Autoblog

GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll]

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Chevrolet, Rumormill

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept - Click above for a new high-res image gallery

Karl Stracke, General Motors VP of global engineering, has unequivocally denied the recent rumors about a mid-engine version of the next-generation Corvette with a wet-dual-clutch transmission. Stracke spoke with editors at Automotive News and Autoweek and addressed the latest batch of rumors. For decades, speculation about what will be done with a next-generation Corvette invariably pops up almost immediately after a new model is introduced.

For example, a mid-engined Corvette has reportedly been on the cards since at least the mid-60s, thanks in part to a string of concept and experimental models of that configuration. The last Corvette-badged mid-engine concept was the 1990 CERV-III, but that hasn't stopped the speculation - especially in recent years as the Corvette has gained increased respect among the ranks of high-end sports cars. According to Stracke, "There is no mid-engine in the plans."

The same goes for a the story revealed by a Saab engineer about development of a wet DCT. Automakers are increasingly moving away from wet-clutch gearboxes to dry-clutch units because they are less expensive and more efficient. While Stracke shoots down the wet DCT, no mention is made of a dry-clutch unit... if Chevrolet follows Ferrari and Porsche down the dual-clutch path, that is almost certainly the type we will see.

Stracke also put the kibosh on a V6 Corvette. GM has already announced a direct injected small-block V8 is coming soon for its full-size pickup trucks and the Corvette will no doubt follow. Stracke did acknowledge that a hybrid is a possibility for the sports car and since competitors are going that way it wouldn't be out of place.

That said, we want to know what you think - What should power the next Corvette? Click past the break to vote in our informal poll.

Gallery: Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept revealed again

[Source: AutoWeek]

Continue reading GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll]

GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chevrolet considering twin-turbo V6 for next Corvette

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill

Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Fans of classic Americana, here's yet another anniversary to keep in the back of your mind: 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the Chevrolet Corvette. And, while we don't have to tell true Corvette aficionados this, here's another interesting little nugget of knowledge: the original version of Chevy's iconic sportscar came equipped with a six cylinder engine.

Where are we going with all of this? According to Autoweek, there is a distinct possibility that a downsized six cylinder engine will be offered in the next generation (C7, for those keeping track) of the Chevrolet Corvette, and there's an apparent push to try and get the car out the door in time to celebrate the car's 60th anniversary.

Yes, we know a downsized engine for the Corvette isn't exactly the newest rumor 'round the block - we've been hearing whisperings about the C7 'Vette since before the C6 model went public - but with the recent revelation that Saab had been working on a transmission for a twin-turbo V6-powered Corvette, it's worth sharing once again.

Gallery: Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept revealed again

[Source: Autoweek]

Report: Chevrolet considering twin-turbo V6 for next Corvette originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Chevrolet Corvette to get 440-hp 5.5-liter small-block V8

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill

Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Motor Trend, which is citing unnamed sources within General Motors, the next-generation Corvette will come with a brand-new engine. Despite rumors to the contrary, it seems that Chevrolet's halo vehicle will continue using its trademark V8 engine and not a V6. Still, the C7's powerplant will be downsized from its current 6.2 or 7.0 liters.

It's likely that this new engine will be the first application of GM's next-gen small block family, and we'd expect it to sport direct injection, E85 capability and a new combustion system design. One thing not to expect, though: overhead cams. You can bank on the fact that The General will stick to its tried-and-true overhead valve design, which serves to lower manufacturing costs and allows for comparatively small overall engine dimensions.

All of these technologies should make the venerable V8 more fuel efficient and cleaner, but also sufficiently powerful to uphold its sportscar heritage. In fact, Motor Trend reports that the C7's V8 will displace 5.5 liters while hammering out 440 horsepower. Though that significantly smaller in displacement, the power figure would actually be up from the current 430 ponies. We can hardly wait... but we'll have to anyway. We don't expect the next Corvette to bow before 2012 at the earliest.

Gallery: Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept revealed again

[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: Next Chevrolet Corvette to get 440-hp 5.5-liter small-block V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM scouring the globe for next Corvette design, first time looking beyond U.S.

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, GM, Design/Style

Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chevrolet Corvette is a uniquely American invention. It's the quintessential sportscar from the land that brought us baseball and apple pie. Interesting, then, that General Motors would choose to seek out design studies from its various styling studios from all around the globe, particularly those in Europe.

