April Motor Trend Has Future C7 Plans...
03-29-2013, 08:01 PM
#1
Pro
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April Motor Trend Has Future C7 Plans...
Mike Connor's "Confidential" column in the April issue of MT (page 13) contains more conflicting C7 information coming out of GM. He reports that Tim Lee, head of GM's International Operations and head of Global Manufacturing, has flatly denied that there are any plans to produce a right-hand-drive version of the C7...directly contradicting statements made by Tadge Juechter and Dan Akerson at the C7's reveal. Too many cooks?
Connor also reports that Corvette engineers are working on a "low-cost" version of the C7 that will debut in 2015. According to him, the car's engine will be an all-alloy version of the new DI 5.3L V8 truck engine, with under 400 hp. New front fenders, fascia, and rear diffuser will visually differentiate what will be called the "Corvette Coupe" from the "Stingray". The Coupe is to be offered only as a hardtop...or so he says.
Connor also reports that Corvette engineers are working on a "low-cost" version of the C7 that will debut in 2015. According to him, the car's engine will be an all-alloy version of the new DI 5.3L V8 truck engine, with under 400 hp. New front fenders, fascia, and rear diffuser will visually differentiate what will be called the "Corvette Coupe" from the "Stingray". The Coupe is to be offered only as a hardtop...or so he says.
03-29-2013, 08:06 PM
#2
Tech Contributor
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"Ask Tadge" Producer
jas
03-29-2013, 08:20 PM
#3
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Actually, I'm just telling you what the reporter said...hence the words "He reports that...". I myself have no recollection of pro-RHD statements by anyone at the reveal, either...but, I wasn't there in person. Perhaps he overheard something afterward...or, just pulled it out of his sphincter?
03-29-2013, 09:12 PM
#5
And maybe get it right
If GM is considering coming out with some kind of Base Corvette, perhaps they will actually make it look like a Corvette all the way around, instead of putting Toyota headlamps in the front (C6) and a Camaro back end (C7). We can hope.
03-29-2013, 10:06 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
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Porsche does fine with an entry level 911 C2 and has no problem selling GT2 and GT3 versions, so and entry level will not be a problem.
Remember, the 1zt C5 ZO6 body was supposed to be a "Billy Bob" C5 with a lower entry price until someone came a screwed up that genius idea.
What has cheapened the Corvette brand is the lack of world class options like DCT and AWD.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
I hate to break it to ya, but Motor Trend's C7 looks a lot better than the real C7.
Remember, the 1zt C5 ZO6 body was supposed to be a "Billy Bob" C5 with a lower entry price until someone came a screwed up that genius idea.
What has cheapened the Corvette brand is the lack of world class options like DCT and AWD.
[IMG]
[/IMG]I hate to break it to ya, but Motor Trend's C7 looks a lot better than the real C7.
Last edited by 427 C5; 03-29-2013 at 10:09 PM.
03-29-2013, 10:09 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
03-29-2013, 10:36 PM
#11
An all alloy 5.3? All GenVs are all alloy. The 5.3L has all the same features of the other GenVs, it won't be cheaper than the LT1, not seeing how it would enable a cheaper car.
03-29-2013, 10:42 PM
#12
Team Owner
I agree, offering a cheaper Billy Bob version while trying to attract upscale Porsche, etc, younger drivers with basically the same car but much more expensive isn't a smart idea. It didn't fly with the C5 and it won't fly with the C7.
03-30-2013, 12:41 AM
#13
The Consigliere
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What would they do re AFM on the 5.3? I thought they went with the displacement they did on the LT1 in part b/c it took that displacement for the V4 AFM operation of it to provide any meaningful contribution - i.e. be in AFM mode for across a broader range. Would they have a 5.3 that with lower fuel mileage - i.e. no AFM? Or would they de-tune it so much as to make it a wash?
I agree with the others - I hope they don't have a "down market" variant.
I agree with the others - I hope they don't have a "down market" variant.
03-30-2013, 12:54 AM
#14
Melting Slicks
Mike Connor's "Confidential" column in the April issue of MT (page 13) contains more conflicting C7 information coming out of GM. He reports that Tim Lee, head of GM's International Operations and head of Global Manufacturing, has flatly denied that there are any plans to produce a right-hand-drive version of the C7...directly contradicting statements made by Tadge Juechter and Dan Akerson at the C7's reveal. Too many cooks?
