The New C8 ZR1 LT5.... The 750 hp

[HADI-ZR1]

http://prettymotors.com/uploads/2016/01/2017-Chevrolet-Corvette-ZR1-Price.jpghttp://prettymotors.com/2017-chevrolet-corvette-zr1-c8-release-specs-and-price/
Is it True?!

[efnfast]

Is this real or speculation?

[Mystic ZR-1]

I'll bet your local Chevy dealer would take a deposit now, real or otherwise...
OBTW: That'll be $25-30k over sticker thank you...

[Hog]

Expect some body parts made of magnesium.

L88 or LT5 or maybe even LTX RPO/nameplate for engine with a possible twin turbo DOHC V8. Zora ZR1 will be the top level Vette.

[BigJohn]

I'll bet your local Chevy dealer would take a deposit now, real or otherwise...
OBTW: That'll be $25-30k over sticker thank you...

More like $80-120K over stickder!

[rush91]

I for one hope it is not true. For starters, by building this, your excluding more than half of your customer base. That makes no sense to me at all. Say you have your base front engine 2017 Corvette, followed by your highly optioned Vette. Then the top of the line front engine ZO6, followed by the top of the line mid engine Zora.....Would it be world beating? Yes......would it be a technological marvel? Yes.........Would it be the fastest Corvette ever to come out of Bowling Green? Yes.....The only way it makes sense to me is if the entire Corvette line goes mid engine, which will never happen. What are they going to produce 500- 1000 cars and that's it?
At over $150K, with dealer mark up, the majority will sit in showrooms. Unless it is priced at around $100,000, your losing money on every car. Now I know there are ALOT of rich Corvette guys who will say I don't care what it is priced at, but they are in the minority.....I know Dave Mclellan and the boys experimented with mid engine designs in the late 70's, early 80's. And I know the current Corvette is pretty much as far as GM can take it as far as performance and handling. A mid engine mule has been testing at the GM proving grounds, so this is gonna happen. A mid engine Corvette is the future and WILL happen. But from my purist point of view, it doesn't compute unless the whole line goes mid engine. Why cant they go a hybrid mix like the GT-R? Sorry for the soapbox moment, that's just my two cents.......

[Paul Workman]

I for one hope it is not true. For starters, by building this, your excluding more than half of your customer base. That makes no sense to me at all. Say you have your base front engine 2017 Corvette, followed by your highly optioned Vette. Then the top of the line front engine ZO6, followed by the top of the line mid engine Zora.....Would it be world beating? Yes......would it be a technological marvel? Yes.........Would it be the fastest Corvette ever to come out of Bowling Green? Yes.....The only way it makes sense to me is if the entire Corvette line goes mid engine, which will never happen. What are they going to produce 500- 1000 cars and that's it?
At over $150K, with dealer mark up, the majority will sit in showrooms. Unless it is priced at around $100,000, your losing money on every car. Now I know there are ALOT of rich Corvette guys who will say I don't care what it is priced at, but they are in the minority.....I know Dave Mclellan and the boys experimented with mid engine designs in the late 70's, early 80's. And I know the current Corvette is pretty much as far as GM can take it as far as performance and handling. A mid engine mule has been testing at the GM proving grounds, so this is gonna happen. A mid engine Corvette is the future and WILL happen. But from my purist point of view, it doesn't compute unless the whole line goes mid engine. Why cant they go a hybrid mix like the GT-R? Sorry for the soapbox moment, that's just my two cents.......

Yours is not a new argument, and it has been applied to various concept Corvettes in the past; even to the ZR-1 (at twice the base price in 1990).

It's hard to argue with success, and Corvette C5R and C6R has certainly played a part in Corvettes' success at the dealerships. All things considered, the Corvette has held its own and then some...up to now. But, you said yourself the Corvette has taken the front engine (a push-rod, no less) design to the practical limits. So, the question is, for how much longer will the current platform be successful against competing designs? (Even the Cadillac CTS-V, a sedan no less, will challenge the C7s on a road course!)

