General Motors has long been rumored to be developing a mid-engine version of its next-generation Chevrolet Corvette, but the on-again-off-again project has officially been removed from the table, according to a new report.
Although the mid-engine Corvette did have support from within General Motors – including the stamp of approval from GM car czar Bob Lutz – the mid-engine C7 was simply a victim of the times. With cash tighter than ever, GM doesn’t have the resources to develop a completely new mid-engine platform for the C7, according to Motor Trend.
The idea of a mid-engine Corvette was actually conjured up to improve fuel economy – due to the fact that the ‘Vette’s current front engine, rear transaxle layout makes cylinder deactivation nearly impossible – but GM discovered that development costs far outweighed any CAFE benefits. However, the C7 Corvette will still have to deal with CAFE regulation set to take effect in 2011, so a V6 base model still remains a distinct possibility.
But whatever form the C7 Corvette ultimately takes, it’s still going to be a few years before it shows up in Chevrolet dealerships. Even GM’s halo model isn’t exempt from the current market downturn, with money being funneled from the Corvette’s redesign to other project. That means the next ‘Vette likely won’t launch until at least late 2012, but probably closer to mid-year 2013. That’s a solid 8 years on the market for the C6 Corvette, but a far cry from the days when the Corvette would soldier on unchanged for more than a decade.
10/07, 4:08 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
Well, I thought the Corvette was already considered a mid-engine car. And yes, it is possible to be mid-engined WITHOUT the engine being located REAR of the driver.
10/07, 4:39 PM
posted by:
mulletmaster
A V6 Corvette? I hope that never sees the light of day, blasphemy I say
10/07, 4:51 PM
posted by:
mr_hunter
A V6 Vette would kill it and it’s going to be hard for Chevrolet to sell a vehicle that old. By todays standard 8 yrs is to long for just about any model
10/07, 6:59 PM
posted by:
El Aleman
How about a more compact, light-weight Corvette with the 4.8l-Smallblock in? I bet they could squeeze at least 400 horses out of that, and supercharged it would be on par with the current ZR-1
10/07, 7:37 PM
posted by:
Fromes
I own a 2004 Z06 and I can cruise the highway at 75 mph while getting 29 mpg….the current generation is just has good, thats why these CAFE regulations are so stupid, the corvette gets better gas milage then any other high powered sports car out there, and besides, who buys a corvette expecting to get the gas mileage of a prius? chevy only moves about 40,000 of these cars a year, surely that small amount can’t affect their CAFE rating or can it?
10/07, 8:19 PM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
Heh HRR yeah those Saudis only get your money every week dont they. I can see why your whining about them.
10/07, 10:00 PM
posted by:
manarc250
An 8 year product cycle is a long time but the improvement to the C6 in 2008 were vast. To look at them from the street there is not a difference, however, to drive them back to back the 2008 is far superior to the previous C6’s. If the Corvette team can continue to refine the C6 throughout the rest of its life cycle it should be fine. I wish i had got the leather wrapped dash on mine.
10/07, 10:01 PM
posted by:
tzu13
Hey GM, how’s about instead of just ditching the project entirely, why don’t you use that platform to build the Cadillac Cien?
10/07, 11:20 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Fromes: that’s exactly what’s missing in this whole equation. At 75mph my ‘02 Mustang GT is absolutely straining to maintain pace at a shade over 2,000 rpm- not. CAFE is a joke. Why do you think there are so many college grads slinging greasy burgers when they should be rising through the ranks instead of serving something rank? It’s because all they learned how to do was pass a test.
10/07, 11:34 PM
posted by:
maxcar
hhr, i find your comment highly offensive. it would be in your best interest to keep your bigotry to discussions within the privacy of your own double-wide.
10/08, 12:05 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
A V-6 Corvette seems repetitive with the Camaro, doesn’t it? Heck, the Corvette seems to be repetitive as it is, considering the Camaro looks nicer (personal taste, I don’t care much for the current C6, looks akward), the SS gets a similar engine as the base Corvette, and is more usable for everyday use – which many people do use the Corvette everyday in my area. No wonder GM said no to the 7.0L Camaro, that would destroy Corvette sales, get approx. 505hp for the same cash as a 425hp Corvette?
10/08, 12:29 AM
posted by:
nowei
Well, there’s a definite precedent for a six-cylinder Vette.
10/08, 12:55 AM
posted by:
bigp
well if the can make it light enought the v6 would live and live well
10/08, 6:43 AM
posted by:
howsmydriving
WARNING: DO NOT start sentences with “Heck,” unless you want to be confused with that Hemingway wannabe, David E. Davis, Jr.
10/08, 7:18 AM
posted by:
oldraven
“GM scraps mid-engine C7 Corvette plans”
….again.
10/08, 9:44 AM
posted by:
mr_hunter
HHR
Another cousin kissing redneck klans men ignorant bastard. We know who he’s voting for next month. I can’t belive no one else has ripped into this prick on here. I’m too mad to say anything else.
10/08, 1:04 PM
posted by:
theColbertNation
please… not a 6… if needed drop some displacement and weight, but i NEED those two extra cylinders
10/08, 3:21 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Mr. Hunter, we used to rip into HRR (Hemi Road Runner) quite often, but he keeps getting himself banned. Every now and then, he does have something constructive and good to say, but lately he’s been very unbecoming of even himself.
10/09, 10:45 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Yeah, not surprised by this…. A mid engine Corvette would surely have commanded a $100k or near it sticker and that would deal a lethal blow to the Corvette. The fact that it’s one of the most affordable and competitive sports car out there has always been a strong selling point for it.
I predict that we’ve seen the Corvette reach its peak in HP though. While I doubt we’ll ever see a V6 in the corvette, we’ll probably see a small light weight Corvette in the future with a smaller V8, that will achieve the same or better performance with less HP.
10/09, 12:34 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
Man, a whole bunch of wrong speculative information in this article. Motor Trend has become like the automotive equivalent of the Enquirer.