why so long???????? 2012????

If the C7 Corvette will get a smaller engine, what about the 2012 Camaro SS?

I can’t wait to see this car!!

Expect more butch styling, and some sharper lines, in the next Vette
They will take some cues from the wildly-successful Camaro
With a more futuristic interior
I expect 450HP to start with, and 3050lb curb weight
DrFill

I’m more worried about what’s goin into the CTS-V than what will be going into the camaro SS…

The Corvette already gets that 26 mpg or whatever, why bother going smaller?

DrFill – Chevy has NEVER mixed Camaro styling with Corvette styling. I highly doubt anything will be taken from it.

26 mpg is good but still not great, you can thank the new CAFE regulations. As long as it’s faster give it whatever engine

A4
Take a look at the difference between the last Camaro and the current one
You will see a similar difference, just not as broad-shouldered
DrFill

….26 mpg is amazing for a 6.2L V8 that puts out over 400hp.

The current camaro is styled after the 60’s Camaros. Not the corvette.

No one has ever doubted the performance of the C6, the issue has always been build quality and low rent interiors. Make sure it still looks like a Vette but also make sure it doesn’t feel like you’re sitting in a Cobalt.

Its great to see GM’s pushed back products being pushed forward.

-iluvamcars

Yeah 2012. The last generation was supposed to come out in 1993. Guess what year it really came out. Thats right 1997. Four years after it was originally supposed to come out. Camaro Vert. Pushed back many times. The New GM is gonna be the same as the old GM and Ive heard enough of this crap over the years. Why bother announcing time table you know youll never make. It makes you look unprepared and stupid.

Hey Johnny there is a reason the interiors look the way they do. Didn’t you see the RUBBERMAID logo on the dash

JohnnyCanuck, @ 080/12, 3:44p

You are overstating the CORVETTE’s interior. Of course, I would know, I actually at least did a sit in on C6. It’s not as bad as you make it sound. Not a PORSCHE but certainly not a COBALT, either. Could it be better and I’m sure it will be improved. But for most it will either not be enough (it never is) or they never cared in the first place.

That said, For about $3k you can get exactly the interior you want from a customizer. For that you get your happy interior and still have spent around half the price for it than a PORSCHE 911. Part of the AMERICAN Car experience if making the car exactly what you want of it. From Rims to the whole car body, and that’s just cosmetic.

Only HARLEY-DAVIDSON Motorbikes have a wider range of customization open to it.

DrFill, @ 08/12, 2:54p (A4 this is at you, too)

I think you mean an overall motif not that CHEVROLET is going to try to shoehorn the CAMARO’s grill, for example, on the C7. More looking at previous models, in the C7’s case the C2 and C3, muting the C4’s influences further, and giving it a more futuristic edge. Recall some illustrations of the C7 that could have easily been inspired by or came from Syd Mead’s sketchbook.

Carmaster4ever, @ 08/12, 2:49p

Same thing as ever, money. GM needs to get other cars up and running, finish development of the C7, and the C6 is still extremely popular… and they just rolled out the new C6R GT, I would think GM would want to get some return on that car. Heck if it results in a C6 GT that would be a great close to the reign of the C6.

i wonder if this next vette will look like the one in the Transformers 2 movie

This can only result in w1n, IMO. I have faith the General won;t jack the Vette up. They even did the Vette right during the last 2 generations, while they made poop otherwise. They seem to have righted the ship and gotten away from the poop, so hopefully the Vette can see the same upward trend in content and quality.

And i agree with DrFill in HP / weight for the new base model.

I would love to see Corvette split from Chevrolet to make its own mark. Then produce maybe 3-4 variants of Corvette: the Corvette C7 (traditional ‘vette), Corvette Stingray/Maco – whichever name you want (a mid-engine AWD ‘vette), then a Corvette that’s a high performance sedan, then possibly a 4th Corvette that’s very small under the C7. All based on overall performance, kinda like where they’re going now with the C7.

Make Corvette the American Porsche.

