Too much money to make on options for fat lazy people instead of building a lightweight car.

“We need balsa floors to make up for the weight of the power seats and power windows and air-conditioning and the stereo speakers and etc etc etc.”

The engine alone, I think Porsche or Renault used to use such an engine in the 1960s or 1970s in formula racing. It was quite unique. A Flat-block, “H”-block, or Boxer has great power for the weight but has problems with cooling. Most American auto racing factors in endurance and cooling problems factor heavily into that. The needed cooling system would negate any weight savings by using such an engine.

But it still bares looking into though I don’t think GM would foot the bill for such an engine or they might have tried something like that ages ago. Flat-fours for the Fiero maybe.

Anyway, I was thinking a Tri-rotor engine, like the Aero-Vette Concept back in the 1970s. But the question of F/econ still plagues that engine, but I think the use of Cam-less technology will help fix that by giving more control over fuel usage as well as emissions. But I would be more expectant that FORD would use such an engine co-developed with MAZDA.

There is also the possibility that the C7 could have electric-hybrid boost, meant for acceleration. to keep weight down Capacitors and not batteries would be used. The motor might also be integrated into the drive shaft to keep it as unobtrusive as possible. This would get around the Federal ban on Launch assist systems (That thingie that helps the GT-R shave upwards of a second off it’s 0-60 time and will not be available on US-spec GT-Rs) and be useful more frequently.

But to be realistic the C7 will likely start, even if the Dollar gets back to mid 1990’s levels of exchange, will still start at around $50K. A Z06-model would likely cost $70K. A possible ZR-1 would easily cap $110K or more. The CORVETTE is quickly being priced out of the range of most people, but as a piece of Sport equipment is still an awesome deal.

GM might want to develop a less expensive sports car or more effective Kappa cars. Cut the weight down to around 2600 lbs and use smaller engines, V6s only for special models. Put as much time into the next Kappa cars as the CORVETTE, because GM will want to make racing potential as accessible as possible to draw customers and future CORVETTE buyers.

How about a new Fiero as well. Something priced between the Kappas and the CORVETTE. Rear-mid V6 or small V8 engine, Styling that harks back to the Fiero GT and some of the VETTE’s tech in a less expensive but still very capable package. Pontiac would have it’s performance flagship back and the Vette would have a partner racing in GT2 giving the 911 and/or Caymen grief.

I gave you the facts, sorry you hate the facts.

I’m also sorry that Ferrari and Porche had the Corvette as competition in the 60’s, then GM let it get fatter and fatter for balding middle class men with big beer belly’s to buy.

Now they’re trying to save it but CAFE is here.

Why does GM let good brands whither then spend billions trying to bring it back ?

But if it’s really so easy to lose 400 pounds, why haven’t they done it already?

“If the Corvette is so great like some people above say…

Why do used Corvettes fill the newspaper ads for sale ?”

For the same reason used Porsches fill the newspaper ads for sale. There were quite a few of them built, and there’s a ready market for them.

Your comment is idiotic.

“Why does the price drop like a rock when you drive it off the dealership lot ??”

Who said it drops like a rock? Corvette actually has one of the highest resale values of ANY car sold in North America.

READ: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/autos/0711/gallery.2007_best_resale_value_top_10/index.html

Facts hurt, don’t they?

“Why does owning one not get you that “front space parking” at the nightclub or restaurant ????”

Front space valet parking depends on your willingness to depart with a Jackson and donate it to the valet – nothing more. Everyone knows that. Do you live in a cave or something? Maybe you should get out more.

Used Corvettes fill the newspaper ads for sale because they sell so frieking many to begin with that they are affordable to obtain.

Every car’s price drops the minute you drop it off the lot. Some more than other’s it’s still just a Chevy it’s not a Ferrari or Lamborghini or something exotic and rare.

And why does the Corvette not get you the front parking space, because most Corvette driver’s don’t care to take it to a night club, they do the thing that their car is actually known for… Driving.

I have a question for you. Why is it that the ZO6 is in such high demand in European countries like Germany that GM can’t export them fast enough??? What??

If I had so much money that I could wipe my ass with $100 bills, of course I’d buy a Ferrari or Lamborghini, or a Veyron for that matter. They are truly beautiful and remarkable pieces of machinery. I’d still spend 100k for a ZR1 or a Ford GT and have those whoop the above mentioned except for the Veyron and still have enough to buy myself a hell of a lot more $$ remaining, because seeing the look on the face of a driver of a Ferrari or Lamborghini after they got their ass handed to them by an inferior vehicle would be priceless to me.

Why do used Corvettes fill the newspaper ads for sale ?

Why does the price drop like a rock when you drive it off the dealership lot ??

Why does owning one not get you that “front space parking” at the nightclub or restaurant ????

You can’t ADAPT a 5500lb work truck to get 35mpg and still be a useful vehicle. Not with what’s out there today. Maybe a hybrid assisted direct-injected HCCI small-block could do it, but is there enough time for that to exist? And how much would that cost. Most trucks sell for ~$20k with a 5.3L as work trucks.

It all comes down to power to weight ratio and the lighter the car the better it will handle and the faster it will be. Just as long as they don’t underpower the Corvette it should be ok, and GM isn’t that stupid…

Although I do wonder what this news has to do with the possibility of that mid-engine corvette, just the thought of hearing those words in the same sentence excites me.