I see it as a "chicken or the egg" argument. On the one hand I believe you're right: the bulk of the current Corvette buyers are not primed to jump into a Corvette costing 2x+ as much for a Corvette (as history of the ZR-1 proved). But, on the other hand, those that can afford to pay 3x or more for a European mid-engine world beater aren't buying Corvettes anyway.

It seems to me history may be repeating itself: the marketing department at GM is facing the same elephant in the room it did with the C4 ZR-1: unquestionable performance increase over the current (base) offering, but at a cost out of reach for the majority of the day's Corvette buyers. The difference this time is, as you said, the current (front engine, rear wheel drive) platform has nearly run its course. AND too, the writing on the wall may also be spelling the end of the pushrod motor, no?

For my 2 cents, it's going to happen. And, I expect there will be some gnashing of teeth at GM over it; a repeat of the kind we saw with the C4 ZR-1. Only this time it might be harder to pull a rabbit (LSx) out of a hat to beat over the heads of the mid-engine, DOHC fans.

I will be interesting to watch what develops...AND, what the competition comes up with! :happy1:

[XfireZ51]

BTW, the picture is someone's wet dream from one of the car mags. If there is a mid-engine DOHC running around, GMs done a pretty good job of hiding it.
Ford did a REAL good job of hiding the new GT before they launched it last year.
If Porsche can have 911, Boxster, Cayman not clear why Corvette could not have various flavor as well.

[KILLSHOTS]

Here's a pic of the actual mule. No idea what engine is mounted within, but the car is real. What is interesting to me is how much of the car is virtually identical - just slightly reconfigured - to my Z51 Stingray. The fact that GM is already employing their "parts bin" mentality to the concept tells me that they're going to build it, and that the cost is not going to be as high as many believe. Guys bought every $100K-plus C6 ZR1 that Chevy could produce, even in a scary economy, and they'll buy these too.

http://cdn.speednik.com/files/2015/01/single1.jpg

[KPW]

Looks like that too might be a rendering, based on this article (http://www.corvetteonline.com/news/c8zora-zr1-renderings-close-to-the-real-deal/)

Pretty realistic looking though...all these speculations and such make the waiting a lot of fun!

http://cdn.speednik.com/files/2015/01/single-3-640x302.jpg
http://cdn.speednik.com/files/2015/01/single1-640x338.jpg
http://cdn.speednik.com/files/2015/01/single-2-640x294.jpg

[HADI-ZR1]

It's getting closer now, isn't it?!? ;)
http://blog.caranddriver.com/c8-in-2018-the-latest-on-the-mid-engine-chevrolet-corvette/

[mike100]

I have a hard time believing that they wouldn't want to sell the C7 for a few more years to recoup the engineering and tooling costs.

[Z51JEFF]

Here's a pic of the actual mule. No idea what engine is mounted within, but the car is real. What is interesting to me is how much of the car is virtually identical - just slightly reconfigured - to my Z51 Stingray. The fact that GM is already employing their "parts bin" mentality to the concept tells me that they're going to build it, and that the cost is not going to be as high as many believe. Guys bought every $100K-plus C6 ZR1 that Chevy could produce, even in a scary economy, and they'll buy these too.

http://cdn.speednik.com/files/2015/01/single1.jpg

There is nothing like this running around and this picture would be all over everything if this were an actual car. I for one hope GM builds it but PLEEEEEEEEASE don't put a V6 in it. If it does happen it's a shame Zoras not here to see it.

[ghlkal]

It's getting closer now, isn't it?!? ;)



Yup.


This article is putting ZR-1 on the C7 ... we'll see


What will get the LT5 designation?

[XfireZ51]

Wonder if Jalopnik has anything on this?