R9, great idea. Maybe if they weren’t wasting so much time and money on Buick over here it would be possible.

Well they really need to change out tha ugly @ss insides of those headlights n give us a new, hotter lookin, air dam asap!

I love Corvettes, In fact Im on my third, a C5 Z06. But, to be honest the interior of the Corvette along with the overall refinement needs to be vastly improved, there is no reason why a 100k+ ZR-1 should have the same steering wheel has a cobalt or that a 55k coupe has a worse interior then a 35k Audi A4, If im spending that kind of money on a car I demand quality regardless of how fast it is. Heres what I would do: copy the interior out of a TT, materials and all, dont worry about Traditional corvette design cues on the inside because, well, that just means the same plastics from a 98 sunfire. Next just bump the horsepower a bit (460 sounds bout right) drop the weight say around 70-80 pounds and make a sleeker even more aerodyanmic exterior you ann will have a winner.

Fromes, dont take this the wrong way, but a 2.0 litre A4 against a 6.2 litre Corvette is quite a comparison. People (like me) that would be interested in shelling out 35K for a 4 banger Audi expect some luxury with their lack of power. Yeah the interior on a ‘vette sucks, but if you want a nice interior you’d potentially be spending alot more money. GM’s interiors have come a long way in the last couple years and the C7 will at least be on par with the interior of a CTS. That will probably be the benchmark.

That’s the best picture I’ve ever seen of the C6 above. Those wheels new? I like them alot.

I have a C6 corvette and I cant wait to see a C7. As far as the interior is concerned, everything is good enough for me except the POS Nav system they offer in it. That is by far the worst part of the car IMO.

I bet the interior of the C7 will rock now that GM has figured out how to style and design excellent ones. I hope they fix the headlights though. The current ones seem so much like an afterthought

Yes, Dr. Fill enlighten us with your words of wisdom. How would you possibly know what it is going to look like? This doesn’t exactly look like “butch styling”, “www.corvetteblog.com/MT-01.jpg”

If GM can squeeze 300hp out of a 3.6L V6, why not get 400 out of a direct-injected 4.8 or 5.3? If the car shrinks (just like the C6 shrank from the C5) and gets lighter they shouldn’t have any problem posting better numbers with the same amount of power.

Honestly… let’s take a vote. How many of you have driven a C6?

I’ve driven my dad’s ‘08 C6 vert several times… 400hp in that car is plenty for any situation you could conceivably find yourself in. One quick sprint or aggravated pass and you are doing 20+ over the limit. I can’t imagine driving something with any more power on a regular basis.

^ I have, and I still like the C5 better. I actually like the current and C5’s interior, especially the 45th ann edition with that deep red outside and dual tone tan interior. I never got why people think it’s so cheap, it’s not cheap feeling or ugly, and I’m the pickiest of the picky as many of you know.

^ Sorry I mean’t 50th

A4, either your retarded or you seriously have a hard time understanding simple things. Fromes clearly stated “…the interior of the Corvette along with the overall refinement needs to be vastly improved, there is no reason why a 100k+ ZR-1 should have the same steering wheel has a cobalt or that a 55k coupe has a worse interior then a 35k Audi A4…” He never said anything about the engine size or performance. He is just saying that the interior has no business looking as cheap as it does and a car 20k less has a much more refined interior than the ‘vette. Read next time. But personally, I can’t understand, for the life of me, why they are waiting so long for an update. Atleast do a midterm interior upgrade, or offer a much more sportier interior upgrade for a 5k premium and put money in their pockets. Its decisions like that which caused to be in the shape their in now.

