well wouldn’t it be easier for GM and the fans/customers if they just leave the MR aside and focuse on FR vette. If they put more attention and money on making a one off MR corvette production then it’ll shove the traditional and famous FR corvette out of the limelight.

They don’t need MR, corvette is already as good as it gets, Itll be much easier Just refining of what they already have, as what many people have posted.

The Viper is a good example of a FR that is so much more focused that it barely has a trunk at all…

Besides aside from cost, some would simply not like the Vette because it is so big. The Corvette is huge compared to a 911. Think of it as trying to carter to compact car fans and those who want a real sports car but can’t foot the bill for a Vette, viper, or what ever. Makes a good alternative to the 350Z, MX-5 Miata, and RX-8.

The Fiero had a trunk but it as a barely big enough for a couple of briefcases, I know because a neighbor of mine had one. Leave the Kappas as FR, but I wouldn’t put it past someone to make an MR on that platform.

This is just a minor point of many against making the Vette MR.

I do like the idea of making the Corvette it’s own brand, and that could still happen in the future… especially if, by some slim to none chance, GM is brought piece by piece by other people or companies. Either way, it would free the designers hands to really get some really good work done… like that hasn’t happened already.

Think people!

Clutch in the back, inside a bellhousing. Transaxle in the back. Prop shaft from engine flywheel in front (in a bellhousing curiously similar to the one in the back….) to the clutch. Bellhousing front and back.

From C5 onwards, the genius of the politics played by the engineering team is that the powertrain has been mid-engine-ready.

As the owner of a Z06, it’s sad to see the namecalling of a machine that keeps its own with the $300,000 exotics.

Let’s see if GM has the gonads to make a chassis that takes the ‘vette’s mid-engine-ready powertrain and ups a notch against Viper’s 15 year old chassis configuration. A mid-engine reduces rotational inertia on a machine that has been perfectly balanced and rigged the past two generations.

Mid-engine, 600HP, please. And keep it under $60k.

The Dodge Viper is a real MF but is not as well balanced as the Vette overall. Strange but true. It relies on copious grip from the tires more than balance to stay planted and poised.

This car would not be a Ferrari wanna-be. Why anyone supposes it would be just because of engine placement is beyond me. America makes quite a few MRs currently, like the Mosler MT900s, possibly the lightest sports car with a V8 in the world, motorcycle quick, and as fast as anything going for twice as much. Then there’s the (Gag me) Saleen S7, looks cool but costs way too much and has no strong street cred, like the Viper. The Ford GT (GT-40 MkV) is going out but was the car to beat, though not live with (The Vette won that easily while staying tight on the GT’s bumper), those are the most obvious, I know I missed one or two.

But we are a NASCAR nation. FR is the order of the day. The Corvette won’t change. It shouldn’t change. If it does, it’ll be a disaster for GM. Giving the MR to another division that can use it, Pontiac or Cadillac, is the only choice, if for no other reason than to spread out the costs, a less expensive but more race ready Pontiac (GXR maybe) and a slicker, more comfy Caddy (No LIMITERS!!!).

According to WCF(wellknown credible source)

Lotus’ “MSC (mid-engined supercar) will be built around a new aluminium structure, which Lotus plans to adopt to other cars, too.” -WCF

Hmm, what other cars? Could they mean off-brand vehicles adopting their aluminium platform?

“It has been officially confirmed by Lotus that the new Esprit will not only become available as a coupe, but, for the first time, as a convertible/roadster, too”. -WCF

Convertible/Coupe aluminum frame might look tempting to GM as a future platform if they’re considering a mid-engine setup.

Again, this is just purely my speculation.

Also, moving the Corvette slightly upmarket would allow some breathing for the Camaro to grow; the two cars could share the entire V8 engine range without fear of the top Camaros outshadowing the base ‘Vette.

If they can make a mid engine ‘Vette make sense, then why not go for it? One caveat though – I really hope Chevy would aim to keep the packaging as tight and compact as possible, like a Gallardo, R8 or McLaren F1 even, instead of creating something big and unwieldly to manage in day-to-day use (think Murcielago or Ford GT). A Cayman sized – and priced – entry level Corvette (with a 400+hp aluminum V8, natch) would make for an absolutely incredible car!

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/gallery/data/526/51990CERVIII.jpg

(Thanks to Richard for the link)

GM Re-registered the Fiero name, maybe they are planning on bringing that out again, which would explain why they need a mid-engined Corvette. They’d need a Corvette that they can put a little more horsepower into that could then out perform the Fiero. That way the Corvette executives wouldn’t have to wine and cry because Pontiac has a higher performance car than them for a smaller price, like they did back in 88/89. I’m all for them bringing out a mid engined car, but I think it should have the Fiero badge on it. Even if people do associate it with fires, those are the people that aren’t in the target market for a mid-engined car anyway. I really think they should leave the Corvette as is, upgrade different things on it, but leave it a 2 seat front engine performance car, make it kick the Vipers butt and give it a better interior. Create a Fiero that can be had for around 25k base, up to 50k with some serious improvements and then a Z06 like dream car with an aluminum space frame, 500+hp engine you know that kinda stuff and charge like 70k for it.

If they are serious about a mid-engine supercar, they should restart development of the defunct DOHC V-12 and drop it into the Cadillac Cien.

a bump up $10k-$15k on a mid-engine XLR make much more sense than converting the Vette… and increasing it’s price to that point.

I have a suggestion for a midengined GM car:

A) Bring over the Opel/Vauxhall Speedster

or

B) Build a new midengined FIERO and sell it for $25k

Seriously like some have said save the MR for a Cadillac of some freaked out bad-ass Fiero revival or something.