Mid-engine Corvette? Here we go, again!

[Duke W.]

The following link summarizes a report in the October issue of Car and Driver that the C8 will be mid-engine and introduced in 2017.

http://jalopnik.com/heres-chevys-plan-for-the-mid-engined-2017-corvette-zor-1633072245

I recall when R&T claimed circa 1970 that a mid-engine Corvette was a sure thing for 1973, based on the XP-882, and about that time while I was a grad student at the U. of Wisconsin Engine Research Center I visited the GM Tech Center and three or four dyno cells had that transverse small block setup with the Toronado transfer chain, a bevel drive tail housing four speed, and a driveshaft through a "window" in the oil pan to a production axle. It sure looked like durability testing to me, and I became a believer.

About 15 years ago I spent a day with Chuck Jordan in Rancho Santa Fe, and I asked him how close it actually got to production approval.

His response: "Aw, that was just another one of Duntov's pipe dreams!"

...sure took the wind out of my sails.

Duke

[Mike F.]

Re: Mid-engine Corvette? Here we go, again!

Looks a bit familiar.

[Duke W.]

Re: Mid-engine Corvette? Here we go, again!

I bet you can't put a set of golf clubs in the "trunk" - if it actually has one, but at least it has round taillights!

Isn't it said that you can put two sets of clubs in a C5 or C6... whatever, I'm not a golfer, but mid-engine cars with large V engines have issues with cockpit space and comfort, luggage space, cost, weight, and service complication.

Ask anyone who's ever owned a mid-engine Ferrari, especially the early 308/328 models. They're cramped. The microwave oven sized "trunk" bakes potatoes as well as a real microwave oven, and most service guys find it easier to remove the engine to replace the cam belts rather than try to do the job with the engine in the car.

The recommended change interval on the cam belts is 30K miles or five years, whichever occurs first. That's what I call an annuity for the service department.

I won't bet that a mid-engine Corvette will ever happen.

Duke

[Walter F.]

Re: Mid-engine Corvette? Here we go, again!

Isn't the C7 suppose to be perfectally ballanced? Why would you need a mid engine Corvette?

[Mike E.]

Re: Mid-engine Corvette? Here we go, again!

It really needs to be AWD to get any significant improvement in performance. This mid-engine layout could make that more viable and still keep the hood low. By 2017? I think could be a stretch. It would make the C7 a shorter run than the our mid-years. In fact it would make the C7 the mid-year II.

Mike

[Michael J.]

[Gary C.]

Re: Mid-engine Corvette? Here we go, again!

The C&D article is mostly (entirely) speculation and wishes, but did state the launch of this car would be along side the current C7, think the next ZR1 type of thing. If is not a replacement for the current C7 and would overlap for some number of years.

The article suggested that the performance of the current car is about maxed out. It looks like some competitors because GM continues to wish to attract new buyers, although those pics did not come out of GM...all just speculation.

[Walter F.]

Re: Mid-engine Corvette? Here we go, again!

With the popular C7 ( When I bought my Malibu there were no C7s to be found) selling like hot cakes I was told by my sales person as soon as they come in they are sold. So why would GM Retool and spend millions to build a car they might not sell. If the performance of the new C7 model is not fast enough for you Hennesy performance will build you one that is. You can only drive so fast in the USA and having a car that goes 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds should be fast enough to get anybody killed. The only reason the C7 is not faster then some of the Exotics is traction. If they could figure out how to make a AWD model out of the current beast they would win the ball game.

[Steve B.]

Re: Mid-engine Corvette? Here we go, again!

Personally speaking, I would love to see Chevy build a mid engine Corvette supercar that blows away Ferraris for a fraction of the cost. Don't know if it will happen or how many they would sell but it would be fun to see it happen.

[Tom B.]

Re: Mid-engine Corvette? Here we go, again!

Looks a lot more like a F355 or F430. General proportions are nearly right on. That's probably what the artist started with.

Tom