Needs a better interior, especially the cheap seats. It would be a good game plan to find cost effective ways to reduce weight and center of gravity. The corvettes of the future (like it or not) should be closer to the Lotus Exige than the Camaro. Needs to stay V8 powered, but will the future GT2 homologation to 5.5L be an issue or not? It would be nice to see a very similar to race spec engine in the street car, especially if the street version can run on E85 like the racer, a la the C6.R-S but without the Ferrari-like price. And please God don’t make a 2012 ripoff of 60’s era styling.

sgt. peppe, this car was originally planned for 2012, so don’t go running your mouth. I am tired of people using the statement, “old GM”, because it was not the ”old GM”, it was the “GM of the 80’s and 90’s” GM was a great car company up until the mid 80’s, and they are now starting to get that reputation back. As for the rubbermaid thing, not all of GM’s interiors are bad. Yes, a few of there interiors are bad, but the new models are not.

-iluvamcars.

“RaineMan”, you know the comment “size is not everything”? The Corvette is still, and should remain, GM’s “chest pounding” model! It doesn’t matter how much HP you can push from a 3.6L V6, 4.8 or 5.3L (very) small block V8. And, don’t even mention dropping a V6 of any version into a Vette! It’s all about Liters! To hell with CAFE standards, GM will still be able to meet whatever those standards are with their other “green” machines. Look at the recent mileage estimates on the Volt…….you believe that? I’ve got some property you might be interested in, in Louisiana! Also, for those of you who believe GM’s interiors, for the most part, are crap…….they are!

it is gonna take quite a bit to upstage the c6. I think they are up to the challenge.

Well I fully admit that my C5’s interior isn’t anything special at all, but I always assumed that’s why you’re getting more horsepower per dollar than any supercar out there. You’re not going to get a 450hp sports car for 45k AND have an amazing interior. And if you really want one, I like the earlier suggestion that you spend another 3k and have a custom installer do one you like.

I sympathize with those people that think interiors are important, since that’s where you spend most of your time while driving, on the inside of the car. However, for me, and many others, the only parts of the interior that really matter are the steering wheel and the seat, because that’s the part you feel.

Hey I love cars I will run my mouth as much as I want I have owned many GM cars and have owned Corvettes before. The interior is BAD. A big plastic dash is what your looking at. Thats the best they could come up with for their flag ship. I think the rest of the car is awesome. it just needs an upgraded interior. I sorry my expectations upset you. WOW

The photo used here looks nothing like a C6. Take a look at a C6 and you will see huge differences. What corvette is used in the photo?

Hey KarLoveBoy88, I don’t think A4 is the one having a hard time understanding things. I think you oughtta go back and reread what A4 said. He used the engine packages to make HIS own point.

I think we should stop hoping for the mid engined Corvette. It’s not going to happen. It’s just a cheap ploy to hype up the upcoming generation.

As long as they do something about that massive rear end, then I will be fine. I never liked it. Car flows smoothly all the way to that point. Rear end looks like a wall with only tail lights breaking it up a bit.

tcsmith, that is a rendering for the next generation.

-iluvamcars

Why is it that every corvette I see is driven by a old white haired white guy wearing a baseball cap going about 5 under the speed limit? They should just put a Briggs and Straton in them for how I see them being used.

I think the vette is pretty cool but the interiors blow. A decent looking interior doesn’t cost much more to make than a poorly styled one. (there are $20K cars that have better interiors than vettes) GM knows how to make a decent interior just look at some of the new models they have. When the vette finally gets a nice interior it will be a true competitor to the euro sports cars and should take some market share.

Hey KarLoveBoy, i did read, and my point was that Audi chooses to spend some of the development money on interior at the sacrifice of performance you twat. The majority of the money that goes into the Corvette goes into its function, not its form. Don’t compare an entry level LUXURY sedan to an american sports car focused on performance. So retard, why don’t you do the reading next time.

and thanks for getting that rpmfan.

There’s been a lot of talk about interiors, and I don’t really think it’s an incremental development cost issue. I just think that GM never really paid much attention to the corvette’s ****pit. A good interior doesn’t have to mean increased materials costs. It can also come by way of good design.

In recent years, American manufacturers have had to work harder to sell products, as they face a bevy of improved competition. They know that they have to place greater emphasis on product development. Across the big 3, we’re seeing vastly improved interior quality and styling. I, for example, am quite pleased with the camaro’s interior. Now that GM’s eyes are open, I’m sure the interior of the next iteration or Corvette will be vastly improved.

