My Idea of the Perfect C7 Lineup

[catbert]

BASE
lineup much as we know now. Available in hardtop and convertible with the LT engine, upgraded as needed to keep ahead of the competition. Add a decontented true base option with as many of the toys as possible left out. Try to get that base model MSRP as low as possible.

LIMITED EDITION GRAND SPORT
Same car as the base, except with the LS7. Think Z06. Unlike the Z06, it should be available as a loaded cruiser like the 427 convertible. To keep exclusivity up, and CAFE impact low, for once, don't get greedy and limit production. How does 5,000 units a year sound? It would be nice to have a Grand Sport with a real performance element. Keeping the LS7 alive shouldn't be a problem since the LSX crate motor program is so robust.

ZR1
This should be Chevy's opportunity to show off and go crazy. All the things that are too cool and expensive to mass produce should be offered in the true HALO VETTE. This is the car that should kick butt in the magazine performance and long term tests. Since the C6 ZR1 price was already out of the mass market, cost should not be the issue here. Engine...go crazy - at least the LS9, but a blown LT would be OK. CAFE impact will be minimal, since production will be limited by price, but the halo effect should be priceless.

FINAL THOUGHT
Don't wait for a new generation to improve the car. When new infotainment developments happen, put them in the damn car. When new new transmissions are developed, use them as with the six speed automatic in the C6. Model years for the C5 and C6 became almost meaningless. Give us a good reason to trade our 2013 for a 2015 or 2016. The decal engineering on the C6 was downright embarrassing. Couldn't GM come up with ONE solid improvement or development every year?

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO GM TO KEEP CORVETTE SALES WAY ABOVE THE CURRENT MODEL'S UNACCEPTABLE 11,000 - 13,000 PRODUCTION? BASED ON RECENT PERFORMANCE, THEY NEED YOUR HELP. Discuss.

 

[warren s]

I love the idea of a base model.

However for a de-contented car I would would want to see a major reduction in MSRP not just a few hundred bucks.
If adding options to some vehicles like a leather interior and navigation system can tack on a few grand - how about removing items at similar value reductions? A basic stereo, cloth interior with a manual climate control system, a minimum of electronic gadgets. The drive train and suspension would be the only relevant "entertainment items"

 

[LLC5]

BASE
lineup much as we know now. Available in hardtop and convertible with the LT engine, upgraded as needed to keep ahead of the competition. Add a decontented true base option with as many of the toys as possible left out. Try to get that base model MSRP as low as possible.

LIMITED EDITION GRAND SPORT
Same car as the base, except with the LS7. Think Z06. Unlike the Z06, it should be available as a loaded cruiser like the 427 convertible. To keep exclusivity up, and CAFE impact low, for once, don't get greedy and limit production. How does 5,000 units a year sound? It would be nice to have a Grand Sport with a real performance element. Keeping the LS7 alive shouldn't be a problem since the LSX crate motor program is so robust.

ZR1
This should be Chevy's opportunity to show off and go crazy. All the things that are too cool and expensive to mass produce should be offered in the true HALO VETTE. This is the car that should kick butt in the magazine performance and long term tests. Since the C6 ZR1 price was already out of the mass market, cost should not be the issue here. Engine...go crazy - at least the LS9, but a blown LT would be OK. CAFE impact will be minimal, since production will be limited by price, but the halo effect should be priceless.

FINAL THOUGHT
Don't wait for a new generation to improve the car. When new infotainment developments happen, put them in the damn car. When new new transmissions are developed, use them as with the six speed automatic in the C6. Model years for the C5 and C6 became almost meaningless. Give us a good reason to trade our 2013 for a 2015 or 2016. The decal engineering on the C6 was downright embarrassing. Couldn't GM come up with ONE solid improvement or development every year?

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO GM TO KEEP CORVETTE SALES WAY ABOVE THE CURRENT MODEL'S UNACCEPTABLE 11,000 - 13,000 PRODUCTION? BASED ON RECENT PERFORMANCE, THEY NEED YOUR HELP. Discuss.

You hit the nail on the head. GM needs a base model with a low MSRP, especially with the corporate tailights so obvious, to entice current GM vehicle owners to move up to a GM sports car. Wages are going down (except for a few) and gas is going to continue to go up in price, so to move the Vette a real low MSRP base is going to be needed to get the sales number up. Just my opinon.

