Today July 18th the new Corvette will be launched...

[Checkerboard Strangler]

From what I've seen we are still about 4 hours away from the official revel. The non camo one will probably be seen there.

Introducing the Next Generation Corvette | 07.18.19

I'm satisfied, it's a Vette.
Without ever having owned a single Corvette I've still managed to drive at least one from 61-79, 84-88, 97-2014.
I have a lot of friends, current, former and deceased, who had Vettes, and I like to stop in and rent fun cars once in a while for a day just for kicks.
Living in Los Angeles has its perks!

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

69 427 foe me

My first wife owned one of those, till she hurt it one too many times.
I don't mean just wrecking it, neglecting it, abusing it, doing stupid things to it, etc.
She just wasn't capable of treating a high performance car with proper respect.
Same with her 62 Porsche, she fried that, too before she met me.

She eventually wound up with a Honda CRX and she crapped the bed with that and then wound up in a little brown Saturn, which she also eventually killed.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

just made the old corvette a better corvette
one of the very few American cars worth having

In order to retain supercar status, and let's face it, that's what a Vette is supposed to be, it HAD to go that route or be forever in dinosaur territory.

 

[Mason66]

Maybe - 30 years from now. Maybe never.

Remember these:

Lots of people saved those. Some on blocks, never driven other than started every couple of months or so. Figured their value would skyrocket. They didn't. Never. Because they are badly outdated with rotten performance. 30 years from now such as an 2018 ZR1 or Z06 might be so inferior in so many ways few people want them compared to how many there still are.

The new Corvette will still be dramatically less costly than a top Ferrari or Lambo, plus easier to finance and less costly to insure.

Some claim the old line should be continued as a Corvette and the new mid-engine named another model. This would be a foolish and costly gamble for GM as it almost insures one of the two lines will be an economic failure. It isn't cheap to set up an assembly line - and certainly not to build an entirely new one.

Yes I remember that fiasco, but that was because Chevrolet produced too many cars and too many were saved.

We knew in 1982 they would never be valuable.

The new ZR1 is different as it is a one year car and the best and last of the breed.

It is a shame how much the rear end looks like a Camaro.

 

[joko104]

American cars had been garbage for 5 years at that point. No one was under any illusion. Horsepower dropped from the 300s to the 200s at catalytic converter (and other stuff) in 1973.

Everyone in 1978 knew that everything pre 1973 was gold and forever would be. 5 years of dark age and no hope on the horizon. Fuel injection in the mid eighties didn't even change it. It wasn't until the 90s that American performance returned to pre 70s glory days.

In 1978, store anything pre 73. Storing that pile of garbage would be asinine. Everyone knew it was a pile of crap and always would be because cars 10 years older kicked its ass.

Go back 9 years and store one of these instead:


View attachment 67260196



ps. Best years for vette is 63-67.

The big drop in horsepower was in 1972, not '73. The 454 in 1972 dropped to 270 horsepower. '73 was the last year of the big block Vette.
The '63 split rear window was excellent. For convertibles I'd pick a 1962. More classic appearance. Or any year with a 427 and 4 speed.

 

[KevinKohler]

Duntov always meant for the corvette to be mid engine. Every model change always had a mid engine concept that was never made, up to about 95, or so. Google Chevy Cerberus, and Cerberus 2.

What the corvette is, the soul of it, has nothing to do with its drive train. Its a high performance car that anyone can aspire to own one day. That's its core identity. Base model vette is between 50-60k. That is a car that most Americans could afford, if they really really wanted to. Especially if they were OK with buying used. 2009 ZR1 goes for 30-50k now, depending on mileage. Down from the original 6 figure price tag.

So, the ONLY question I have is, what's the price tag of a base model, mid engine corvette?

 

[KevinKohler]

Also, claims that this makes the old front engine vette obsolete are false. The new mid engine car will outperform the old, but not by a lot. It will weight more, and make the same power, or within 50hp. Current corvettes are front mid engine, meaning the engine is recessed back in, closer to the cabin, behind the front wheels. They have 50/50 weight distribution, while the mid engine car won't.

They'd better use some wide tires in the back of the new one, or its going to be hard to control going into, and coming out of turns.

 

[KevinKohler]

American cars had been garbage for 5 years at that point. No one was under any illusion. Horsepower dropped from the 300s to the 200s at catalytic converter (and other stuff) in 1973.

Everyone in 1978 knew that everything pre 1973 was gold and forever would be. 5 years of dark age and no hope on the horizon. Fuel injection in the mid eighties didn't even change it. It wasn't until the 90s that American performance returned to pre 70s glory days.

In 1978, store anything pre 73. Storing that pile of garbage would be asinine. Everyone knew it was a pile of crap and always would be because cars 10 years older kicked its ass.

Go back 9 years and store one of these instead:


View attachment 67260196



ps. Best years for vette is 63-67.

The ONE shining jewel of the 80s...the Buick grand national. And lo and behold, its a very collectable car. What a coincidence, right?

 

[KevinKohler]

This will completely crash the prices of used late model Corvettes. I suspect 2018s have dropped by at least 50% with this new release that seriously outdates prior Covettes, even those being sold on the lots as new now. The moment the mid-engine hits the dealership, all front engine 'Vettes just became outdated and similar to used cars, even if brand new.
A wise person would wait until 2021 for a new 'Vette. These first ones will be absurdly priced and there are usually lots of problems with new models.