Others have said it, but the Vette is not about fancy sh1t in the cabin. You are getting the best bang-for-the-buck sports/super car out there. In terms of performance and durability for the price it can’t be beat. If you really need navi or fancy leather seats go buy yourself an overpriced and underpowered Audi, Benz, Acura, or Lexus. Also, Vettes are designed to be pure-performance. You do realize that all those luxury items you think should be included will add extra weight right?

I’ve driven in a C5 a few times and have sat in a C6 Z06. The interior was good enough for me, and besides that, the interior build quality is the last thing you are paying attention to at 150+ mph

Yeah, but it’s not the last thing you are paying attention to when you OWN it.

tob,

Quit following me.

White haired old guy in baseball cap.

Actually, I still find the C6 attractive and agree with most of the posters here on its few shortcomings. The headlights could use an upgrade and the interior MUST move up to keep pace with the improvements made across the GM line.

But you know, I get the MOST enjoyment driving my 66 Stingray with only a one speaker AM/FM radio, flat, unsupportive seats and zero electronic gizmos. Only the smooth action of the clutch and 4 speed, the smooth power of the 327/350 and the wondrous sounds coming out of the sidepipes to keep me happy.

Who would want to buy a Corvette when you can buy a GTR?

Hey Pepper, read my comment again, then respond. I know the current Corvette’s interior is not good. It is a major turn off. All cars use plastic dashboards, but a lot use soft plastics and soft materials. GM just happens to use very hard plastics.

-iluvamcars

So you agree with me on the Vette interior. what do I have to read. They offer a 4LT interior thats supposed to look better. I havent seen that one. If its true then it should be the standard interior. You buy top of the line you should get top of the line. In my mind Vette is top of the line and should be equipped like it.

i want a retro split window stingray-like c7…that’s all i want…pretty please?

Infiniti4ever, anyone who actually enjoys driving and doesnt just want an $80k playstation buys a corvette.

Pepper, i was just not happy with the whole “old GM” thing. The reality is it was “GM of the 80’s and 90’s”, not the “old GM”. I agree with the Vette interior thing. It is so boring and hard, that i wouldn’t even buy a C6. The interior reminds me of any other GM car from between 2004 and 2007.

-iluvamcars

A4, to be fair, the GTR is an excellent and very dynamic drive. I think most enthusiasts will find that the “playstation”-esque gizmos turn out to be assets rather than detractors. Objectively, it is also much more comfortable and useable than Z06 with which it more closely competes. I have not been impressed by the C6 ZO6’s driveability and comfort. Supposedly, the ride is much more refined in the ZR1, but I haven’t had the pleasure of trying one out…yet.

Personally I don’t care for the GTR, to my eyes it has been hit with the ugly stick. I prefer the Vettes clean flowing lines, not to mention it’s intoxicating sound! And to those concerned I’m sure the C7 will be light-years ahead of the C6 inside the cabin.

Infiniti4ever @ 08/15, 11:50a

“Who would want to buy a Corvette when you can buy a GTR?”

To answer:

1) Anyone who does not want a GT-R35 and wants a CORVETTE.

Simple.

2) It’s a lot easier to get a CORVETTE.

NISSAN makes only 1500 TOTAL or so a year, most get snapped up before any ever make it to the US. I’d be willing to bet fewer than 300 GT-R35s make it to the US. Meanwhile, GM makes a bit over 3500 CORVETTEs a year and most of those get bought up here before they head aboard.

3) Anyone who thinks the GT-R35 looks like some sort of a MAXIMA Coupe and is not happy about that. The ALTIMA coupe looks more like a cheap G37 coupe.

Face it, the car looks more like a bad idea than a supercar.

4) Anyone who thinks $73K, before the inevitable dealer mark-up, is too much to pay for any NISSAN.

The next most expensive NISSAN available in AMERICA is the INFINITI QX starting around $57K. There was a reason why the 300ZX tanked in the sales. Great car, my most favorite car ever, but it cost way too much.

