Posted Today 12:52 PM by Angus MacKenzie, Motor Trend Magazine
Well placed sources have confirmed GM has put the next generation C7 Corvette program on hold, pending a review of the impact of the 35mpg CAFE laws due to come into effect in 2020.
The problem for GM is that while 35mpg is the target for 2020, automakers have no idea what the transitional fuel consumption targets are in the interim. In other words, they have no idea how they should be planning to get from today's CAFE number to 2020's. Transitional fuel consumption targets are not expected to be finalized until the end of 2009.
The C7 is not the only GM program on hold because of a lack of clarity over how automakers will be expected to get to 35mpg by 2020: The rear-drive Zeta-based Chevy sedan (which now may or may not be called Impala) is also on the back-burner. GM still wants to build the big Chevy, however, because the production volumes help the business case for the Cadillac DTS/STS replacement that will be built off the same basic architecture. Both cars will be built here in the U.S., not Australia.
As we outlined last year GM had been evaluating three different scenarios for the C7, due 2012 - an evolution of the current V-8 powered, rear drive layout; an all-new mid-engine design; and a car based around the smaller, lighter Kappa component set.
A strong faction inside GM had been pushing hard to make the C7 mid-engined. Corvette chief engineer Tom Wallace told me last year the mid-engine design had the potential to be more fuel efficient, primarily because it allowed cylinder de-activation without the vibration issues caused by the front engined car's long prop-shaft connection to the rear-mounted transaxle transmission.
However any idea of a mid-engined Corvette died with the uncertainty over interim fuel consumption targets, along with concerns that a mid-engine design would compromise GM's ability to offer an affordable convertible version (packaging a soft-top or a folding hardtop in a mid-engined car is tricky).
Wallace made a point of telling me last week at the Detroit Show that a regular LS2 powered Corvette with a 300lb weight reduction would deliver the same performance as a 505-hp Z06. Reading between the lines, that suggests we should be prepared for a C7 that's evolutionary rather than revolutionary, with a focus on reduced mass rather than increased horsepower.
-------------------- 2008 Black/blk C6 Z51 NPP M6 2008 Silver/blk CTS FE2 AWD 304hp Posts: 9491 | From: North East | Registered: Dec 2000
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Makes sense with the huge loss they just posted. Answers lots of questions regarding what the C7 might be. Why do they build in Australia? labor costs cannot be that much better to cover the shipping? High performance might bite the dust and mpg become the preoccupation. 300lb weight loss and a regular vette could keep up with the kick ass ZO6.. nah
Posts: 2746 | From: Pennsylvania | Registered: Jul 2001
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Who knows? May very well be the return of the emasculating 70's again. The C-5 AND 6 will become the highly desirable "muscle" cars just like their late 60's counterparts did after the massive power reductions brought on by higher mileage requirements along with emissions strangulation.
Posts: 276 | From: PENSACOLA,FLORIDA | Registered: Nov 2004
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It is going to be very interesting to see what GM is going to do about it. They let the Vette become one of those cars from the 70's gas crunch. I am too young for that, so I don't know how it was, but I heard it sucked big time for muscle cars.
Posts: 249 | From: Northridge, CA | Registered: Aug 2001
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