[HADI-ZR1]

Well it's isn't secret anymore..
The story back to 80s when GM produced SERV III with lt5 mid engine, so it looks code change to ZERV for furure
zr-1 .
https://www.google.cz/search?q=corvette+CERV&client=ms-android-samsung&source=lnms&prmd=isvn&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjykOX3gd_MAhWDWxQKHaQ4AhUQ_AUIBygB&biw=360&bih=536#imgrc=DZpHhJeIuXNl5M%3A

[HADI-ZR1]

Well it's not secret anymore..
The story back to 80s when GM produced CERV III with lt5 mid engine, so it looks code change to ZERV for furure
zr-1
http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2006/03/c12_0511_26z_corvettes_1990_cerv_iii_engine.jpg

[rush91]

From the Car and Driver article........"A notable power upgrade to the C8 will occur in January 2019, attributable to a new four-cam, 32-valve V-8 set to be presented at NAIAS."
Well, they can have their new fancy V-8. I'll still take the original legend every time :fahne:

[5ABI VT]

happy to hear theyre going dohc. finally a newer vette that I may want. hate that they might use lt5[-X

[rush91]

happy to hear theyre going dohc. finally a newer vette that I may want. hate that they might use lt5[-X

I agree with you. This , besides our beasts, is the first Corvette in a long time to peak my interest.....I'm still having a blast with the front engined variety Corvette. One thing I just thought of, I wonder if they will go after our original legends world record runs?

[Paul Workman]

I agree with you. This , besides our beasts, is the first Corvette in a long time to peak my interest.....I'm still having a blast with the front engined variety Corvette. One thing I just thought of, I wonder if they will go after our original legends world record runs?

It remains to be seen if GM will get off their hands (and our of our pockets) to build the mid-engine, FI-DOHC DI VVT BEAST that would once again set the world on its ear! Do THAT, and I won't mind if they use the LT5 moniker again!

[Z51JEFF]

I for one would love to see ZR-1 and LT5 on the new car. It seems GM has no shame in reliving some of the C4 past in the new cars. The interior ques in the C7 and maybe something in the new car. I don't see anything wrong with a single cam 16 valve arraignment,GM has made it work while everybody else goes with the next phase in motor evolution which of course is DOHC. For years now all the Euro exotics have gone DOHC multi valve the General has been kicking their a$$es with 1 cam and 16 valves. One thing I would like to see on the new car is AWD so it could fineally shut up the GTR crowd. And one thing I would hate to see on the new car,BLACK WHEELS!

[Mystic ZR-1]

It remains to be seen if GM will get off their hands (and our of our pockets) to build the mid-engine, FI-DOHC DI VVT BEAST that would once again set the world on its ear! Do THAT, and I won't mind if they use the LT5 moniker again!

add all wheel drive and 4 wheel steer to that list...
maybe throw in an electric motor or two?

[BigJohn]

add all wheel drive and 4 wheel steer to that list...
maybe throw in an electric motor or two?



Optional Leaf Blower!

;)

[Z51JEFF]

Optional Leaf Blower!

;)

Can't leave out the optional backup cameras,lane departure warning,seat warmers....................

[cuisinartvette]

Think it would be a good thing for GM going 4v dohc it would be a huge hit
Just keep it simple, less flufffy options, gadgets they would sell a ton of them and even more camaros for those that couldnt afford this if it came to fruition

The C7 has its flaws and imo a crowd that wants it all but doesnt get that comes with a few sacrifices. Cant run 10s get 40mpg have it whisper quiet while getting your feet massaged.

Having an option of a manual trans even better not everyone wants an auto
Have CCW make some real wheels....and toss out the black option lol
keep it simple GM leave the Caddy options for the Caddy crowd
Or one bare bones all business model, another with all the feel good stuff no in betweens.

