Chevrolet News:Rumorpile: Is This The 2014 Corvette's Rear End?

[Z-06]

I agree that cheap V8s are going away, suppose a V8 Corvette bases around $60k with the C7. Wouldn't it be nice to have a $50k V6 model to get some more sales? But it depends too on what they want the Corvette to be. It used to be a more attainable car, then as the Z06 and ZR1 models came, they sort of pushed it into Porsche 911 territory. If they want it attainable, put the V6 in there, if they want it to be expensive, keep it V8 only.

You don't understand Corvette.

[hyperv6]

First thing to do is understand if GM is ever forced to go to a V6 it will not be to make the car cheaper. Just because a car gets a V6 does not mean it will make the car cheaper. Even at the present price for the Vette it is a cheap sports car but never expect it to be priced with a Miata.

The thing GM has going for it is nearly everyone is in the same boat and what changes they face the others will too.

It was not long ago many scoffed at the idea of a Cadillac having a V6 too. I even made fun of a buddy that bought a RWD Coupe Deville with a V6. Today other than the high priced V or SUV there are no V8 engines and this is from a company that used to push a V16?

There is going to be a lot of unexpected and accpected change in the future. Not everyone will be happy but what other choice do the auto makers have in a world where goverments have put them in a small box to work in. It has become adapt of fade away.

In a day where Porshe and Ferrari have looked at and will use electric systems similar to FI for their top line cars is crazy. Imagine the cost of repairing that? It will make the $8,000 clutch change look like a dream,.

[Camino LS6]

Well, I've had my say on all of this, so I'll just add one more thought.

I don't think we'll see a V6 Corvette any time soon.

And I sure hope not.

[hyperv6]

Well, I've had my say on all of this, so I'll just add one more thought.

I don't think we'll see a V6 Corvette any time soon.

And I sure hope not.

I am affraid it is closer than you think. They will put it off as long as they can but they will at some point have to look at the options.

Back in the 70's they looked at a mid engine concept with a mid engine V6 the GM engineering presented to them. Chevy passes and it was brought back when Pontiac was looking at doing a small sports car as the Fiero.

Not long after that when GM had considered killing the V8 all together in the early 80's they used two V6 engines in a Citation. One in the front and one in the back. The car is still around in private hands now.

This is something they have faced before and were able to hold off but I am at a loss as to what else they can do other than a hybrid system and I really do not like that either.

Edited January 3, 2013 by hyperv6

[Camino LS6]

Hyper, Corvette doesn't sell enough units to be a real factor in CAFE - so it's a bit of a pointless worry.

[hyperv6]

Hyper, Corvette doesn't sell enough units to be a real factor in CAFE - so it's a bit of a pointless worry.

It matters little what car or vehicle it is in the fact is the V8 is under attack and it will either have to fine a way to do better or get the laws kicked back or changed.

We are watching companies sell their souls for 1 MPG and even less. Did you ever think that you would see GM sell a car like the Spark in the US market let alone people start buying them? We soon will see 3 cylinder cars some smaller than the Spark.

The Corvette in a good year can sell 30,000 car and in a bad year 12,000. I am sad to say even at these numbers in this politcal climate has an effect on a company.

They do give trucks a little room to work yet on the 3/4 and up but I wonder how long till the EPA attacks them.

I do not like it either but as long as we have people in office appoint the people we have in agencies like the EPA and others with little to no oversight it will not improve.

Edited January 4, 2013 by hyperv6

[Camino LS6]

Ah, but you ignore GM's advantage. Yes, brands like Ferrari, Porsche, and even BMW have a real problem - because they don't sell Cruzes and Sparks.

But GM does.

GM sells a multitude of ever more fuel efficient cars and trucks, CAFE need never threaten the Corvette.

[smk4565]

Ah, but you ignore GM's advantage. Yes, brands like Ferrari, Porsche, and even BMW have a real problem - because they don't sell Cruzes and Sparks.

But GM does.

GM sells a multitude of ever more fuel efficient cars and trucks, CAFE need never threaten the Corvette.

Porsche is owned by VW, they make more 40 mpg cars than any other automaker I believe. Ferrari has tiny volume, and I'm not sure how they factor in with Fiat and Chrysler, or if Ferrari is just exempt all together. BMW has Mini, and the Euro-BMW line gets about 38 mpg average because of all the diesels, they have an easy CAFE solution if they need it. But Europe will want more than 38 mpg, thus the electric i-cars are coming.

I don't think the Corvette will need a V6 for CAFE reasons, I was thinking more for sales and price point. The Corvette in the 50's and 60's was priced at about $28,000 in today's money. Ten years ago a Corvette was $41k, which is $50k today with inflation, and the Corvette still costs $50k base. But my worry is because of the price premium on V8s, they push the Corvette to $60k base and then it isn't so much the affordable sports car that it once was.

[Z-06]

Hyper, Corvette doesn't sell enough units to be a real factor in CAFE - so it's a bit of a pointless worry.

It matters little what car or vehicle it is in the fact is the V8 is under attack and it will either have to fine a way to do better or get the laws kicked back or changed.

