Stop the presses! Mid-engine Corvette in development; confirmed by Saab engineers?

Should GM launch a mid-engined Corvette?

  • Yes, as long as it will make the car faster and handle better

    Votes: 10 18.2%

  • Yes, change is good

    Votes: 4 7.3%

  • Don't care

    Votes: 11 20.0%

  • No, it will ruin the Corvette's tradition

    Votes: 24 43.6%

  • No, I like the car how it is already

    Votes: 6 10.9%
  • Total voters
    55
It'l still handle like a bus.

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But seriously, it's like having a front engined Porsche........911......Turbo.
 
As someone has already said this happens every time GM makes a new version of the vette... they throw out the idea of a MR vette. This has been happening since the mid 60's as the pics have shown. I don't believe GM will ever change the platform for 2 reasons. 1. The price of the car would double = eliminating half (just a guess) their current new vette buyers maybe more. 2. The whole point of a vette is that its a high HP sports car that anyone can have. (maybe not new these days due to its price)

I can remember 20 years ago you could get a brand new vette for $25-30K mind you they werent much and the ZR-1's would double the same price tag.

GM will never change from the FR platform in the Corvette.
 
Well, as others have said, this is an idea that has been batted around for generations, but the fact that actual engineering was done leads me to a couple of different conclusions:

  1. The Corvette nameplate was about to be split, into the rumored "two-tiered" option that would have a "standard" Corvette at the bottom, and a new MR version at the top
  2. That gives some credibility to the rumors that the C7 and Kappa II platforms would have been one in the same, or incredibly similar, keeping Bowling Green busy for some time
  3. IF there was to be a MR Corvette, it seems like there would be a near-certainty that a Cadillac XLR was to come out of it. The idea of a high-powered Turbocharged V6 also leads me to believe that the existence of that platform is what negated the need for a Northstar (DOHC V8) successor
  4. IF Saab would have remained healthy, and a part of a healthy GM, it would seem fairly likely that this would have been the basis for the Sonnet IV that has been rumored for a decade or more.

As a Corvette fanatic, the news feels odd. In my mind, there is no reason to change the formula for the Corvette aside from some minor technological advancements. For me, and for a lot of Corvette people, the car will always be a FR, RWD, V8-powered coupe. Something like this could work if "Corvette" itself became a brand ala-Europe, but with that ending as it is, it won't happen. It seems increasingly likely that the C7 will be based almost entirely around the Stingray Centennial Concept from last year-ish, so any rumors of a MR Corvette should probably be pointing toward a Cadillac XLR successor.
 
I wouldn't mind a turbocharged V6 in the Corvette as well as the V8 models, just so long as Holdens gets a sports car with the same engine!:P I still really want a mid-engined Cadillac exotic supercar. Cadillac is the only GM brand that could pull it off IMO. That or Holden (anyone know the Hurrican concept car, or the W200H?), which of course will never happen in 6 billion years unfortunately.
ACTUALLY! I wonder if Holden knew of this project, because the W200H concept (never actually built) is exactly like this and is from this year IIRC. Sorry for the magazine pics, it's the only ones I could find:
img017.jpg

It was also powered by a turbocharged V6 engine, and the design was presented in some design competition over in Asia or something. I do believe, as I bought that magazine, that they were going to try and petition it for production to the HSV head honchos. Maybe it could have been feasible if the Corvette had a similar program in development.

Edit: Does anyone else find it funny just how often GM plays with the mid-engined supercar idea and has never once made one?
 
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Paulie
Edit: Does anyone else find it funny just how often GM plays with the mid-engined supercar idea and has never once made one?
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Yes I do.

On the other hand, GM will NEVER have a MR style Corvette. Unfortunately, I can't really be allowed to say that because the only thing I know about the Corvette C7 is it will get GM's new small-block, about 5.5 litres, 440hp. I hope they don"t make one though. The Corvette is America's FR poster child (I might get some Mustang and/or Viper fans on me about that.) I've heard though, that the ZR1 may or may not return, although if it does, it may get the CTS-V's/Camaro Z/28's 556hp LSA, although probably with more power. I also don't know, will the Grand Sport model return? And while yes the Z06 will return, will we get the Carbon Limited Edition? So many answers, so much time.
AND will there be a split window? And to Talon, that Corvette is uuuuugly. It's too messy and scattered. Go back to the basics or stay the same way Corvette! AAHHH I'm going crazyyyy!!!!

EDIT: and Saab isn't even a part of GM anymore, so I don't trust a word coming out of their mouths unless it's about there own products.
 
Well that's a constructive post in a thread about a mid-engined Corvette then isn't it?:P
 
SlipZtrEm
The Merc SLS seems to be getting good reviews, and it does it with a solid stolen-Viper FR platform.

There are advantages to both, and there have been rumours and prototypes every single generation of mid-engine Vettes running around.