[Hog]

If the engine continues to use bank-to-bank cylinder deactivation for cruise situations, the overall engine displacement will not be less, or much less than the current GEN V SBC 6.2L/376 cid. Testing revealed that running on 4 cylinders on a 5.5 liter test mule resulted in insufficient torque output for the Corvette application, with its higher final drive ratios.
Unfortunately the days of the GEN 4 LS7 7.0/427 are over.
If the C8 comes out for MY2018, the C7 only got 4 years of play. That doesn't make much economic sense for GM.



Experimental C8s currently reside in Building 54 (a.k.a. Area 54) at GM’s Milford, Michigan, proving ground. Since we nabbed aerial photos of one test mule two years ago, prototypes seldom leave the building during daylight hours. GM owns two Ferrari 458 Italias for benchmarking, and the company once had a McLaren in its benchmark fleet. Also owned by the General: a Nissan GT-R, two Porsche 911 Turbos, and a BMW i8, any of which may be being used to aid in C8 development.

Here is a pic captured 2 years ago of one of the mid-engine Corvette test mules.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2017-Mid-Engined-Chevrolet-Corvette-1121-876x535.jpg


And another

http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2017-Mid-Engined-Chevrolet-Corvette-1141-876x535.jpg

[-=Jeff=-]

That's the new Corvette 'Ute

[HADI-ZR1]

Hog
I agree with you about C8 that's not coming sooner till late 2020.
Just my opinion!
Let's look at history at least from C4 till C6 production time line.

[Hog]

Can't leave out the optional backup cameras,lane departure warning,seat warmers....................

All new vehicles with GVRW under 10,000lbs will require rear view backup cameras by mid 2018..

[Hog]

Latest rumour is for a mid engine, rear drive 700+ hp twin-turbocharged V6 Corvette Zora. Supposedly confirmed by a GM dealership.





http://www.corvetteforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CD-Rendering-of-ZORA1.jpg


Whatever it is, I really hope that it's NOT a V6. That would ruin the car IMO.

[BigJohn]

Kind of looks like a Honda!

[Mystic ZR-1]

".... confirmed by a GM dealership"
That's gospel...
😄

[BigJohn]

They told me they wanted to sale Honda's.

[ghlkal]

Whatever it is, I really hope that it's NOT a V6. That would ruin the car IMO.

Ouch .. the "new" LT5 as a V6 ... :eek:

[Tripler]

V6 twin turbo sounds kinda like a gtr . Did they make a deal with nissan lol ?

;) ;) ;)

[Z51JEFF]

".... confirmed by a GM dealership"
That's gospel...
😄
Beat me to it. If this car does materialize I don't believe it will have anything but a V8. One thing about GM is they do love their heritage and a V6 in a Corvette wouldn't work and paying homage to Zora with a V6 doesn't work.

[8cam]

Sounds like a rival to the new Ford GT if you ask me. A V6 makes perfect sense if you're not wearing Corvette blinders. :D My vote - plausible.

[SCCAForums]

No way, corvette top model will never have a v6

[HADI-ZR1]

Ouch .. the "new" LT5 as a V6 ... :eek:


:D No no !! It's LT6



Sent from my iPad using ZR-1 Net Registry (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=90383)

[Paul Workman]

I don't see anything wrong with a single cam 16 valve arraignment,GM has made it work while everybody else goes with the next phase in motor evolution which of course is DOHC. For years now all the Euro exotics have gone DOHC multi valve the General has been kicking their a$$es with 1 cam and 16 valves.

Well, looking into the crystal ball (aka24 hour Le Manns), we see the best of the best push-rod powered Corvettes struggling/failing to remain on top. Ford, after some hiatus, comes to the event with a new TT DOHC V6 in their mid-engine GT cars and sweeps with a 1, 2, and 4 win this year. The writing is on the wall.

Considering too, the fact that Camaro, Mustang GT, and the "Hellcat" have the horsepower and the state-of-the-art suspension/handling to now be nipping at Corvettes heels, both at the track and price range.

