GM's new mid-engine car:Cadillac or Corvette

Cadillac is going to have a major presence in Prototype racing in IMSA starting next year....

 

it looks like a Maserati Merak...

 

This seems like a replay of the Cadillac XLR that was built on a Corvette chassis (2004-2009) and cancelled during the economic downturn.

 

Its the 2019 Corvette that will be sold along side the current Vette for 2019 then take over production IIRC.

2019 Chevrolet Corvette Mid-Engine C8 Spy Photos ? News ? Car and Driver

My retired mother bought an XLR last spring. I think she has put on 15,000 miles on it so far. hahah.

 

Sounds like it will be a Corvette with a later Cadillac version.

 

If it happens, and we've seen this movie before, it will be a Corvette.
Selling price is only relevant if you have reasonable volume, and 5000 units a year from Cadillac just doesn't cut it.

 

If this happens I'm calling all my old GM instructors and giving them a big "I told you so!".

They swore up and down at the time that there would never, ever, never, ever be a mid-engined Corvette when I suggested it back in '93 and did few sketches. They went on and on about how it was against the very soul of Corvette and it would alienate their loyal fans.

I guess they are just slow learners.

 

That was then........this is now..

 

rumors of a mid engined Corvette have been around as long as I can remember (maybe longer, I'm not that old ).

so why now?

assuming of course it is branded as a Corvette and not a Cadillac. homologation special to go GTE racing against the Ford GT?

 

Anyone in the Detroit area, there is a local art gallery showing historic automotive "styling art' next week



American Dreaming

Automotive concept art by the truckload!
Expecting busloads to attend.
The 2nd Annual “Chrome Fins & Style” exhibit at Royal Oak Historical Society Museum, 1411 W. Webster Rd. Royal Oak, MI 48073
Opening night is August 5th, 7 to 9 pm. Plenty of parking for classic cars!
Top artwork - Al Borst, GMC Heavy Duty Truck c. 1955
Bottom artwork - Ben Kroll, Ford Bus c. 1949
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

why not now?
yes, since the '60's GM has been talking about a mid-engined Vette

we can only wait and see....

 

One of the reasons for 'now' could be that there are so many mid-engined cars, Ferrari, Lambo, Audi, Porsche, etc. that it may be more acceptable than it was then when none of those cars were middies (well, there WAS the 914, but...).

 

Some well trained pigeon found that GMC!

Jeff

 

White gouache highlights were all the rage in the '40's/'50's
today.......not so much..

 

Later than the 50s too. Windsor Newton #2 brush and the larger tube of Windsor Newton white gouache. I remember Ted Younkin talking about how all the Trans students had trained pigeons.

 

Ted Younkin indeed.
Still remember his class.
You should join the Art Center group on Facebook. They post old photos all the time of ACCD cool stuff. Like Younkin's class.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/201864163500991/298915950462478/?notif_t=group_activity&notif_id=1469480188099875
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

This is an interesting read.
GM racing partner spills the beans on mid-engine Corvette | LeftLaneNews

 

From reading the LeftLane article, I can now see where the speculation about a Cadillac model may be coming from to be sold as a companion model to the Corvette. However, my thought is that GM may be intending to brand the new mid-engine version as something else. GM owns scores of defunct brands including Saturn, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and the 1930s high-end brand LaSalle (built by Cadillac). Perhaps the strategy is to piggyback on the Corvette Bowling Green facility for production and have Cadillac dealers sell and service the new supercar as a separate brand using the historic LaSalle or some other undetermined nameplate.

 

My Facebook use is limited to FCA club stuff for national and my local chapter.

Younkin: "I believe in 8 hours of sleep; 8 hours a week." "If you want to hear something nice about your work, take it home and show your mother. Here I tell the truth."

Later semesters: Ted Younkin's morning story telling session. Usually last to first break.

 

I love those lines!

 

I expect you too remember the sleepless nights he caused.

 

No back to the mid engine discussion. I was told that when Porsche brought out the 928 it helped to convince GM that the mid engine concept might not be the correct path. Same source, the Pantera introduction had GM in line to go the mid engine up until the sales projections went unmet.

 

Following this story for a few years now. Apparently with escalating power levels there is just so much you can do with a front engined car in temrs of puttign the power down, and the c7 is at the limit unbless they stretch the wheelbase gain, and that does not help handling.

On the other hand corvette ditching apushrod v8 and front engine is like harley ditching a aircooled vtwin(they did sot of). I am going to speculate that int he future corvette will be a two car linep, front engined pushrod v8 up to 60-70K and mid engiend car starting at 85 and escalating from there dpending on power and spec.

 

I cannot see GM selling a mid-engined Corvette. I think they will have to market it as something else.
Pete