Jinx

I prefer my punes simply pitted.

Old guys don't hate horsepower. We're just realistic about what the next Corvette needs in order to be a great sports car that sells well in its first year.


I bet C7's extra inch or so of wheelbase has everything to do with a more favorable CAFE footprint. As for GM's weight problem, it hasn't applied to Corvette since 1997. I bet C7 renews its reputation for lightness.

.Jinx

LS1LT1

That might be all it would take to make the base C7 one seriously fast car.

DREAMERAK

[QUOTE=LS1LT1;1580990566]That might be all it would take to make the base C7 one seriously fast car.





This is what I'm hoping the base C7 will be, that and a slightly rearward weight bias.

Big Phil

weight loss would be awesome, but i doubt it will be substantial.

The C6 weighed about as much as a C5, and the C5 wasn't that much less than a C4.

blackcorvette06

does anyone know the weight difference between a c6 aluminum frame and a regular steel c6 frame? thats the weight savings i would expect for c7

LS1LT1

I believe the difference is roughly 136 pounds.





Assuming that the base C7 will even have an aluminum that is of course.

jb_va2001

Most drivers could drop 50 pounds, some even more.

JoesC5

GM could drop the weight, today, of the base C6 by building it with the aluminum frame, the magnesium engine cradle and the carbon fiber skinned balsa wood floorboards from the Z06/ZR1.

frame ~136 lbs savings
engine cradle ~10 lbs savings
floor boards ~14 lbs savings

Total weight savings ~ 160 lbs.


Of course, the aluminum frame in the C7 could be a little different(so it could be used in the targa and convertible) in design, so the weight savings might be slightly less then 136 lbs.

Umrswimr

If we kept the same weight but increased power to 450-475, I think people would be plenty happy. The Corvette has never been the de-facto fastest car out there, but it has been the best all-around performance value. I think 475 hp @ 3300 pounds would accomplish that.

JoesC5

But think how great 3050 lbs with 450 HP would be. The lower weight would be the same as an additional 15 HP when accelerating, and the lower weight would give better braking, and better handling in the twisties. Smaller, lighter wheels/tires can accelerate a lighter car better then larger, heavier wheels/tires. Smaller, lighter brakes can stop a lighter car better then larger/heavier brakes can stop a heavy car.

Z06Durham

My thoughts exactly! Drive an S2000 or a Lotus, and you'll be amazed what a car diet can do with only modest horsepower. Now ramp the power up to 'vette levels...

Very true & often overlooked; that's a great driver mod

Toilets

I would think GM would want to make sure their performance numbers for the base c7 are on par with the new GT500. Especially if the zl1 bumps it's hp up. Why would I even by a c7, other than looks, if both my sibling and somewhat rival outperform me?

LS1LT1

I was thinking that as well, an aluminum frame for the base C7 would definitely be lighter than a steel one, but perhaps not quite as much lighter as the current Z06/ZR1 frames are than the current base C6's steel one.






I hear what you're saying but I would still rather see it closer to 3100/3000 pounds regardless of the power increase.

Toilets

I would think GM would want to make sure their performance numbers for the base c7 are on par with the new GT500. Especially if the zl1 bumps it's hp up. Why would I even buy a c7, other than looks, if both my sibling and somewhat rival outperform me?

JoesC5

Other then the initial years of the emission years, GM has never made the Corvette's base engine's horsepower to match the highest horsepower within it's own ranks, much less any competitor.

That's why they offer horsepower upgrades if you want more. The Z06 and the ZR1 and the 427 Convertible are the upgrades over the base horsepower.

hig4s

The more I think about it, the more I have to believe even the first year the C7 will have a supercharged option that will have more hp than the ZL1 and CTSV.

CRABBYJ

Sorry about the format below, but the point is that in the early years the engine upgrades were a stand alone option that didn't usually require buying a totally different model Corvette with its substantially higher costs for the extras. Engine upgrades were relatively cheap even figuring in inflation to today.

That's why base HP becomes such an issue when compared to the Mustang at the same or near price point.

Engine Specifications 1967 Corvette
Displacement, liters/cu inch
5.35/327
5.35/327
7.0/427
7.0/427
7.0/427
7.0/427
Bore × stroke, inches
4.00 x 3.25 4.00 x 3.25 4.25 x 3.76 4.25 x 3.76 4.25 x 3.76 4.25 x 3.76
Fuel Management
1 x 4-bbl. 1 x 4-bbl. 1 x 4-bbl. 3 x 2-bbl. 3 x 2-bbl. 1 x 4-bbl.
Horsepower @ rpm
300 @ 5,000 350 @ 5,800 390 @ 5,400 400 @ 5,400 435 @ 5,800 430 @ 5,200
Torque @ rpm, pound-foot
360 @ 3,200 360 @ 3,600 460 @ 3,600 460 @ 3,600 460 @ 4,000 450 @ 4,400

jb_va2001

Don't look for all the C7 goodies on day one. Expect they will hold something back for year 3 or 4 introduction.

Cheers,
JB

Reciprocal

Remember the Lexus commercial, "It isn't REAL performance unless it's wielded with precision." It's a way of trying to redefine performance that you don't actually have, the less is more argument.

Corvette may only need the perception if people are otherwise wowed. There's probably going to be one big surprise in the offing, a killer must have feature. The Mustang didn't give us its best shot at first either. Once things stabilize and the hoopla calms down, that's when they go back to the tried and true Detroit formulas, bump the hp, the weight goes back up as they pile on equipment, make special editions. The best is saved for last. My $0.02

As JB said!

Jinx

I know why I would. If you don't know why you would, then I humbly submit that you're better off buying a GT500 or ZL1.

Also, please see all previous posts in this thread.

.Jinx