[snizzle]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

And if the Corvette team is truthful in saying the Z06 is nearing the limit of the current configuration's performance potential, something drastic may have to happen.

That time when world class exotic beater isn't somehow enough....

[PDXSSCE]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Remember how quickly people got over it though?

I still haven't.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Remember how quickly people got over it though?

Remember how mad people were when the C7 didn't have round taillights? And again, people got over it.

You're never going to make everyone happy. And if the Corvette team is truthful in saying the Z06 is nearing the limit of the current configuration's performance potential, something drastic may have to happen.

Minor styling choices are one thing. Making the Corvette dramatically more expensive and less useful as an everyday car, simply because the upper tier is nearing the performance limit is extremely different. That goes against the core appeal of the Corvette for a huge chunk of buyers. I can't think many people bought Corvettes explicitly because the tail lights were round or because the headlights flipped up.

[xc_SS/RS]

Originally Posted by snizzle

That time when world class exotic beater isn't somehow enough....

It's a world class exotic beater in the current time, but this time next year who knows what'll come out from Europe. It'll turn some people away but it'll also bring more people to buy it.

I think this might also be happening for racing purposes but that's probably not a major point to making the Corvette mid engined. Although with GTE/GT LeMans slowly turning back into GT1 it only makes sense to go mid engined

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Minor styling choices are one thing. Making the Corvette dramatically more expensive and less useful as an everyday car, simply because the upper tier is nearing the performance limit is extremely different. That goes against the core appeal of the Corvette for a huge chunk of buyers. I can't think many people bought Corvettes explicitly because the tail lights were round or because the headlights flipped up.

I think the price change will be a big deal if Car and Driver are to be believed with a entry price of around $80k, but with the Camaro now reaching into the 50's it would make me consider a Corvette currently over a Camaro. So this might be a move to protect sales of the Camaro and also move the Corvette into a much higher performance bracket. The Camaro 1LE might be pretty close to the Corvette (non Z06) in terms of performance, and the ZL1 might be as close of not closer than the 1LE because of the HP difference

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by xc_SS/RS

It's a world class exotic beater in the current time, but this time next year who knows what'll come out from Europe. It'll turn some people away but it'll also bring more people to buy it.

I think this might also be happening for racing purposes but that's probably not a major point to making the Corvette mid engined. Although with GTE/GT LeMans slowly turning back into GT1 it only makes sense to go mid engined



I think the price change will be a big deal if Car and Driver are to be believed with a entry price of around $80k, but with the Camaro now reaching into the 50's it would make me consider a Corvette currently over a Camaro. So this might be a move to protect sales of the Camaro and also move the Corvette into a much higher performance bracket. The Camaro 1LE might be pretty close to the Corvette (non Z06) in terms of performance, and the ZL1 might be as close of not closer than the 1LE because of the HP difference

And here I always thought that the accusation was that it was Corvette sales that GM was trying to protect, at the expense of the Camaro ...


Anyway, putting the engine in the back isn't going to dramatically improve a base Corvette relative to a Camaro SS. The improvements in traction would probably be partially offset by weight gain (rear-mid engine cars have a tendancy to weigh more than front-mid). The Corvette would handle better, but anyone looking for the better handling car would be getting the Corvette now anyways.

And price ... I'm thinking that 80k would be very optimistic. I'm thinking 100k, if there is still a base model which could very easily be dropped due to pointlessness. If the goal is maximum performance, why even bother with a car that won't benefit much from the mid engined layout? It could very easily be only a Z06 type car, at 150 grand & thats it.

[FenwickHockey65]

http://media.cadillac.com/media/us/e...9-ats-cts.html

Revised ATS/CTS trim packaging, revised CTS grille and rear fascia, ATS 2.5L model dropped.

[Burt]

Maybe I'm missing something, but is there a reason this mid-engine car shouldn't be a Cadillac? The big issue with this car is the price, and Cadillac is trying to be seen as a legitimate luxury carmaker, where price isn't an issue like it is for Chevy. If they left the Corvette at its current price point and layout, and gave the mid engine chassis to Cadillax, they would be free to charge $100K a pop for them and go head to head with the R8 and 911. The XLR didn't work because it didn't have any significant edge on the Corvette, but if Cadillac had an exclusive performance platform, that would really show how serious GM is about them.

