Ok, ok. Breathe slowly and relax. Just because Bob Lutz isn't opposed to a four-door Corvette, doesn't mean GM will build a four-door Corvette. But they might. There you go again with the hyperventilating. Just chill.
Sure, Porsche built an SUV and will soon have their own super-sedan, but it doesn't mean GM must challenge them. But they might. Panic attack? Hang on, we'll join you.
Ahhh. Much better now.
Speaking with Rick Kranz, product editor of Automotive News, Bob Lutz admired what Porsche had done with their brand, extending it past sports cars to "coupes, convertibles, crossovers" and the upcoming Panamera. Then Lutz says, "You could do the same thing with the Corvette."
Oh, now I feel lightheaded. Gotta sit down a second.
Kranz says, and we quote directly from his column, "But since the Panamera sedan is bound to be a home run -- ditto for the four-door Rapide -- there must be a market for a Corvette sedan... Memo to Bob, Ed (Wellburn) and Tom (Wallace): Build it!"
How about this? Memo to Bob, Ed and Tom: Before you go messing with success, ask Ford why the Vette is still in production, and the T-bird isn't.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
AMcA @ May 20th 2007 12:38PM
The Impala, the Malibu, the Cobalt even. Given adequate umph, these cars are the Corvette sedans.
Halo car, guys, that's what the 'Vette is. Start slapping "Corvette" on a sedan, and it devalues both the Chevies below and the Corvette itself.
Don't do it.
'94 ImpSS @ May 20th 2007 12:46PM
Oh god! If these dumbasses would just build the Impala SS the right way, we wouldn't need some 4 door Corvette. Let's not ruin the Crovette's good name like Chrysler did to the HEMI. Slapping it on everything makes HEMI meaningless to me. Anyone remember the '62 BelAir 409? Yes, they were 2 doors but I think some were 4 doors too.
kingvolcano @ May 20th 2007 12:52PM
Chevy...Do something..even if it is wrong...just do something!
Stéphane Dumas @ May 20th 2007 1:08PM
No need for a 4-door Corvette. However the current Corvette chassis is also used by Cadillac for the XLR, it could be a good donor for a 4-door Cadillac (to revive the Cadillac V12) at the same time or even Buick by reviving the Wildcat or Roadmaster nameplate. Chrylser showed once a 300 concept-car derivated from the Viper (and even using the Viper V10) at the 1991 NAIAS http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10018/Chrysler_300/default.aspx
If Chevy wants to go with a "Corvette" sedan, it should use the SS concept-car of 2003 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_SS to be the point of start of a new Impala SS
Steven T. @ May 20th 2007 1:08PM
Okay, Chris, so you don't like the idea of a four-door Corvette. Fair enough, but the cutsy rhetoric is rather cloying. My breathing is just fine, thank you.
I don't have a problem with a Corvette four-door if it were done right. After all, the Corvette has been getting bigger and more "domesticated" anyway.
The comparison with the T-Bird isn't fair. One might talk at length about Ford's multiple mistakes with the T-Bird, but its death was ultimately caused by the mediocre design of the final five-seater and the utter stupidity of trying replace it with the world's fattest two-seater. My God, the last T-Bird was a disgrace both to the "brand" and the 1955-57 it attempted to copy.
The great irony of the last T-Bird is that it likely would have been much more successful if Ford had extended the roofline and plopped in a back seat (the long wheelbase certainly allowed for that). Either that or put the two-seater on a svelt Mazda RX-7 platform. Even a "gentleman's sports car" needs to be reasonably nimble.
Rob @ May 20th 2007 1:17PM
Where should I start?
I always thought that would be a good idea...BUT..
Why should G.M. add another subdivision when it already has far too many subdivisions as it is. If they are serious about a "Corvette" subdivision they would have to kill off Pontiac & Buick.
Plus why would anyone want a $50-60k truck from Cadillac or even Hummer when you can have a "high porfamance truck or crossover " from a Corvette?
