Gering

senah

a midengine version doesn't have to be any more expensive than a front engine. the porsche cayman is cheaper than the 911, so it isn't the layout that demands a higher price.

if corvette chooses to make a supercar that starts at 120k, they can sell a lot of them.

i wouldn't even bother to go to a showroom to look at a 200k nsx. gm can build a great midengine car with 750hp (for 20k more than it costs to build a c7) with an msrp base of 120k. will they? if they put the 10 speed auto in it, a twin turbo 5 or 5.5 liter v8 and coilover suspension and it performs better than the z06, it doesn't have to be super expensive.

if they try to go the 200k route, expect the zora to be either a cadillac (a mistake, as the ats and cts problems are making the c7 issues miniscule in comparison, although people love how they handle, but not their quality/reliability which is lower than chevrolet overall) or possibly an upper grade stand alone mark probably sold by cadillac that would not be a chevrolet but would be manufactured in the bowling green plant.

whatever the decision, you can be sure it has already been made.

marcouvo

Excellent write-up.

Why wouldn't GM utilize the existing 6.2L LT4 engine and add the turbos? The LT4 is aleady set-up for boost.

senah

they very well might, and there might be a higher likelihood that it will be supercharged rather than turboed. there is some pressure to increase fuel mileage imo, so the use of smaller displacement combined with turbos is a possibility.

they got 464 hp out of a turboed 3.6 liter cadillac in the cts, but it uses more fuel than the lt1. seems they need to work on improving the fuel mileage of their turbos. or maybe they are just too much fun to drive and the drivers can't keep their foot out of the throttle!

the ats v has an epa rating of 23 mpg highway, same as c7 z06, so there is some work to do.

Tierraman

Good comments The current C7 looks like the first stage of this metamorphosis. As well, some of the R&D costs of the potential MidC8 could likely be spread throughout the GM line. I believe the world market is and has been ready for another limited production exotic coming from the US. I see this C8 taking sales from all the VW owned Exotics, Mercedes, and more......

Deuuuce

The difference is the Corvette is already a two seater from a size perspective and if they want to be superior, it has to be lighter. That will be very expensive.

If they price it at $120k it will be heavier than the competition & canabalize Z06 sales which means neither will sell in the volume GM requires.

Developing a brand new, low volume platform to an extreme performance level will be very expensive. So the sales price will need to justify the volume. The Ford GT is a perfect example of all this.

That's why it won't and can't cost $120k.

themonk

One is called the Taurus and the other is called the Taurus X.

One is called the Escort and the other Escort RS200

One is called the Genesis Coupe the other is called the Genesis.

Walk into a Hyundai dealership and ask to buy a Genesis, just say Genesis and see what they ask you and or give you, I'm betting they will ask coupe or sedan or just show you the sedan. Same with the two posters above.

Like I said, name a car the have the EXACT SAME name for TWO TOTALLY different layouts.

How much would you like to wager that the if the mid engine Corvette is produced along side the front engine Corvette they will not be called Front Engine Corvette and the Mid Engine Corvette?

AUTO_X_AL

So, what's the three story production facility behind the corvette plant?? Do you really believe that it's a paint shop?

They can't alienate their entire demo but doubling and nearly tripling the price. The alternative is building two configurations. That's possible with today's manufacturing and automation technology. Like every 8th car is ME on the line. If could work.

We'll see. You'll find out when the plant shuts down next December and doesn't ship another unit until 3-1-17. It must take 2 months to get a paint shop online.

This is seriously the worst kept secret. Pretty close to the grand sport secret really.

tbrenny33

What difference does it make? Be the first then!! They'll call it the Corvette ZR1 or whatever they decide and they'll have a lineup with the corvette stingray, corvette grandsport, corvette z06 and top model presumably the corvette zr1. The only difference that Porsche does with the 911 is not have a different layout. I don't see why it would matter.

senah

cadillac just did a super light model called the ct 6 which starts at around 52 k. the c7 is already using as much aluminum as it can, so it would have to go with more carbon fiber to get much more weight reduction.

it won't cost 120 k, but it could. what do you think new z06s cost gm to build? 50k? the midengine could easily be built for 10 or 20 k more, considering that the base engine and transmission could be taken from basic designs used in other cars as is the case now except for the m7. hopefully it will have fully independent springs for suspension.

the gm midengine doesn't have to be particularly low volume, certainly not like the last ford gt was and the new one will be. the c7 starts at 50k, the gs 20k more and the z06, another 10k above that. 99.9 k base price would be a reasonable jump for the midengine. or, at 120k, they could test sales and if it gets lots of buyers, great. if not, they can discount it.

the car magazine experts are predicting 150k starting price. gm will look at all the variables and do what it considers to be best for itself.

would anyone guess in 1995 that we'd have v6 turbo cadillacs with 404 hp and 464 hp? corvettes and cadillacs with 650 and 640 supercharged v8s? 750 hp super or turbocharged V8 on the horizon for a corvette in the long anticipated and awaited midengine configuration?

we are just lucky to be along for the ride.

Deuuuce

The CTS6 isn't super light, so like you said, carbon fiber would be needed to be competitive.

Mid-engine IS low volume at 120k, and as I said it will cannibalize sales of the Z06 which is not a good idea. The entire point is high horsepower and traction to compete with the others. An automatic would be a class exclusive and that wouldn't work with the layout. A DCT would be the way to go.

For more horsepower, supercharging is NOT the way to go and designing and qualifying a twin turbo motor for low volume will again be very expensive.

I agree, its an awesome time for big horsepower.

Deuuuce

Well this blows all the theories I had out of the water.

It's replacing the C7, it will a pushrod and then a 4-cam later on suggesting multiple sub-models like it has had. Estimated base price of $80k. Debut is in Detroit in 2018.

I predict a hot market for a little while for the C7s once they are no longer for sale.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/c8-in-2...olet-corvette/

RC000E

It's happening...period.

marcouvo

I hope the OH cams, 4-valve/cylinder V-8 will still be a 6.2L.

AUTO_X_AL

That would be some crazy power if it were that big.

E.T.D. Corvettes

First Ever Photos of the Mid Engine Corvette

mrbeautie

I hope they build it. I hope they can keep the price point reasonable. I hope they sell a ton. I hope it will come in more colours offered on the 2016 Z06 and Stingray and GS (14 colours offered on the Mustang) I hope it's all wheel drive. I hope it beats all the competition. I hope they work all the bugs out before offering it to the public, since it's the first mid engine GM has ever produced (Fiero doesn't count). I hope it's a V8. I hope it looks better than any of the concept photo's I've seen. I hope to wave at the people driving them. I hope I don't change my mind on why I love my front engine cars. I hope for world peace.

REZ1

The first post I agree with 110%

daleong

YellowC7

We now have the Corvette Stingray and the Corvette Z06. Adding a mid-engine model as a Corvette Zora, or Corvette ZR1, or Corvette E-Ray is no great leap, and no different than a Genesis and a Genesis Coupe. Two different models in the same line. I don't see what you're so hung up about.