Let's Get One Thing Straight, GM Should Make a Mid-Engined Corvette but it Should be a Cadillac

"Tim (Fractal Footwork)" (fractalfootwork)
08/16/2014 at 13:34 • Filed to: None

It's a no-brainer to me. Cadillac needs a performance halo model to bring up their V range, along side their luxury halo model that has yet to reach showrooms.

[image and subsequent relentless reiteration of a rumor via !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ]

DISCUSSION (36)

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 13:37

Didnt Cadillac have a concept like this in like 2008?

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 13:38

Reposting my comment from a few days ago cause its relevant.

1. Take Corvette

2. Make Mid-Engine

3. Put Cadillac Badge

4. Make it awesome

5. Bring it to Pebble Beach

6. Dont sell it.

7. Make all involved sad.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 13:40

Corvette is already mid-engined and out performs most cars

Dubblewhopper > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 13:41

IF the rumor is true, just call it the Corvette Zora and drop the Chevrolet name out of the equation. For the ultimate performance Caddy though, I would call it the Leland.

GhostZ > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 13:42

Imagine if they sold a mid-engined RWD hybrid by reversing the ELR drivetrain and mating it to a supercharged LS block. 650HP hybrid with 30 miles of electric range, or an extra 100HP from the electric motor. It would be the most luxurious (and quiet) car in normal usage, and it would be an absolute beast when you floored it.

Kanaric > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 13:42

They should make a mid engine car, but not call it a corvette.

Zendax > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
08/16/2014 at 13:43

Sounds par for the course for Cadillac. They've been teasing something awesome for over a decade now.

GhostZ > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/16/2014 at 13:45

Cadillac Cien came out in 2002:

http://www.autospies.com/images/users/t…

And in 2006 they had a midengined turbine concept:

http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Cadillac/c…

Dubblewhopper > GhostZ
08/16/2014 at 13:47

I imagining, but alas, it would be a pipe dream. Just like my dreams of the Z going back to a straight six.

Manuél Ferrari > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
08/16/2014 at 13:47

and now you've gone and made me sad again ...

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 13:47

Unlike the half baked SRT idea, Corvette needs to be a brand.

Mid-engine supercar for $150-175K

Front engine sportscar like today's ranging from $50-100K

$35-40 turbo-six front mid engine entry level sports car like an expertly tuned BRZ.

Get 'em while they're young and impressionable, then you've got 'em hooked for life.

and PLEASE do something with the interiors. Poach some Audi designers, please.

GhostZ > Dubblewhopper
08/16/2014 at 13:48

aaaaaand now I'm sad.

Manuél Ferrari > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/16/2014 at 13:49

We know...

But this one would look and feel different and sell at a higher price point.

It could be a true halo for GM

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Manuél Ferrari
08/16/2014 at 13:51

The Corvette is a true halo for GM.

Manuél Ferrari > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/16/2014 at 13:55

It is for Chevy. But Caddy needs a halo.

If Caddy doesn't get a production version of one of those awesome concepts then they could at least do this.

dogisbadob > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 13:59

I'd like to see them get 620 hp from 6.2L without a supercharger. Manual and automatic transmissions offered (most of the new supercars are automatic-only now). AWD available. And a real interior. A middle seat would be nice, too.

Crocket Bernet > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/16/2014 at 14:03

The C7's interior is pretty good, especially when compared to corvettes of the past.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Manuél Ferrari
08/16/2014 at 14:23

No one will buy it.

Axel-Ripper > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 14:23

Sure, and next thing you know they'll make it a twin turbo DOHC V8...

Übel > Manuél Ferrari
08/16/2014 at 14:24

That wouldn't be a mid engined Corvette though. That'd be a mid engined Cadillac.

Übel > dogisbadob
08/16/2014 at 14:26

http://photo.netcarshow.com/Chevrolet-Corv…

Not sure how you can get much more real than this... Also, you don't see anything that could possibly go wrong with a middle seat? Nothing at all?

dogisbadob > Übel
08/16/2014 at 14:36

But is the quality of the interior worthy of a 10ok+ car like any ZR1 or other halo would be? Or can/will they upgrade it to be? The C6 ZR1's interior was so bad that some auto journalists didn't even consider it to be a supercar.

There is nothing wrong with a middle seat :) MHD baby!