We are watching companies sell their souls for 1 MPG and even less. Did you ever think that you would see GM sell a car like the Spark in the US market let alone people start buying them? We soon will see 3 cylinder cars some smaller than the Spark.

The Corvette in a good year can sell 30,000 car and in a bad year 12,000. I am sad to say even at these numbers in this politcal climate has an effect on a company.

They do give trucks a little room to work yet on the 3/4 and up but I wonder how long till the EPA attacks them.

I do not like it either but as long as we have people in office appoint the people we have in agencies like the EPA and others with little to no oversight it will not improve.

Hyper do the math, for 2012 Corvette (~14,000) units forms 0.55% of GM's sales. So a 1 mpg net gain will equate to what? Insignificant at its best. Where GM is rightly concentrating on is on trucks and vehicles like Volts. Another way to cut the slice, 1 mpg gain in trucks will be equivalent to 60 mpg gain in Corvette for the year. How are you going to gain that? Trucks need V8s and if GM builds truck V8s with fuel efficiency measures to support the cars having them then so be it.

Economy of scale of those vehicles is going to keep Corvette alive unlike Ferrari or BMW, MB. Unless VW combines all its brands together as VWAG of America, Audi is in trouble as well.

And second, Ferraris already have at least 4 mpg disadvantage to a Corvette. So they need to come up to terms with Corvette, not other way around.

[hyperv6]

It does not matter how many Vettes you sell when you are not meeting the required number you are not meeting the required number.

If the Vette did not matter then wny are they working so hard with things like the cylinder cut out and crazy transmissions and cutting weight.?

Sorry but in GM's eyes everything is on the table and nothing gets a free pass. While they will never expect the Vette to get 53 MPG the will require it to contiunue to inprove over what it does now.

Besides GM would also like to avoid the news story we get every year of the list of the worst MPG cars. This is not a good thing unless you are Lambo or Bugatti.

[Z-06]

It does not matter how many Vettes you sell when you are not meeting the required number you are not meeting the required number.

If the Vette did not matter then wny are they working so hard with things like the cylinder cut out and crazy transmissions and cutting weight.?

Sorry but in GM's eyes everything is on the table and nothing gets a free pass. While they will never expect the Vette to get 53 MPG the will require it to contiunue to inprove over what it does now.

Besides GM would also like to avoid the news story we get every year of the list of the worst MPG cars. This is not a good thing unless you are Lambo or Bugatti.

Show the numbers instead of conjectures. Is the technology in LT1 mutually exclusive from V8s used in the trucks? Just because it was showcased in the engine to be put in the Corvette does not mean it was ONLY FOR Corvette. As I mentioned in my previous post, if people want V8s in cars then V8 from the trucks will be used in the cars.

Let us see Ferrari improve its fuel economy by 50% and Corvette by zero then we can prove your hypothesis correct.

[hyperv6]

The LT technology will be used in trucks and Vettes. Even the cylinder drop system will finally be added to the Vette since they solved the issues with the use with the transaxle.

The V8 will be around as long as they can sell it people will be willing to pay the higher price. The V8 will continue to only be used in higher priced and more expensive cars as we go. If you are willing to pay the price you will get one. But even in trucks I see Ford F series sales were down from over a million in 2001 to just over 600,000 this year. Buying habits are changing even in trucks.

Ferrari is a different story as they can add to the price with what ever penalties and people will not care on a $250K to Million dollar car. You start adding a large penalty to the Vette it will take the car out of the price range they always worked. Companies like GM are at a disadvantage vs the specialty high priced makers with the way the laws are.

Lets put it this way GM said they will keep the New SS sedan at a high price and low volume to make money but not take a major hit on CAFE. This was what was stated a while back and now they say will sell as many as people will buy but at the price they have it they expect sales to be 15,000 or less. The bottom line is they do not want to sell a high volume V8 sedan and they are marketing it in a way they will make money and not take the hit on MPG.

It will not be long before it will be near or over $50K for any V8 GM car. Trucks will be the only thing that will be less and even their price will increase. Note as it is now the Camaro is the only thing under $40K now with a V8 and by the time you load it up it is well over $40K.

Right now we have 3 V8 cars at GM and I only expect the SS and the LTS to increase this and both are not going to sell many units. This is sad from a company that at one time sold 80% or more V8 cars.Sorry but I do not see the volume increasing.

Edited January 4, 2013 by hyperv6

[Guest george]

2014 Corvette: What's with the "half-ass" speed odometer? Looks like a clock that has been cut in half. That would be a vertical cut, to be specific.

What's with the "Camaro" taillights? Camaro taillights belong on a Camaro.

What's with that dividing ridge on the dash?

What's with that rear window set up? Looks like it came off a 1965 AMC Rambler Marlin.

Stop jokin' around, Chevy! Show us the REAL 2014 Corvette. Come on, now. Enough is enough. We've all had a good laugh and scare. Please! Show us the REAL 2014 CORVETTE! Thank you so very very very very very very much!