MR Corvette mule spotted

[brainhulk]

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/exclusive-mid-engine-c8-chevrolet-corvette-first-photos-news

a cabin hugging the front axle, ample space between the cockpit and the rear wheels for the hot parts, and this Corvette’s crouched and ready attitude.

The nose clip is from Holden's Commodore SSV (with even wider flares), while the cabin module, roof, and exterior mirrors are hand-me-downs from today’s Stingray. A Holden SSV ute’s sheetmetal wraps door to door around the heinie. The wing keeps the tail planted during high-speed runs and what could be more practical than the bumper-mounted 2-by-10 for shoving this test sled back to the garage when it breaks down? Other items of note: The fuel-filler located on the driver’s-side B-pillar and the cooling intakes located along the rocker panels.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i'm wondering if it's a caddy flagship. too much FR history in the corvette to a) call an MR car a corvette b) make a completely different model, still bearing the corvette name, to compete with hypercars

and c) the front end looks more caddy-able than corvette-able

if you ask me, anyway.

 

[darkswordsman17]

i'm wondering if it's a caddy flagship. too much FR history in the corvette to a) call an MR car a corvette b) make a completely different model, still bearing the corvette name, to compete with hypercars

and c) the front end looks more caddy-able than corvette-able

if you ask me, anyway.

It might not be called a Corvette, I believe it's rumored to be called the Zora after an early Corvette engineer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zora_Arkus-Duntov), and I believe there's rumors that they'd designate it as the C8 to signify the difference between it and the C7.

They've made quite a few MR Corvette prototypes over the years as well (including a rotary powered one; might've been a turbine powered one too, can't remember all of them) and allegedly have been debating on making the standard Vette mid-engined basically forever. But now they likely won't just like why they passed on the small turbo V-8 and DCT for it, its not really what their bread and butter buyers want. But they want to branch out and so they could expand the Corvette range, and word is they want to make a higher end mid-engined version to go up against Ferrari/Lambo/etc). Think something kinda like the Ford GT.

They've also been rumored to be working on a "budget" Vette that'd have a lower displacement V-8 (I think might've also been ones about a turbo V-6), more basic/bare interior, and other changes to cut cost. Although I think that died out after the popularity of the Stingray.

Don't pay any attention to the looks of that vehicle. They're just using a vehicle they could somewhat hide what's underneath on so it's using a Holden Ute body with big fender flares.

 

[Pandasaurus]

Shut up and take my money!!

 

[rommelrommel]

DCT wasn't an issue if what the buyers wanted, they would love the option. It was the insane cost of either sourcing or developing a DCT that can handle 650+ hp with warranty coverage.

Is true that they've been talking about mid engine corvettes and cheaper corvettes both for ages tho.

 

[KentState]

Would be nice to see Corvette become a brand with a better shopping and service experience.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

There's been plenty of MR vette mules over the years. The comment that it may become a Caddy sounds about right. That would allow GM to go head to head with the euro boys in a bunch of different racing venues. Cadillac has been working the PR at the rich boys racing clubs for the past few years now. Racing versions of CTS's and ATS's are nice and all but it isn't the top tier.

 

[tweakmonkey]

MR V8?

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

It might not be called a Corvette, I believe it's rumored to be called the Zora after an early Corvette engineer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zora_Arkus-Duntov), and I believe there's rumors that they'd designate it as the C8 to signify the difference between it and the C7.

Unless GM expands the Corvette into it's own product line. They already have the Corvette Stingray. How about that for a moonshot -- spinning off the Corvette brand into a Ferrari fighter.

I agree this being a Caddy would make more sense. Something to go against the R8 and LFA. Remember the Caddy Cien from about 10 years ago? I always thought they should have built it. I wouldn't rule anything out at this point.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Who is Mr Vette?

 

[z1ggy]

Who is Mr Vette?

I believe he meant to type "ME Corvette" which is obviously Mid Engine.

...But.. You knew that and are being sarcastic

 

[brainhulk]

Who is Mr Vette?

I believe he meant to type "ME Corvette" which is obviously Mid Engine.

...But.. You knew that and are being sarcastic

you guys can't be serious right? lol

 

[JulesMaximus]

Would be nice to see Corvette become a brand with a better shopping and service experience.

A friend of mine and his wife were looking at the Corvette but the dealership wouldn't even let them test drive one unless they agreed to buy it first.

Um, no. That's not how it works.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I believe he meant to type "ME Corvette" which is obviously Mid Engine.

...But.. You knew that and are being sarcastic

I thought it meant Millenium Edition.

 

[darkswordsman17]

DCT wasn't an issue if what the buyers wanted, they would love the option. It was the insane cost of either sourcing or developing a DCT that can handle 650+ hp with warranty coverage.

Is true that they've been talking about mid engine corvettes and cheaper corvettes both for ages tho.

I was talking about the whole powertrain (back when there were rumors that Chevy was going to do an ~3.5L twin turbo V-8 paired with a DCT, which would have been a monumental change to the powertrain).

There's been plenty of MR vette mules over the years. The comment that it may become a Caddy sounds about right. That would allow GM to go head to head with the euro boys in a bunch of different racing venues. Cadillac has been working the PR at the rich boys racing clubs for the past few years now. Racing versions of CTS's and ATS's are nice and all but it isn't the top tier.

It's almost definitely not a Cadillac. I think they've even come out and said they are not interested at all in a high performance car right now as they're working to bolster their luxury image and have several other vehicles they're developing that are more important for that and don't want to take resources away from them (the 7 Series/S-Class competitor CT6, possibly a high end luxury coupe/sedan based on the El Miraj, and then a super high end Rolls/Bentley competitor although rumors about the last two seem like they might be the same thing). If I'm not mistaken they even referenced the XLR (I think they consider it a flop) as a reason they don't want to do that until they're ready. I'd expect if they make a singular coupe it'll be something to compete against the Euro brands (so an SL, or maybe an A5 or 6 series competitor).

I could see a Cadillac version based off of the mid-engine Vette that comes later (or say continues it if it's a limited production deal similar to how Ford did the GT), maybe they'd try to work in hybrid power as well to set it apart from the Chevy version, or maybe it'd just use similar platform but go more radically different (Cadillac is supposed to be working on a V-12).

But everything says this is a "Corvette" and has nothing to do with Cadillac.

Unless GM expands the Corvette into it's own product line. They already have the Corvette Stingray. How about that for a moonshot -- spinning off the Corvette brand into a Ferrari fighter.

I agree this being a Caddy would make more sense. Something to go against the R8 and LFA. Remember the Caddy Cien from about 10 years ago? I always thought they should have built it. I wouldn't rule anything out at this point.

I think they have considered that (I believe that's why they called the new one the Corvette Stingray, with the Stingray being the model, leaving them room to offer other models). I think that would make the most sense, make Corvette it's own little niche brand (I believe at one point GM was looking at doing that, back in like the early 60s, they had concepts of I believe 3 other versions of the Corvette, the Nomad wagon/shooting brake, a sedan, and then a hardtop which at the time the Vette was just the convertible/roadster, there might've been a 2+2 instead of the sedan or the maybe that was the hardtop). Maybe do 3 models with trim levels to meet the space between. But a budget V-8 RWD car for $40k, a high performance version of it for $50k, push the Stingray to about $60k (make some of the optional extras standard and maybe some other things to justify the price), the Z06 to $80-100K, and then the ultra performance one for $120-150k.