5) Anyone who is not going to drive the car hard and reads about the cars less that amicable ride quality.

They would say, “I don’t care how fast it is. I am not driving a car that beats me up when I drive it to work everyday. CORVETTEs don’t do that”

6) Among the those who CAN buy the car (they have the money), The GT-R35 is too new and radical for their tastes or desires.

That’s on them. But this goes back to number 3. There is a reason why most cars with legacies longer than 20 years don’t look like robots in disguise. They will want a car that they looks more like a car they are familiar with. If the GT-R35 looks most like the R34 it might get off better in the looks department. There is also the overriding contention that the GT-R35 is actually ugly.

7) Anyone who does not want every dumb kid in creation looking to race them.

I have read stories about street racers threatening to shoot drivers of hot cars if they did not race them. A GT-R35 may be able to win but how wants someone pointing a gun at them? Then there is just being harassed by fools who can’t take a hint. You might want to race, if you had a GT-R35, but someone else, who does, may not and, in all likelihood, does not..

The CORVETTE looks like a traditional sports car, sleek, graceful, and sexy.

This goes back to number 3, again.

9) Anyone who has money but would rather not advertise it “on a billboard”.

Not everyone wants to drive the “famous” car. This goes back to number 7. They may also not want everyone in the world staring at them as they drive down the street, following them for whatever reason, and so on. The VW PHAETON was “stealth wealth” at its finest. The only problem was it cost too much for a VW. But the GT-R35 stands out enough that it will get gawkers.

CORVETTEs are much more familiar and not over-hyped and so do not draw unwanted attention.

10) “RWD and a big AMERICAN V8 are what I want. You can take your over-priced ricer and steam it!”

Goes back to Number 1. They want a CORVETTE they are going to get a CORVETTE.

Chevy should cast aside the traditional V8 and go with a twin turbo straight six. Could be more powerful and better MPG and lets face it- the very first Corvette came with a straight six… for all you “traditionalists.”

The V8 has it’s advantages too hummah, if there was one perfect engine setup for performance cars ALL sportscars would have it.

Not to worry the Next Generation Ford Mustang will OWN THE CORVETTE OUTRIGHT!

Looks like Bankruptcy2009 is still living in the land of make-believe.

As a C5 Z06 owner, I didn’t buy a C6 because I felt it didn’t vastly improve on the car I own. I’m hoping the C7 will offer compelling improvements, and I plan to keep my C5 until I see what the C7 is about. I think I’ll skip the C6 altogether. Here’s what I would like to see offered or improved on the C7:

1 – Better interior. When the Chevy Cruze, GM’s new subcompact, has a much nicer interior design than your flagship sports car, you have a problem. I have full confidence they will put a great interior into the C7.

2 – Coil over suspension. Time to ditch the leaf springs.

3 – 7-speed DSG transmission option and a traditional 6-speed manual. While I wouldn’t buy a DSG, the Corvette needs one to be competitive in this segment. Most of the competition has DSG’s available today.

4 – Direct injection. If they keep the pushrod layout, which is fine, this would be the first pushrod direct injected engine. I think it would be great if they went to a DOHC V-8 with direct injection and VVT.

5 – Smaller, and lighter weight. While the C6 is pretty light as it is, if they could shave another 200-300 lbs. off this car, and make it a bit smaller (especially width), I think it would improve the feel and performance of the C7 quite a bit, while also helping meet new CAFE standards.

6 – LED lighting all around. Mostly for styling.

7 – Better seats! My recommendation is use Recaro seats with 5-point harness pass thru cutouts in the seat back as an optional performance seat. They can have a base seat to accomodate fatties if they want, but at least have a performance seat available with great side bolstering for those that are in shape and like to HPDE their cars.

8 – Launch control software. The ZR-1 and HHR SS have it. The C7 should too. Not everyone can launch a high horsepower car like John Force.

Put all this stuff on the C7, and it will probably be enough to get me out of my C5 Z06, which I love.

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