Connor also reports that Corvette engineers are working on a "low-cost" version of the C7 that will debut in 2015. According to him, the car's engine will be an all-alloy version of the new DI 5.3L V8 truck engine, with under 400 hp. New front fenders, fascia, and rear diffuser will visually differentiate what will be called the "Corvette Coupe" from the "Stingray". The Coupe is to be offered only as a hardtop...or so he says.
Connor also reports that Corvette engineers are working on a "low-cost" version of the C7 that will debut in 2015. According to him, the car's engine will be an all-alloy version of the new DI 5.3L V8 truck engine, with under 400 hp. New front fenders, fascia, and rear diffuser will visually differentiate what will be called the "Corvette Coupe" from the "Stingray". The Coupe is to be offered only as a hardtop...or so he says.
"Corvette Stingray is Corvette’s starting point" and "We felt making the car special enough to call it a Stingray, but also giving the starting point for the C7 Corvette a really good name was very key to the car".
Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/designers-...#ixzz2OzmcbRMN
I guess it depends on which Motor Trend article you want to believe.
03-30-2013, 01:59 AM
#15
Melting Slicks
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Well, now that they have created an emblem for it, they must justify their previous action by building a Corvette around it. That's corporate madness for ya.
http://blogs.hotrod.com/video-motor-...40s-18813.html
http://blogs.hotrod.com/video-motor-...40s-18813.html
03-30-2013, 02:30 AM
#16
Le Mans Master
Mike Connor's "Confidential" column in the April issue of MT (page 13) contains more conflicting C7 information coming out of GM. He reports that Tim Lee, head of GM's International Operations and head of Global Manufacturing, has flatly denied that there are any plans to produce a right-hand-drive version of the C7...directly contradicting statements made by Tadge Juechter and Dan Akerson at the C7's reveal. Too many cooks?
Connor also reports that Corvette engineers are working on a "low-cost" version of the C7 that will debut in 2015. According to him, the car's engine will be an all-alloy version of the new DI 5.3L V8 truck engine, with under 400 hp. New front fenders, fascia, and rear diffuser will visually differentiate what will be called the "Corvette Coupe" from the "Stingray". The Coupe is to be offered only as a hardtop...or so he says.
Connor also reports that Corvette engineers are working on a "low-cost" version of the C7 that will debut in 2015. According to him, the car's engine will be an all-alloy version of the new DI 5.3L V8 truck engine, with under 400 hp. New front fenders, fascia, and rear diffuser will visually differentiate what will be called the "Corvette Coupe" from the "Stingray". The Coupe is to be offered only as a hardtop...or so he says.
03-30-2013, 06:31 AM
#18
AIR FORCE VETERAN
Back in January they said ..we will sell Corvettes only where left hand drive is legal. It is to difficult to meet other country's rules.
A lower price Corvette will not hurt. It allows more people to get into the culture. Then they can move up to Stingray. That is my opinion ,of course.
A lower price Corvette will not hurt. It allows more people to get into the culture. Then they can move up to Stingray. That is my opinion ,of course.
03-30-2013, 08:29 AM
#19
Drifting
Unfortunately, a "cheap seats" Corvette will help kill the brand IMO.
The Corvette needs to be taken upscale and many owners are already turned off by "it's a good car for the money" reputation. There is no rule in life that says everyone should be able to afford everything they want.
The Corvette needs to be taken upscale and many owners are already turned off by "it's a good car for the money" reputation. There is no rule in life that says everyone should be able to afford everything they want.
03-30-2013, 08:40 AM
#20
Melting Slicks
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Unfortunately, a "cheap seats" Corvette will help kill the brand IMO.
The Corvette needs to be taken upscale and many owners are already turned off by "it's a good car for the money" reputation. There is no rule in life that says everyone should be able to afford everything they want.
The Corvette needs to be taken upscale and many owners are already turned off by "it's a good car for the money" reputation. There is no rule in life that says everyone should be able to afford everything they want.
I doubt that we'll actually see a real second class Corvette. I suspect that they are actually toying with the idea however. They may even have a complete clay model, and that's where that info would be coming from. They explore a lot of obvious crap between generations. Heck, they must justify their jobs in between, I guess.