Matt @ May 20th 2007 1:21PM
I have never seen an Impala be SO ugly...
Oh, wait, yes I have! The fourth gen Impalas. :)
far jr @ May 20th 2007 1:21PM
Perhaps GM will sell the upcoming American RWD Chevy Impala SS in Europe as the RWD four door Corvette. As I recall, isn't Corvette the "brand" name used in Europe with the "C6" as the model? How about a European "Corvette SS" sedan?
That said, I do not think America needs a Corvette sedan. The RWD Impala SS done properly should suffice in the four door segment and the two door/ four seat Camaro should handle the other hole in the market for American buyers.
wally @ May 20th 2007 1:21PM
Hey! If Porsche can build a 4 door, Why not a corvette? Open your mind & quit living in the past.
Rob @ May 20th 2007 1:28PM
I think it would be a great idea to do something like that. I don't see it happening any time soon, too many obsticles to over come for G.M.
G.M. has far too many brands as it is adding another one would be crazy. Even if it is a "Corvette" division. For it to work they would have to kill off Pontiac & Buick (why are they still around any way.) G.M. would also has to scale back Cadillac & Hummer becauce it would steal sales from those divisions. Why buy-lease a 50-60k Caddy or Hummer when you could have a truck/crossover Corvetteat the same price?
aergdfg @ May 20th 2007 1:39PM
oy vey, dont do it, even if it does happen, wont it eat the sales of the Zeta-platform Impala SS coming out?
Ken @ May 20th 2007 1:44PM
Porsche is building a 4-door car...
THEY ARE NOT BUILDING A 4-DOOR 911!!!
There is a HUGE difference.
jg @ May 20th 2007 1:44PM
'Hey! If Porsche can build a 4 door, Why not a corvette?'
Porsche isn't building a 4 door 911, they're building a different 4 door car without ruining the good name of their flagship car.
Yago bal @ May 20th 2007 2:07PM
I think Porsche was able to do it because of it's amazing strong brand image: it survided the "attack" and it's doing well now.
Corvette is a bit "bland" and common as it is: if you make a Corvette sedan, you will dilute the (not really, yet) brand to water: you are naive if you think Corvette is comparable to Porsche.
About the Aston Martin Rapide, that's a completely different story: just google "Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide".
Don A @ May 20th 2007 2:12PM
This is as bad as the Mustang sedan!
Chet @ May 20th 2007 2:25PM
Woah, let's slow down a minute here. Maximum Bob is talking about a low-slung fastback exoticar here -- Panamera and Rapide and Quattroporte are hardly SEDANS.
Imagine a long-and-low gorgeous four-seater with Corvette drivetrain and suspension. Imagine it without the brand baggage of a bowtie or wreathed crest. Maybe the Corvette name shouldn't be stretched, but a car whose own name isn't devalued with a big Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, or Cadillac badge could get some attention.
And I'm sure there's no shortage of gold-chained balding spare-tired over-cologned mid-lifers who'd like an extra pair of seats. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Seriously, though, whether you call it a Corvette Stingray or give it a new name of its own, a $70,000-$95,000 four-door GT would be a nice second halo for GM. As long as it doesn't suffer the misguided brandvertising of an existing GM division. It can be a Chevy, as long as it doesn't SAY Chevy.
jamie @ May 20th 2007 2:28PM
How about a Corvette that mimicks the Mazda RX8?
Is that what is on the drawing board?
If so, I think it would be a hot seller.
Rolf B @ May 20th 2007 2:29PM
Now, maybe not a Corvette sedan but how about an XLR sedan. There's a sedan that could fill Cadillacs need for for a high end halo car and a sedan that could go up against the likes of the MBZ CLS, Porsche, Jaguar XF-R (?), etc. Just a thought as long as it's out there.
Matt @ May 20th 2007 2:45PM
Something about the 04 GTO? Or the rumored up-coming 2011 TransAm, or the 2009 Camaro?
wally @ May 20th 2007 2:47PM
Corvette is no 911!! I say build a "4-vette" coupe!!!