I hope so. I'm looking to trade up. I had my sights set on either a 5th gen corvette, or a 350Z, but...if the bottom falls out, I might be able to swing a 6th gen vette, maybe even...a grand sport?

 

[KevinKohler]

What we know as a Corvette is completely different in this car in every way.

I somewhat agree. Corvettes have long been front engine, rwd. But to my mind, that's not its core identity. Its core identity is that of a blue colar supercar.

 

[KevinKohler]

I think it is going to be just the opposite.

The values of the current high power cars are going to skyrocket and I think the new one will be a failure.

If people want a Lamborghini or a Ferrari, they can go buy one.

We haven't even talked about price yet.

People are speculating the current ZR1, if it is kept in unused condition, with be worth $250,000 in 5 years.

I hope not. I want to trade up!

 

[KevinKohler]

I am not sure how I feel about the Corvette going mid engine. It has always been a front engine car with a longish hood. It has provided high performance at "reasonable prices (for high performance sports cars)

I expect the 6.2 V8 and the Supercharged V8 will be the engines for the first couple of years, then the 4.2 L V8 TT blackwing will likely be the standard engine. Hopefully they make the interior worth the price

I'm ok with a sub par interior if they keep the price down.

 

[beefheart]

The new Corvettes just look like any other douche-bro car, no thanks. 63-67 were beautiful. My brother had a mid 70's one a few years ago, bright Braniff Airlines orange, with a working 8 track player, really nice, ex wife wasn't so thrilled. My gf had an early 80's one when she lived in Germany, not the greatest of the series, but she had fun fun fun on the autobhan....

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

I'm ok with a sub par interior if they keep the price down.

Saw the debut yesterday interior has lots of leather and starting price is under $60 000. The price shocked me

 

[KevinKohler]

Saw the debut yesterday interior has lots of leather and starting price is under $60 000. The price shocked me

Really?






OK, I'm sold. That was my major hang up. Price. It HAS to be something upper end middle class can get, reasonably. And they did it, I guess. And performance claims yet?

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

Really?






OK, I'm sold. That was my major hang up. Price. It HAS to be something upper end middle class can get, reasonably. And they did it, I guess. And performance claims yet?

0 to 60 in less than 3 seconds

495 hp from the 6.2 v8 I think 460 pounds feet of torque.

I was expecting a move up in price to around 90k

 

[azgreg]

 

[Fledermaus]

What we know as a Corvette is completely different in this car in every way.

So is practically every model of car that has lasted 60+ years. Except for standard nuts and bolts there is nothing shared between the 1953 Corvettes and the Corvettes of the 1970s on....

 

[Fledermaus]

The big drop in horsepower was in 1972, not '73. The 454 in 1972 dropped to 270 horsepower. '73 was the last year of the big block Vette.
The '63 split rear window was excellent. For convertibles I'd pick a 1962. More classic appearance. Or any year with a 427 and 4 speed.

1970 was the beginning of the end. In 1970-1971 compression dropped in addition to power robbing emissions bits.

The 454 was introduced to make up some of the torque the 427 lost.

Around 1972 they decided to more accurately measure the HP. No huge loss in HP. They he same engine that made 300 HP made 270 under the new standard.

 

[chuckiechan]

I wish they would have called it something else, because it is not a Corvette.

The name “Corvette” is more of a franchise name. No sense in starting a new brand. When you hear “Corvette”, you know what they are talking about. (Good or bad)

 

[KevinKohler]

0 to 60 in less than 3 seconds

495 hp from the 6.2 v8 I think 460 pounds feet of torque.

I was expecting a move up in price to around 90k

Now for the comparisons. Entry level Ferrari and McClaren are being targeted here, I'd say.

 

[KevinKohler]

3,360 lbs, dry...figure, with gas and fluids, just over 3,400...add a driver, around 3,600 lbs. Rear tire is a 305, decent size. Mid engine, with right at 500hp, I predict this car will be a hand full without traction control.

6th gen ZO6 was 3,200 pounds with a driver. Don't remember stats for the 7th gen. But I know the 6th gen ZO6 is an absolute riot to keep tamed around a track, but fun as beck.

Cue the Nurbergring lap time battles!

 

[ecofarm]

The ONE shining jewel of the 80s...the Buick grand national. And lo and behold, its a very collectable car. What a coincidence, right?

Twin turbos and intercoolers, 50g out the gate. It's not as much muscle car as "my sedan can beat your sports car".

 

[ecofarm]

The big drop in horsepower was in 1972, not '73. The 454 in 1972 dropped to 270 horsepower. '73 was the last year of the big block Vette.
The '63 split rear window was excellent. For convertibles I'd pick a 1962. More classic appearance. Or any year with a 427 and 4 speed.

Only California did catalytic converters in 1972. I think I'd go split window too.

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

Now for the comparisons. Entry level Ferrari and McClaren are being targeted here, I'd say.

At 1/4 the price, and a correction the 0-60 is for the Z71 package (still just the 6.2 engine but with Pilot Sport Summer tires).