Übel > dogisbadob
08/16/2014 at 14:42

http://media.caranddriver.com/images/13q3/53…

Here's a 911 Turbo S. Draw your own comparisons.

Claiming the Corvette has a bad interior because of the C6 is just asinine and ridiculous. They don't make the C6 anymore. They make the C7.

As for the middle seat, where would you put it? What's the point? It would totally ruin the interior ergonomics.

Manuél Ferrari > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/16/2014 at 14:53

yeah you're probably right :(

Manuél Ferrari > Übel
08/16/2014 at 14:54

That's what I'm hoping for

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Crocket Bernet
08/16/2014 at 14:56

$75,00 car?

http://wardsauto.com/site-files/war…

Better than a C5 is not good. It's adequate. For the performance out of the box and the price, the Corvette should be an international peer to the 911 and the R8. The Autozone scoops and vents pared with this interior is the reason this car is only a 'great performance and price' sportscar.

Übel > Manuél Ferrari
08/16/2014 at 14:57

I don't even know why I read Corvette into what you wrote. Whoops :p

Manuél Ferrari > Übel
08/16/2014 at 15:08

No worries, stuff like that happens to me all the time :)

Crocket Bernet > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/16/2014 at 15:11

First off the base C7's msrp is not $75,000 it is $55,000 while the 911 starts at $85,000 and the R8 starts at more than $110,000. The money that went into the C7 was certainly not focused on the interior but I think for a relatively cheap and competent sports car the interior is certainly good enough for most people. I'm not going to drag this out, if you want the $100,000 interior buy the $100,000 car.

swaptastic > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/16/2014 at 15:38

As mentioned by other commenters, the current Corvette is mid-engine. The rumor doesn't actually mention FMR (front mid-engine) or RMR (rear mid-engine). GM has been working on a RMR Corvette off-and-on for a long time but I don't really see enough in the rumor to really say if they will ever produce it.

But.... if they do make it, it will be very expensive and a limited production run. Which is why I don't think they would put it under any of the previous model names. It would be smarter to name it under another model name, something like the Chevrolet Zora.

dogisbadob > Übel
08/16/2014 at 15:46

Yeah I know. I meant, is the C7's interior quality that much better than the C6? What do the materials feel like? Does it still smell like glue everywhere?

And I had thought the OP meant making a new car, not just a Cadillac-rebadged Corvette. In that case, they'd design a new interior.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Crocket Bernet
08/16/2014 at 16:20

Which is why this car is not on the buying list of people who want top tier sportscars. What makes me irritated about the Corvette is it performs like the other cars listed, but is continually held back, generation after generation by the build quality. There are European 'real' sportscars, and then there are the Americans. Kind of like the Porsche Cayman, it should be better than it is.

Crocket Bernet > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/16/2014 at 17:05

It could be better than it is, for sure, but saying that it should be better is really just, like, your opinion, man. I personally like the Corvette at its current price range, it's a halo car for the good ol' boys but it could also be an affordable competent track day beater. I do agree that GM could move it up a class by working on the finish of the car but then they are essentially alienating a large part of their audience that they have grown over the past 60 years. And to go back to your original comment they could make a tier based system for the Corvette but that raises the question of how would they sell versus the engineering costs, and at that point it is really up to the bean counters at GM.

StingrayJake > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/16/2014 at 17:54

Somebody will... it'll just be about 1,000 somebodies (probably less) though.

Not that I need to tell you this, but as is, the Corvette is a sports car for the (American) people. It's affordable, powerful and makes lots of noise. Sure the 1-2% love exotic supercars, but given the current climate of the auto industry, no American company is going to throw money at something that won't sell thousands and thousands of units.

JasonStern911 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
08/16/2014 at 19:14

I laughed, and then cried, at your comment.

:D
:)
:|
:(
:'(

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Tim (Fractal Footwork)
08/18/2014 at 02:00

I would love to see it. I think most of the press (particular European) would instantly compare it to 458 (or similar future Ferrari) and declare that although super fast lacks the finesse of the 458 and complain about the interior.

Same situation as the Ford GT.

Also I doubt GM would green light a project. I can already see the headline "GM gets bailed out, builds car for millionaires". Halo cars usually don't break even , instead acting as free press and drawing in customers to buy the "lower" model. Again the second headline after GM does its earning report would be "GM blew XX million on Super car for millionaires"

Although at this point I doubt they could piss off anybody more.