VP at GM wants to spin off Corvette to compete with Ferrari

I've been suggesting this for years.

You just can't compete with Porsche or the exotics when you're selling pickups and Cavaliers out of the same showroom. And I could definitely see a more exotic mid-engined Corvette to compete with the hatchback.

Question is whether GM has the cash to invest in this kind of project.

 

I've read several quotes in the articles about the ZR1 (I think that's what it's called) where authors have fantasized about what the people behind the car could do with a mid-engined platform.

Tantalizing, but at the same time uninspiring. I still view it as a Corvette, if you get my drift.

Wouldn't mind seeing a little competition, though. Up the ante.

 

Not like in the old days when F-Cars and Porsches shared floor space with some pretty prosaic iron. As far as spinning off Corvette goes I can't see it happening in that so many parts are from the GM parts bin and more importantly much of the technology development is heavily subsidized by GM for future non-Vette applications.

 

its probably just a pretty pipe dream

Ive been hearing about mid engine vettes since the 60s so I;m not holding my breath to see one appear now

besides the Z06 can spank plenty of mid engine exotics

Then of course theres the little fact of 6 LeMans wins

 

Compete in what sense ? They already compete in terms of performance # , so they would now want to compete in price ? That will take a long rebranding and marketing campaign ..

 

In the showroom, I think there's a difference between having a highline dealer sell a few Ferraris and Lotuses versus having a row of Corvettes next to a row of Malibus or Colorados.

I don't know if it could ever happen, but lowering a lifeboat and getting the Corvette out off the leaking Chevy ship is a first step.

As far as "Compete in what sense?", think of BMW and Cadillac. Cadillac has a fine car out in the CTS, and BMW has kind of lost its way with some ugly, heavy and overly complicated cars. But BMW still has a brand cachet that gives it a dependable, wealthy clientele. You don't have to explain to someone why you bought a 530i: it's a BMW -- great drivetrain, good resale, proud heritage.

Now go shop for a Corvette. The Web site is ugly and a joke; the color palette is sparse; the dealer sells trucks, and you never look forward to visiting a Chevy dealership. The Porsche dealerships here in San Diego are a treat in comparison - makes you more willing to open your wallet and pay a premium.

 

By old days I think I was going back a bit further. Think Max Hoffman's model mix.

 

I could imagine a day when GM would consider spinning off Corvette as it's own brand if there would be a benefit such as saving Chevrolet from standard fuel mileage averages.

 

I could see spinning it off to sell it.

Sacrilege I know for bowtie fans, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

There's nothing at all wrong with a Corvette. Fifty-five years of production, long racing heritage, GM flagship for new technology, excellent performance bargain. Having been a Corvette owner for 20 years, rumors of mid-engine vettes and succession from Chevrolet have persisted for several decades. I don't see it happening though.

 

This is why, here in Austin alone, we have a few dealerships who specialize in Corvettes only. Two that I know of are within a few miles of each other. If GM wants to up their ante, they'll need to get in bed with these specialized shops.

 

Will the class envy never cease???

 

The new Z06 already not only competes but outperforms the new Ferrari road cars for ~ 1/3 of the cost...and the upcoming ZR1 will be even better at less than less than 1/2 the cost...

 

FYI, the new Corvette gets such great gas mileage that it has no gas guzzler tax at all...so the Vette actually helps GM with the CAFE standards...

 

The corvette has been around so long, and is such an Icon... IMHO it is a brand. It's not a Chevrolet corvette. It's a corvette... I doubt people buy a Corvette because it a chevy. I doubt corvette owners by another chevy product in any great percentage. No data to back up my guesses...

 

True indeed! I am not sure of real world economy with the C6, but the C5 coupes would do 35 on the highway and the Z06's would do about 30 on the highway. Lower in mpg, possibly due to aerodynamics in the rear window.

Now imagine if you could come up with some ingenious solutions for upping the mpg on some of those SUVs? And hybrid isn't the answer. Upping 50% to a mere 18mpg on the highway isn't that great.

 

Aware of that for now. Just keeping an ace in the hole as we're talking about "someday".


Like when they are building a 200k 800 hp monster.......

 

Particularly if they don't have GM R&D behind them.

 

I agree completely.

IMO, they could easily spin of the Corvette brand on it's own. They could offer a 3 car line-up. The standard $40K Vette, the Mid-Range performer (Z06), and the mid-engined car to compete with exotics. Well into $120K+ category, and offering similar options for customers such as Ferrari; i.e. - int/ext colors and fabrics, wheels, headliner, piping, stitching, etc.

And in this top tier model they could easily offer 3 varieties; coupe, targa, and drop-top.

Seems like a good idea imo. I'm sure it's not financially, but as a car guy, I'd buy one.

 

Do we have any kind of reality quotient on this one?

I have been watching my usually reliable ZR-1 webnet for news on this and nothing more than the new ZR1 to be at Sebring, and a really rousing thread on fuel injection grommnets.

I think there are more Corvette rumors than even Ferrari ones.

P.S., I think Cadillac may be just fine to let the XLR die on the vine now that a certain David Hill has moved on.

 

sorry, but no way c5 ever got 35 mph on the highway...27-28 max, and thats under ideal conditions...i owned 2 c5 vettes and was a member of the local vette club..i did a great deal of highway commuting in my vettes, so trust me, i know....

 

For sure you cannot get this in a C5 Z06; a sustainable 20 is about it if you go through any city traffic or hills.

The old ZR-1 can pull about 27 if you leave it in sixth at around 70 and keep that power key turned off.

 

I never said it was realistic or rationale, just what I would want to see.

 

vizla..... vizla.... i had one once. best damn bird dog i ever had! natural born hunter.
oh, btw.
the only guys who could have pulled off a stunt like a solo corvette franchaise at gm
are long since dead. the general's not too far behind them either.