[FenwickHockey65]

There's a decent case for the midengine car being a Cadillac as well.

We'll just have to wait and see. It could go either way.

[derklug1]

I fear that the Corvette will get priced beyond what the typical Corvette buyer will pay, and so the upper levels that are made possible by the sales of the base models will go away. The only other option would be for GM to accept that they are going to lose money on the Corvette, but keep it in production as a Halo car.

That would be a sad day for all of the guys who have been waiting for that last kid to get out of the house.

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Minor styling choices are one thing. Making the Corvette dramatically more expensive and less useful as an everyday car, simply because the upper tier is nearing the performance limit is extremely different. That goes against the core appeal of the Corvette for a huge chunk of buyers. I can't think many people bought Corvettes explicitly because the tail lights were round or because the headlights flipped up.

It's one hell of a performance limit, for a lot less money than most cars it is competing with.

Right, enthusiasts (like folks on this forum), are a small percentage of overall buyers.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Remember how quickly people got over it though?

Remember how mad people were when the C7 didn't have round taillights? And again, people got over it.

You're never going to make everyone happy. And if the Corvette team is truthful in saying the Z06 is nearing the limit of the current configuration's performance potential, something drastic may have to happen.

That is true.

Originally Posted by xc_SS/RS

It's a world class exotic beater in the current time, but this time next year who knows what'll come out from Europe. It'll turn some people away but it'll also bring more people to buy it.

I think this might also be happening for racing purposes but that's probably not a major point to making the Corvette mid engined. Although with GTE/GT LeMans slowly turning back into GT1 it only makes sense to go mid engined



I think the price change will be a big deal if Car and Driver are to be believed with a entry price of around $80k, but with the Camaro now reaching into the 50's it would make me consider a Corvette currently over a Camaro. So this might be a move to protect sales of the Camaro and also move the Corvette into a much higher performance bracket. The Camaro 1LE might be pretty close to the Corvette (non Z06) in terms of performance, and the ZL1 might be as close of not closer than the 1LE because of the HP difference

Yeah, but there are plenty of people who want a Corvette just because its a Corvette. It's an insane performance bargain and me as an example, the Corvette just does it for me. I have always loved Corvettes. If it jumped out of my price range, I wouldn't get a Camaro instead I would just be mad that the Corvette isn't what it has been for the last 60+ years

Originally Posted by DGthe3

And here I always thought that the accusation was that it was Corvette sales that GM was trying to protect, at the expense of the Camaro ...


Anyway, putting the engine in the back isn't going to dramatically improve a base Corvette relative to a Camaro SS. The improvements in traction would probably be partially offset by weight gain (rear-mid engine cars have a tendancy to weigh more than front-mid). The Corvette would handle better, but anyone looking for the better handling car would be getting the Corvette now anyways.

And price ... I'm thinking that 80k would be very optimistic. I'm thinking 100k, if there is still a base model which could very easily be dropped due to pointlessness. If the goal is maximum performance, why even bother with a car that won't benefit much from the mid engined layout? It could very easily be only a Z06 type car, at 150 grand & thats it.

That is what scares me about a mid engine Corvette. Performance wise it might be amazing, but if it makes the base model out of reach for Corvette buyers what good is it?

[Bhobbs]

Is there something inherently more expensive about mid engine or is it just most mid engine cars are exotic? I mean, if GM can build a mid engine base Corvette and keep it in the 55-60k range, I think that would be a big deal.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

Is there something inherently more expensive about mid engine or is it just most mid engine cars are exotic? I mean, if GM can build a mid engine base Corvette and keep it in the 55-60k range, I think that would be a big deal.

Car and Driver says most of the increased costs to consumer would emerge from the fact that GM would basically have to develop a new platform for the midengined car rather than use the decades old Y-body.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Car and Driver says most of the increased costs to consumer would emerge from the fact that GM would basically have to develop a new platform for the midengined car rather than use the decades old Y-body.

Didn't they spend a billion dollars on the C7? I may be way off but I thought I read they spent a ridiculous amount.

I found this in an article from January 2015.

I didn't want to move out of our price class, but Tadge explained that while the transmission would cost more, the list price would increase by no more than $5000. Imagine an American-built car with the proportions of a Lamborghini at that price point …that's pretty appealing.