CorvetteFerrariFTW

The upcoming C7 Z06 is up in weight from the C6 Z06. I think some were hoping for a 3100-3200 with all fluids. How can GM shed more weight without sacrificing performance?

We see that BMW is in the infancy of CFRP for the masses with their i line of vehicles and passing down to the M line. A process that normally takes hours (i.e. Ferrari) now takes minutes for BMW. It's very fascinating stuff.

But what I'm curious about is what is GM doing with CFRP development? We see some of the high-end supercars, and even the Alfa Romeo 4C, are using a monocoque CF shell to aid in weight reduction. We will possibly see GM go in this direction with the C8?

I'm still floored that the 911 doesn't employ these types of fancy tricks to reduce weight and, save for the Turbo models, they are lightweight and closer to 3000 lbs than to the 3500 lbs.

So, what's the consensus? Is GM pondering advanced technologies such as the one above to further reduce weight for the C8?

loyalsince72

The C7 has been on the road for a few months. The Z06 is still in development. And you're concerned about what the C8 is going to be like IN SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS? The Corvette design team probably won't even START THINKING ABOUT THE C8 for at least another couple of years. You must WAY TOO MUCH free time on your hands if this is the kind of stuff you worry about.

Jp23rockstar

C8 will probably use more carbon fiber in the C8 along with maybe hybrid technologies just a guess from the recent hyper cars.

Red08

Send an email to Tadge and let us know what he says.

AVETTE

The Z06 is not going to be out until early 2015 at the soonest, and you're already discussing the C8, while were at it, why don't we discuss the iPhone 15, and whether it will just be a contact that sits on our eyeballs, this is the C7 section, right???

RapidC84B

Can't you guys stay on topic. The OP has a valid point. GM hyped the C7 up as using a plethora of light-weight materials to the point many of us thought the car would be lighter than the C6. That ended up not being the case. The car is awesome, but the weight gains are unfortunate. The next logical advance is a carbon monocoque.

Steve_R

Will the C10 have a small modular nuclear reactor for power? Does anyone know for sure?

As for the topic, let's hope GM never looses sight of its intended audience by going too high tech and high price. How much would a carbon monocoque hike the price of a Vette, and at what point is the target audience priced out of the market? Want an exotic supercar with ultralight exotic materials? Got spend a couple hundred thousand or more on one.

RapidC84B

Apparently you haven't paid attention to the massive leap forward in carbon fiber production that BMW has implemented with the new i8. Just like GM has greatly reduced the cost of carbon fiber panel production with the C6 and now C7. BMW is now able to make structural carbon fiber in a fraction of the time. The idea is that the new production method reduces the cost to make it available in "normal" cars.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/heard...sla-1399916274

C2C3C4C6

The use of gravity reducing technology (mercury based compound rotating at 250,000 rpm) much like what is being currently used in the TR-3B will be utilized by the C12; and it will have 2 cup holders made of electroactive polymers that will really grip your favorite drink. Can't wait.

Crossed Flags Fan

I'll wait to trade in the C7 when the C9 is available. Not impressed with carbon fiber. Waiting for the next big thing....

mattkilla2015

I expect the c8 to come out earlier then the 9 years we had with the c6 and guessing we get the c8 for the 2021 MY. I believe we will soon be on an almost exponential growth in technology, including producing, materials, computers. How this translates with the car world, im very optimistic. With the price of carbon fiber, carbon reinforced plastic, graphiene and other exotic materials coming down, and with the more regulations, I believe sports cars in 7 years will be made up of carbon fiber, carbon reinforced plastic etc like the use of aluminum today. So to answer the question, yes. I believe weight will be much more of a determining factor in the future not only because of the regulations but because power is getting pretty ridiculous, which is awesome, but traction is now more of a problem for rwd cars.

I've been re watching top gear from the /me season which was in 2002/3(?) and I notice how much materials or really everything has progressed, starting with the super cars of that era and comparing them to now. I believe we are on an exponential technological path because from what I've read and seen from what I would consider credible articles. They state in the next 10-20 years we might see what would have took us 100 years to advance in the early years of the 21st century. I'm getting off topic but think its interesting and fun just to talk about things like this even though the c8 is so so far away.

RapidC84B

^ I agree... but only if we humans don't get in our own way via societal/economic disruption. We've got a global economy built on fiat (which has it's pros and cons) and 7,000,000,000+ people. I hope we don't screw it up.

Steve Garrett

Why are we talking about a C8 when we just got the C7?


Maybe, in a few years, a C7 will have this.

Atticus Alan

I agree. The C6 ZR1 previewed a number of frame and body technologies, which later appeared on the C7. The C7 ZR1 might incorporate exotic technologies to allow GM to work out the details in a limited production run before rolling them out for the "base" C8.

Steve Garrett

I'm leaving this thread open because there is good information about Carbon Fiber here.

lt4obsesses

At the rate material technologies seem to be advancing, it's really hard to tell what they will do. If CF becomes commonplace enough, I could see the cockpit area being made from a CF tub as well as some body panels. But then in five years CF might be old news.

What I wonder is when someone is going to come out with supercomposite that can be used for transmission and differential housings, or even engine blocks and/or other traditionally steel or alloy parts. Someone, somewhere has to be working on this kind of stuff as we speak. These are the parts that throw the serious chunks of weight on cars.

Oh, BTW, even though the C7 is new, I would bet the C8 is in it's embryonic stages right now.

SpryGeezer

Cxx, carbon fiber monocoque, steam propulsion, anthracite fueled. Low on coal? Rip off a piece of monocoque and throw it in the firebox.

SBC_and_a_stick

For every generation you can look at the current hypercar and forsee many of the Corvette features to be. You have to remember that it takes time for the top notch tech to reach production efficiencies for a $50k msrp. So, no I don't think it would be jet powered, or made out of composites superior to carbon fiber. Just look at the hyber cars.

For one, the Corvette got an electric PS rack two decades after the first successful implementation in a road car.

I expect:
*a hybrid carbon/aluminum chassis like the Huracan
*hybrid drive for the front wheels
*active aero

I wouldn't bet on weight savings. Given the focus on hybrid, the battery pack will offset any weight savings going to more carbon. There aren't that many weight savings to be had as it is. You won't see a 3000 lb Corvette in the next 10 years.

RKInIL

You may even see the use of more C/F panels on the base C7 in the future as the price drops on C/F.

longboy4

Lite weight materials are certain to appear in structural components of automobiles beyond current cosmetic displays of such. The weight of these items will most certainly take a back seat to their costs to develop and manufacture in OEM. Driven by fuel costs and efficiency in physics it will be decades over years of time and as today will show up in high line models of sports and luxury vehicles at high price. How the consumer will rate the progress can be seen and compared today with how we perceve cost per horsepower. At that time in the future it will be an inverse perception of cost per pound. It may parallel the development of batteries for electric cars where the goal is similar of reduced weight and more distance per charge.