New Article about the C7

[VetteCpl]

Hi All. I've written a new article about the C7 in which I tried to separate facts from the rampant rumors.

As always, comments or questions are welcome.

Enjoy!

[catbert]

Good piece!

[Hib Halverson]

Uh...what "facts" about the C7 which were not already known were put forth in that story? I tried to find them but couldn't.

The key point I got in the story was speculation that because GM had tradmarked "Stingray" that C7 will be called that.

Another fact, er....."speculation" that might be faulty is the one that says on the basis of Corvette vs Porsche 911 sales numbers that Corvette is loosing market share. That may or may not be true. Two problems with that speculation are 1) sales numbers for the other entries in the segment weren't stated and 2) sales number for the segment as a whole were not cited. "Market share" is division of the total sales number for the segment by the sales number for each segment member.

It might be true that Corvette is loosing market share while the 911 is gaining but it may also be true that Corvette has stayed about the same and Mercedes or other maker in the high-sports segment is loosing.

As for a "new" Viper...a 700hp 8.7L Viper might be in development but the V10 Chrysler has always been an inefficient engine and, if the Viper guys are coming with something like that, it's going to have an obscene gas guzzler penalty when it gets here. Since speculation seems to be the name of the game with this thread, my guess is the Vipe folks are blowing smoke and they, like everybody else making performance cars, are going to have to make some huge compromises after 2013 to confirm to CAFE.

Perhaps the most relevant idea in that article is this:

In addition to the sales figures, other statistics are looming large in GM’s hierarchy. Right now 65 percent of new Corvette owners are over the age of 50, and for many potential buyers under 40, a new Corvette isn’t even on their radar screens. Clearly something dramatically new is needed behind the Corvette nameplate to return the fiberglass icon to the upper regions of the sales charts.

But, I'll add some more speculation: one reason Corvette is not on the radar screens of those under 40 is its price not that it lacks the necessary mystique to capture their interests.

What the brand needs is a base model with an affordable price tag, reasonable performance and great fuel economy. Could it be that a V6 with DI, VVT, AFM, two turbochargers and 400 hp along with a six-speed automatic could provide that.

[Low drag - High speed]

Concise and well-written with plenty of attribution and a well-conceived industry analysis. I like how you keep an open mind and don't pander to all the pre-conceived notions being pandered as absolutes.

BTW Hib ... the word is "losing" not "loosing."

[JBsC5]

I have to say I also don't see the "news" but thanks for the efforrt and for sharing..

JB

[Hib Halverson]

BTW Hib ... the word is "losing" not "loosing."

'Preciate that, "Low drag - High speed". I missed that before I posted.

[catbert]

Corvette losing sales is not about semantics or comparisons with anything else. Going from 34,000 units per year to 12-13,000 is losing sales in a real "going to hell" way. GM needs to hit the C7 out of the park. To date, I've seen a lot of curiousity about the C7, but little excitement, but maybe it's still too early.

Maybe GM is right about needing to find a new breed of buyer. The current owners might be tapped out or burned out. It's not ALL the economy.

[hotmtrsports]

Maybe some of them are like me...I am anxious for the C7 so the C6's can go down in price.

These cars have gotten so refined, there can't be that many huge updates left. Although when I did buy a new C6 in 2007, I did find some refinements at first, then after a few months I could not believe the difference between trying a C5 again, then getting into my C6!!!

I still want another C6 when the C7's are out!

Chuck M

[Low drag - High speed]

C5s are very affordable now and You can even shop for just the right combination and still find a clean one at a good price. I'll be seeking a gunmetal, auto trans, HUD coupe next year and nice ones can be found under $15,000. I could even afford an early C6, but they still enjoy their status at the top of the value food chain, so I'm staying within my means.

C7 will pull the rug out from under the C5 and C6 prices, while the C1 through C4s are appreciating at various rates.

[hotmtrsports]

I see sssooo many 84 to 89 C4's for sale that when I see one for over 7K, I wonder why that one is so expensive. The C4's to me are really in trouble. And with some C5's starting to see 12 to 15K, the C4's don't stand a chance!

Chuck M