Shipping company employee (POSSIBLY) carted off to jail for Corvette SS pics
We've just learned that EMO TRANS, the shipping company that was hired by General Motors to transport a Corvette SS mule to Germany for testing on the Nurburgring, has fired the employee who took pictures of the vehicle and posted them on the internet. In addition, the unnamed employee has been taken to jail, though we don't know what charges have been filed against him. For our part, we've removed the pics from Autoblog for fear of GM's wrath. The automaker has been reportedly approaching various sites all day requesting the images be removed, so rather than waiting for the phone to ring we've gone ahead and taken them down. This clearly illustrates how seriously GM is taking the development of the Corvette SS, as well as how utterly embarrased and apologetic EMO TRANS must be for the actions of its employee. It's all fun and games on our side of the fence because we got to see some real, informative shots of this very special Vette, but it reminds us that there's a lot of money on the line. We're sure that GM didn't appreciate pics of this powerplant were available for every other automaker to peruse. Lesson learned, though harder for some than others.
We'll keep you updates as more concrete and verifiable info becomes available.
UPDATE: Josh over at The GM Source is reporting that the SShutterbug in question has not been placed under arrest, nor is he in police custody. GM has filed a civil complaint with the Romulus PD, and the matter remains under investigation. Whether or not the individual in question will be charged with a crime depends on the outcome of said investigation. Stay tuned. Full report here.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
fordman 6:16PM (2/22/2007)
"This clearly illustrates how seriously GM is taking the development of the Corvette SS"
Rather than work on a Halo car, a toy, a car just for prestige, a car that is the equivilent of a dessert rather than the meal, could GM work on these vehilces instead just as "seriously"?
1- 4.3 Engine in Silverado dating to the ice age. Please drop the straight 6 4.2 and watch sales balloon
2- Improve the suspension and interior quality of the Cobalt
3- Put out a world class minivan rather than say "the minivan segment is dead and we will be ahead of the curve and bail out first"
4- Put out a decent compact truck. The Tacoma is eating your lunch. Why would you design this thing knowing it cannot fit the 4.2 straight six in the future?
5- And work on everything else to overcome your quality deficit.
Then when you are done, your marketshare stable and improving, cash rolling in, everybody happy, throw a party and introduce this SS corvette as a gift to yourself.
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David 6:30PM (2/22/2007)
I saw the photos listed here and yawned, knowing exactly what I was looking at. GM, like Detroit, continues in its arrogance that it knows what the public wants, rather than look at what the public is actually buying (despite the publics crack-whore addiction to SUV's) and building products that last longer than the warranty period.
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Kowell 6:30PM (2/22/2007)
#1: I'll second that...
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Bob 6:36PM (2/22/2007)
Let him rot in a cell for awhile. I'm sure the bright guy at EMO Trans is getting a very quick education in development cost breakdowns courtesy of the blunt instruments at GM legal. And maybe a side lesson in cause and effect from his cell mate.
We now return this space to the previously scheduled, off-topic rant by fordman.
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BrainLazy 6:45PM (2/22/2007)
Getting a guy fired and tossed in jail over pics of this .1% marketshare yawnfest?
Sounds like GM has too many lawyers and not enough designers and engineers.
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Dana 6:55PM (2/22/2007)
(/-.\\\)
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FLR 6:51PM (2/22/2007)
#5 Corporate theft is what was committed. There were no known pictures of the new supercharged powerplant until now.
I commend GM on continuing to pursue the edges of the performance envelope.
I'm sure that powerplant will find it's way into other vehicles.
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Aprime 6:53PM (2/22/2007)
EMO Trans lol
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Gardiner Westbound 6:53PM (2/22/2007)
.
I just glanced at the pictures when they first appeared. They didn't seem to be a big deal. However, GM blowing a gasket motivated me to take a second look. They still don't seem very special.
They aren't worth some schlemiel's job.
www.jalopnik.com/cars/ss/
.
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fizzandpop 6:59PM (2/22/2007)
Jail for taking a photo? I guess it's a trumped-up industrial espionage charge or something. What's next? Secret GM rendition flights for people who take a Tundra for a test drive?