 

[Hib Halverson]

LS7 is gone for good in Corvette

My guess is during 14-15 we'll see....

2014 Sting Ray Coupe
2014.5 Sting Ray Convertible.
2015 Z06

The Sting Rays will get the 450-hp GDI 6.2
The Z06 will get a GDI supercharged 6.2 of about 650-hp.

No ZR-1 anytime soon.

(disclaimer, my record on predicting C7 powertrain stuff has been mixed. I've eaten some serious crow for my being stuck on the 5.5L V8 thing in the run up to the C7 debut)

 

[catbert]

What should they do, not what will they do. Give them your thoughts - don't feed them their own failed strategies. If you ran GM, what would be your marching orders for the Corvette Team?

 

[67vet]

Great topic.

With all the negative talk about the C6 dash (I disagree) you would think they could have hit a home run with the C7 dash. I am not impressed. It looks like they just moved some items around.

Google Tesla model S and you will see a dash that could have been on the C7. The 17" flat screen monitor in the center is a one piece unit. I understand that it can be easily removed for maintenance or updates. The traffic/nav screen is the same view that you can get on google earth or mapquest.

They could have a removeable notepad incorporated into the dash that you can take with you.
Why not color weather radar. Basic cell phone features.

 

[1analguy]

Auto Week now gives a firm date of January for the first performance model to appear...

 

[ltmax]

BASE
lineup much as we know now. Available in hardtop and convertible with the LT engine, upgraded as needed to keep ahead of the competition. Add a decontented true base option with as many of the toys as possible left out. Try to get that base model MSRP as low as possible.

LIMITED EDITION GRAND SPORT
Same car as the base, except with the LS7. Think Z06. Unlike the Z06, it should be available as a loaded cruiser like the 427 convertible. To keep exclusivity up, and CAFE impact low, for once, don't get greedy and limit production. How does 5,000 units a year sound? It would be nice to have a Grand Sport with a real performance element. Keeping the LS7 alive shouldn't be a problem since the LSX crate motor program is so robust.

ZR1
This should be Chevy's opportunity to show off and go crazy. All the things that are too cool and expensive to mass produce should be offered in the true HALO VETTE. This is the car that should kick butt in the magazine performance and long term tests. Since the C6 ZR1 price was already out of the mass market, cost should not be the issue here. Engine...go crazy - at least the LS9, but a blown LT would be OK. CAFE impact will be minimal, since production will be limited by price, but the halo effect should be priceless.

FINAL THOUGHT
Don't wait for a new generation to improve the car. When new infotainment developments happen, put them in the damn car. When new new transmissions are developed, use them as with the six speed automatic in the C6. Model years for the C5 and C6 became almost meaningless. Give us a good reason to trade our 2013 for a 2015 or 2016. The decal engineering on the C6 was downright embarrassing. Couldn't GM come up with ONE solid improvement or development every year?

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO GM TO KEEP CORVETTE SALES WAY ABOVE THE CURRENT MODEL'S UNACCEPTABLE 11,000 - 13,000 PRODUCTION? BASED ON RECENT PERFORMANCE, THEY NEED YOUR HELP. Discuss.

What's needed to get Vette sales up? How about a fully-functioning economy? TRUTH, PLEASE!!! With a 23% unemployment rate, 9.5% inflation rate, national debt 110% of GDP (nominal), Zero Interest Rate Policy that kills savers and investors, stagnant wage rates and an eviscorated (sp) real estate and manufacturing sector, there is realistically not much room for the middle class for purchases of something like the Vette, as universally desirable as it is. This country needs an absolutely complete overhaul in every sense of the term to get back on it's feet before discretionary spending would be allowed to increase substantially. It's not the car, it's the destroyed economy at fault (truthful causes discussed later... if at all).
Glad you walked into this one, eh?

 

[Huskerman]

May see a small surge the first year or two in sales from those who want the newest and best but the days of 30 to 35K cars being sold will not happen until somebody figures out that its the economy stupid.......I have to agree with Itmax on his ideas. In my mind the Corvette has been the affordable middle class darling since its beginning and as the middle class is slowly being systematically distroyed it will become an upper class choice, and they have always had a lot of other choices to fill their stables.