According to AutoWeek, though, that's just what GM's vice president of global design, Ed Welburn, did late last year when the time came for The General to start drafting proposals for the next-gen Corvette. Why would GM consider looking at European design flavors for its oh-so-American, V8-powered, rear-wheel drive sportscar? Demographics. According to Welburn, "We have challenges in the States with the Corvette. The average age of the customer is really rising."

That average age, for those keeping track, is 54 years-old (so says the Power Information Network). And it seems that the import-favoring younger generation in America isn't all that interested in the current 'Vette, a fact that has undoubtedly played a part in the Corvette's 48-percent sales decline in 2009 over the previous year.

One thing's for certain - its certainly not the Vette's all-conquering performance that's holding it back. Perception seems to be a bigger problem. "We have to develop a design that feels trimmer, meaner, to go along with the incredible performance that the car has," said Welburn, referring to the notion that many believe the current Corvette looks too big despite being roughly the same size as the benchmark Porsche 911. We might also suggest that GM needs to gag the beancounters who will undoubtedly threaten to nickel-and-dime the quality out of the next Vette's interior.

Whatever the case, Welburn knows the car can't stray too far from its heritage. "It can't mutate into something that gets so far away from Corvette that it is no longer a Corvette," he said. It seems the future may hold very interesting things for the iconic Corvette within the next two or three years. We anxiously look forward to seeing what Chevrolet manages to cook up.

Gallery: Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept revealed again

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: GM scouring the globe for next Corvette design, first time looking beyond U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Corvette C7 Coming in 2012 as a 2013 model

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:26:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept - click above image for high-res gallery

If you like Corvettes, this is going to make you smile. Fresh out of bankruptcy court, General Motors announced its two-year product plans for Chevy, Caddy, Buick and GMC. Included are go codes for the new C7 Corvette. The plan is to introduce the C7 in April of 2012 as a 2013 model -- a big improvement over the old plan to not reinvent the Corvette until 2014. Let's just state this up front -- almost nothing at all is known about the new Corvette. It appears as if plans for a mid-engine Corvette have been put aside. Like all Corvettes before it, the C7 will feature an engine up front driving the wheels out back. Other than that...

The rumors are that the C7 will be smaller and lighter than the current welterweight C6. There's talk of using more advanced materials like carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium as well as smaller engines. Calm down, calm down -- as the ZR1 showed us, less displacement doesn't always mean less power. Especially when a positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger's in the mix. There's chatter that the C7's design might be based on the Stingray Concept from the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, but we're hoping it's not. More details as they become available.

Gallery: Chicago 2009: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept

[Source: Corvette Blogger]

REPORT: Corvette C7 Coming in 2012 as a 2013 model originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM CEO says future of Corvette secure

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Supercars, Chevrolet

According to Fritz Henderson, the recently-appointed CEO of General Motors, the future holds exciting things for Chevrolet's iconic sportscar. This news comes despite the admission late last year that development of the next-gen C7 Corvette platform was put on "indefinite hold, with no official or set timetable."

In a bit of good news for Corvette fans, Henderson asserts that the "Corvette pays its rent," meaning that it's a money-making operation for The General. Obviously, the longer the automaker can rely on the current C6 architecture, the more profitable it will likely be.

There's still no indication of when we'll see a new architecture underpinning the Corvette, but Henderson is quick to point out that the current C6 chassis is still an excellent unit to build off and one that's fully competitive with the best sportscars from around the world. Disagree? You've obviously never gotten behind the wheel of the latest ZR1.

[Source: Autoweek]

GM CEO says future of Corvette secure originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 May 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mid-engine C7 Corvette still being considered

John Neff — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:34:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Supercars, Chevrolet, GM

All the way back in January, veteran automotive journalist Peter De Lorenzo alerted us to the possibility that the next-generation C7 Corvette may arrive with a low-volume, expensive mid-engine counterpart. We haven't heard much about the rumor since then, but this week De Lorenzo reveals in his editorial that not only is it alive, but that GM is seriously considering dropping the front-engine/RWD drive layout of the car and switching it entirely to a mid-engine set up.

Citing only "impeccable" sources, De Lorenzo says that keeping the Corvette relatively inexpensive was the major obstacle for moving to a mid-engine layout. Supposedly Corvette engineers have found a way to produce a mid-engine Vette while keeping the cost reasonable, about around the price for a fully loaded Corvette Convertible today. Who knows how they've done it, but since Corvette faithful within General Motors would not allow the car's price to swell, the achievement was a must for the mid-engine project to move forward.

[Source: Autoextremist via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Mid-engine C7 Corvette still being considered

Mid-engine C7 Corvette still being considered originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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