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thetruck454 9:53AM (2/23/2007)
#1
Why would you put the I6 into the silverado? I understand that the 4.3 is super old, but look at who buys a w/t v6 full size. They are mostly for fleet trucks. Sicne they have been using the same motor give or take since the late 80's its makes it much easier to shops to work on and parts are cheap. Plus that DOHC I6 costs way more to make and its power is on par with the 4.8 which is also cheaper to make
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doglet 7:01PM (2/22/2007)
fordman, you want GM to focus on everything except high performance? if everyone had that mindset there would be no high performance cars. im glad that they dont.
sounds like the guy violated some written agreement. if he knew what he was doing, then he deserves to be in jail. if he didnt know what he was doing, he will spend a significant amount of time wishing he read that peice of paper he signed.
i would imagine that GM is mostly upset because people will look at an unfinished product and bitch about one aspect or another spreading negative publicity while the car is still in developement.
i wouldnt underestimate the importance of secrecy also. its bad enough that all the competition knows how fast a prototype is lapping the 'ring but to also show everyone how the car goes that fast is not an insignificant gift to the competators.
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doglet 7:08PM (2/22/2007)
"I just glanced at the pictures when they first appeared. They didn't seem to be a big deal. However, GM blowing a gasket motivated me to take a second look. They still don't seem very special."
if you know what to look for, it is a goldmine of information. also consider the fact that up until now we didnt know for sure what kind of powerplant the car would use. up until now, chevy could have decided to go any other direction with the power plant. now, they have all kinds of expectations to live up too or overcome... all of that is baggage when your developing a brand new, unprecidented vehicle.
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Howard Kerr 7:17PM (2/22/2007)
Well AutoBlog, I guess you are now somewhat disabused of the idea that folks at GM monitor this site closely. The fact that you heard about other folks getting called by GM and that they were told to yank the pix, but not AutoBlog.......means they don't think of this website or believe it's got too much integrity to run photos of prototype cars without having a super credible spy photographer to back them up for you.
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Mike 6:58PM (2/27/2007)
I agree someone should burn for taking these, though I must admit I appreciate them!
Is it just me or does it look like the top may be removable? Now THAT would be news - Corvette SS available with removable top or convertible! Where do I sign!?
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ttruck 7:29PM (2/22/2007)
Fordman, I laugh at the way you bash GM, personally, you need to look at the Ford Motor Co.,
#1 Redesign the F series truck how many times in 10 years, and its still a piece of crap.
#2 Discontinue a car that has sold millions of copies (Taurus) then redesign and rename it the 500, and when it doesn't sell rename it the Taurus?
#3 Build a decent minitruck/mid-size truck, Ranger, biggest joke for the smallest truck on the market, low quality, no resale, and they discontinued the Taurus?
#4 Spend billions of dollars on a car that they can't afford to build, The GT, great design, great performance, but poor management and WAY over priced, another great idea discontinued.
#5 I could go on for along time but I have more important things to do, do us all a favor and pull your head out and quit slamming GM and take a good look at the "BOLD MOVES" ford has done in the last decade, and tell us all about their quality, or as they used to call it "QUALITY 1" by the way, that was as sucessful BOLD MOVES, most smart will fall for their BS for so long.
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James 7:37PM (2/22/2007)
Edmunds.com has these pics up. They are still up right now.
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Dan 7:44PM (2/22/2007)
All you GM bashers have fun as GM picks itself up, dusts itself off, and introduces the Volt in a few years. All you Yoda-Toyota fans will all get the crap thrown back at you and deservedly so. And FordMan, are you hallucinating? Ford is smaller and lost MORE money than GM in 2005. GM is introducing stellar products that are getting critical acclaim, and Ford...facelifts the 500 and renames it Taurus. WE'RE SAVED! Meanwhile Lincoln is...um...DEAD. Mercury...is...um...REBADGED FORDS. Ford...is...umm...celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Ford Panther platform! Exploding and still going strong! The Ranger will be celebrating its 20th soon...better bring out the cake and ice cream as the ship goes down around you! And you care about the 6 in the Silvy that is never bought retail...hmm...yea. Oh, and Toyotas have sludgy engines.
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david 7:47PM (2/22/2007)
fordman,
1. only six availiable in the silverado is the 4.3 v6, maybe dates to the ice age, but it works so why change. as is the 4.2 inline six, great engines, so what's your point?
2.suspension and interior quality are good for what you buy. so let's see, add electronic ride control and carbon fiber with leather inserts to the dash, leather heated seats and most things one might find on a rolls. so now you have a car that voids what it was intended for, first time buyers and people who want a good car on a tight budjet.
3.minivan? don't even go there. let chrysler/dodge honda and the toyboys fight that one out. death to the minivan and good ridence.
4. design a better compact for the inline 4.2? didn't you just say drop it?
5. quality deficit? there really is'nt one anymore unless you listen to the toyboys.
if you are a "fordman", it would probably be a good idea to help get your house in order before you take up a position on the gm board of directors.
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larry raines 7:47PM (2/22/2007)
you guys ALWAYS scoop the Jalop, why do I even check that shiney chrome polished web-"log" as in turd, as in you can't polish a......
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