I don't see the Corvette distinguishing itself above that crowd UNLESS the brand puts aside the nostalgic "fuddy-duddy" past and moves to the next higher plateau: mid-engine, AWD possibly with hybrid electric drive, and the ultra-high performance capability the DOHC architecture has demonstrated.

However, to make a clean break to a mid-engine, FI, DOHC, AWD architecture would alienate most Corvette buyers. A strategy to ease into such an conceptual over-haul of the brand would be essential, or suffer the lessons of history, once again.

But, keeping in mind that GM only exists today at the expense of the bond holders and US taxpayers, producing a entire new assembly line for a vehicle that may struggle to be accepted for even a few years will take a serious commitment from GM's business community - which historically is seldom moved to taking such a risk.

Rock and a hard place. It may appear to some that Corvette has painted itself into a bit of a corner. By waiting as long as it has to make a mid-course correction, it is going to take significantly more effort, more of a course correction to remain relevant in the GT arena w/o loosing its base support.

But, in the end, history shows that customers follow the leaders on race day. The results of the Ford GT at Le Manns can't be easily dismissed. But, there is a certain amount of momentum that has to be overcome. So, IF in fact GM is going to make a move to a new platform - one to distinguish the Corvette above the Camaro, Mustang GT, and Hellcat crowd, the sooner the better they bring it out of "building 54" the easier the transition.

V8 vs. V6? The exhilaration of crossing the finish line first has a way of eroding the staunch preference for the number of cylinders it took to win... JMO. Seeing the V6 Nissan GT-Rs kicking butt in the WANNAGOFAST events proves that (to me). ;)

[HADI-ZR1]

The New Ford GT has a mid-engine twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 making more than 600 hp, carbon-fiber construction and body panel !

Paul

I think it's psychological... the Corvette Fans,Owners used to see V8 corvette productions, maybe it is matter of Time to accept the idea
Of v6 supercharged or turbocharged mid-Engine Corvette and deal with it.

[XfireZ51]

The "truck motor" has been wrung out. The king is dead, long live the king.

[LGAFF]

Um, hate to say this but the Ford didn't win the series....Corvette did 1st/3rd.....there was a balance of power adjustment that screwed the vette at Lemans. They took the handcuffs off for the rest of the series...guess who won? :cheers:



The three most evil words in motor racing have struck the Corvette Racing team at Le Mans. The defending class winners at the legendary 24-hour event have gone from fastest at the recent official test on June 5 to dog slow in qualifying on June 15 thanks to BoP–Balance of Performance.

Thanks to the modern practice of attempting to balance the lap times of different car models though opening or restricting the amount of air feeding each engine, and adding or removing weight, BoP can take a tall, square Porsche 911 RSR and make it perform on equal terms with a low-slung hypercar like Ford's new GT.

Again, BoP can achieve that dynamic when iit gets the air/weight figures correct for each model, and when those numbers are off, a situation like Wednesday night's qualifying session for this weekend's 84th 24 Hours of Le Mans is visible for all to see.

During the test, one Corvette was 0.280 seconds faster than the rest of the GTE-Pro field which also contains Aston Martin and Ferrari. The best Ford was 0.917 slower than the top Corvette.

Leaving the test, the Le Mans organizers took some air away from Corvette's C7.Rs, effectively reducing their horsepower and torque output, and after two hours of qualifying, the true pace of the turbocharged Fords and Ferraris were revealed as the Corvettes stumbled.

THE 0.280-SECOND ADVANTAGE AT THE TEST BECAME A 4.663-SECOND DISADVANTAGE ON WEDNESDAY.
Fords and Ferraris locked out the top seven positions in the first round of time trials as the Corvettes were last in class—positions 13 and 14 in a GTE-Pro field comprised of 14 cars. With Ford showing its full hand, and Corvette hampered by the rule change, the 0.280-second advantage at the test became a 4.663-second disadvantage on Wednesday, and it's safe to say the Corvette team was less than enthused by the results.