GM is going to make a car in which you cannot see directly behind you by design.
'63 Split Windows are cool now because they're rare.
However, they're rare because they lasted only one year.
And they lasted only one year because IT'S A BAD DESIGN.
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Ed Welburn Says That C7 Will Have Split Window Design
