ZR-1 Net Registry Forums - View Single Post - Who will Order a C7 ZR-1

Paul Workman · 01-08-2017

Tho intrigued by the prospect of a FI, 6.2 DOHC, DI, VVT, etc., etc., it comes as the window on the C7 (front engine platform) is closing.

My crystal ball tells me the GT-40 (for one) has put a stake in the ground (again!), and GM will have to embrace the spirit of Zora Duntov; break out out of their ultra-conservative straight jacket, and get serious about bringing out a car at least as capable (formidable?) as the trend-setters Corvette finds themselves being swallowed by.

So... Bringing out a "capper" at the end of the C7 run, only to be followed by a superior platform would be a throw-back to the same market bungling of the past; i.e., the C4 ZR-1. The C7 is up against the (front engine, rear wheel drive) platform's limitation.

Any student of automotive technology knows intuitively that Corvette is at a crossroads: it's time to (poop) or get off the pot! Putting a DOHC motor in C7, only to be "immediately" eclipsed by a mid-engine C8... would be a mistake...again. Once again, customers would "enjoy" paying a premium for advanced (engine) technology, only to have Corvette's C8 besting them a year or so later.

I say, bring the new DOHC LT5 out with a mid-engine C8 and thus give the automotive world a double stroke; engine AND platform that will have some legs; i.e., endure. However, if the C7 ZR1/LT5 does make it to showrooms, I'd expect the same fate for the C7 ZR1 as was the case for the C4 Zs; to be immediately overwhelmed if not by the performance, but by media fanfare of the next Corvette generation.

Think I'll save my $$ and see what the C8 brings.

01-08-2017	#10
Paul Workman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Squires (near Ava MO in the Mark Twain N'tl Forest) - Missouri Posts: 6,466	Re: Who will Order a C7 ZR-1 Tho intrigued by the prospect of a FI, 6.2 DOHC, DI, VVT, etc., etc., it comes as the window on the C7 (front engine platform) is closing. My crystal ball tells me the GT-40 (for one) has put a stake in the ground (again!), and GM will have to embrace the spirit of Zora Duntov; break out out of their ultra-conservative straight jacket, and get serious about bringing out a car at least as capable (formidable?) as the trend-setters Corvette finds themselves being swallowed by. So... Bringing out a "capper" at the end of the C7 run, only to be followed by a superior platform would be a throw-back to the same market bungling of the past; i.e., the C4 ZR-1. The C7 is up against the (front engine, rear wheel drive) platform's limitation. Any student of automotive technology knows intuitively that Corvette is at a crossroads: it's time to (poop) or get off the pot! Putting a DOHC motor in C7, only to be "immediately" eclipsed by a mid-engine C8... would be a mistake...again. Once again, customers would "enjoy" paying a premium for advanced (engine) technology, only to have Corvette's C8 besting them a year or so later. I say, bring the new DOHC LT5 out with a mid-engine C8 and thus give the automotive world a double stroke; engine AND platform that will have some legs; i.e., endure. However, if the C7 ZR1/LT5 does make it to showrooms, I'd expect the same fate for the C7 ZR1 as was the case for the C4 Zs; to be immediately overwhelmed if not by the performance, but by media fanfare of the next Corvette generation. Think I'll save my $$ and see what the C8 brings.