I'm sure we'll see a mid-engine Vette for public consumption right around the time we see a 911 with it's engine anywhere other than the arse.
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you're comparing Viper, which is basically tuned truck engine on wheels with sophisticated design of mercedes SLS? And Viper wasn't like first car with FR setup so why would SLS be a rip off?

I have to call Top gear or EVO to hire you immediately for your expert knowledge...
 
Rebornsun
you're comparing Viper, which is basically tuned truck engine on wheels with sophisticated design of mercedes SLS? And Viper wasn't like first car with FR setup so why would SLS be a rip off?

I have to call Top gear or EVO to hire you immediately for your expert knowledge...
Click to expand...

Maybe it's because the story goes that the platform the SLS AMG now sits on was initially being developed as the next gen Viper.
 
Rebornsun
you're comparing Viper, which is basically tuned truck engine on wheels with sophisticated design of mercedes SLS? And Viper wasn't like first car with FR setup so why would SLS be a rip off?

I have to call Top gear or EVO to hire you immediately for your expert knowledge...
Click to expand...

I have to apologize for being sarcastic and unfair. Apparently Mercedes engineers stolen a lot of basic design ideas for SLS from late generation aluminum chassis design developed for Viper.
So, sorry for being offensive.
 
It'd be cool if Corvette branched off as a sub-brand of Chevrolet, that way they could have the MR version and the FR version of the car.
 
I would like to see it as a seperate model.
A front-engine Corvette should always exist, but why not both?
Interesting concept imo.
 
The Corvette is definitely fine how it is. It's a sports car, why try and make it an exotic thing to compete with cars from elsewhere? Right now, it's the best American sports car money can buy. Make it mid engined, and it's suddenly the worst exotic there is.

But I will admit that a MR sports car from GM would be freaking sweet.
 
As it stands now Corvette is kind of like the black sheep among higher end sports cars as it's FR, change it to MR and it becomes one of the white sheep that all look the same.(Note: I'm not saying all MR cars look the same)

I don't have a problem with them doing a MR car, but make it a Cadillac or re-launch Pontiac as a niche brand like there was talks of doing shortly after they announced they were killing it off.
 
They can call it a Fiero or maybe for the Cadillac line but not a corvette. Corvette is already doing so well and dominating in endurance races over the mid engine cars that it would really break with tradition. So don't try to fix it if it ain't broken. If anything fix the interior and put some quality into it, that's all.
 
GM Europe already collaborated with Lotus ( previously even owned by GM which lead to the Lotus Carlton and Lotus developing the engine for the C4 ZR-1 for example ) a few years ago to create the Opel/Vauxhall Speedster which was based on the Lotus Elise chassis.
If GM are still serious about launching a mid-engined Corvette either below or above the front-engined ( which I agree should remain ) they could base it on the Evora or the still to be announced Esprit successor I suppose.
If I were in control I would choose a smaller ( maybe still with a V8 albeit smaller or a V6 ) model and perhaps move the regular 'Vette slightly more upmarket ( which would require making it better quality and having a design language not just catered for American taste only, maybe a body designed by Pininfarina, who already created a one-off Corvette Rondine in the sixties ).
I would make Corvette a seperate brand ( as it is in Europe ) with a two-model line up and the occasional limited edition supercar perhaps which would make it more the American equivalent or cheaper ( or more value for money ) alternative to a Ferrari for example as it has the history and reputation to pull it off I believe.
I've read some articles in magazines about the R&D department responsible for Corvette design in the sixties, seventies and eighties and the one constant factor was their obsession with Ferrari.
Now in this day and age I don't believe you can still afford to be too conservative and a radical shift in both engineering and a more European approach to designing a better quality interior and a less macho and more classy exterior without losing the core values of what makes a Corvette a Corvette could be a tricky yet do-able approach if balanced correctly.
 
Jim Prower
But...GM has nothing to do with Lotus anymore...
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No but at the time of the Opel Speedster they also were not linked anymore but that still doesn´t mean they can´t collaborate anymore.
Currently Fiat is planning a mid-engined Abarth sportscar for which they plan to use the Elise chassis as well.
Lotus and GM still have more shared history than Lotus and Fiat.
 
Toronado
Quite frankly, there is no reason for an MR Corvette to exist. In the 1970s, when Corvette's had suspensions like wet sponges with acid on them and plodded like Cadillacs? Sure.
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Have you ever driven a c3 corvette? My car doesn`t have suspension like a wet sponge or plod (is that a word?) like a Cadillac. Actually it does pretty good on the crappy almost eastern block standard roads here in Norway.

And my car says it doesn`t want to see a mid engined corvette.
IMG_4279.jpg


There was actually a mid engined race car in the late 70`s or early 80`s with a mid mounted V8 and a V6 in some races. Didn`t look like a corvette at all, but I think GM had something to do with it. Looked like a Le Mans prototype. Can`t find a picture on google but I`ve seen some on a Corvette enthusiast page.

EDIT: The suspension is completely stock like everything else except the engine on my car.
 

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