GM’s Akerson: We’re Launching 'Top Secret, Revamped' Corvette

**1analguy** · 06-21-12, 09:42 PM

The following comments are referring to styling only, and I know that styling is purely subjective...so these are obviously JMOs. I am also aware that the C5 was a real technical leap forward over the C4 (excepting the early LS1 vs the LT4). With that in mind...

The media lead up to the C7 has been/is way to long. Remember the insanely-long lead up to the current Camaro? And just look at that...it may (or may not) be a great car, but the styling could only be charitably described as "unfortunate", at best. This front rendering for the C7 seems to be the least offensive rendering so far, yet it displays a ridiculous amount of old-fashioned, C3ish front overhang...and the rear rendering is plainly not serious or acceptable. So, where does all this leave us? Well, never let it be said that a new-generation Corvette must look better, or even just newer, than the previous generation. When the C5 first bowed in '97, I remember hearing several non-car people remark that they thought the C5 was the old car and that the late C4 was the new car. I had (have) a C4 GS at the time and of course I knew better, but I could see what they were getting at...especially from the rear 3/4 view, which is easily the best for the late C4...and the worst for the C5. Then, when the C6 debuted, I thought that it was everything that the C5 should have been right from the get-go. I don't think we've seen any renderings that are very close to the C7 yet. I'm just hoping that when we actually do see the car, my eyes don't hurt as much as they did when the C5 first arrived. Again, JMOs...

**67vet** · 06-21-12, 10:12 PM

The good news is that we will only be in "Speculation Mode" for several more months. Then will come the "why didn't they" or "should have done" for months to years.
I would like to see the technology jump 50 years worth for the C7. Compare what my 1962 was to what the 2012 ZR1 is.

Roger

**Low drag - High speed** · 06-23-12, 01:53 PM

That would sound the death nell for any real performance, styling or technological innovation in such a "non-PC" beast as the Corvette. Having said that, I agree that all we've seen so far are red herrings and canards meant only to step up the chatter.

**1analguy** · 07-01-12, 01:13 AM

GM is its own company. There are no "government owners"...

**catbert** · 07-01-12, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by 1analguy

GM is its own company. There are no "government owners"...

You are spot on.

There is nothing the administration would love more than for GM to buy out the balance of what the Government owns so both can put the bankruptcy behind them. I wish GM would do that instead of putting money in French automakers. What the hell is that about? BTW - if the administration WAS running GM, and they are as anti-car as people say they are, there would be no C7.

**Mark Watkins** · 07-01-12, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by catbert

You are spot on.

There is nothing the administration would love more than for GM to buy out the balance of what the Government owns so both can put the bankruptcy behind them. I wish GM would do that instead of putting money in French automakers. What the hell is that about? BTW - if the administration WAS running GM, and they are as anti-car as people say they are, there would be no C7.

Mark

**xfirez51** · 07-01-12, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by Mark Watkins

Mark

Agreed. You wish these people would at least use a modicum of sense and facts. As far as "the death knell for performance" meme, they said that in the 70's when stricter pollution laws essentially made fuel injection and engine control management a requirement. Now look what we have! Horrors! 638hp V8s or 306hp V6s. Oh the human suffering we have experienced.

**1analguy** · 07-01-12, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by xfirez51

Agreed. You wish these people would at least use a modicum of sense and facts. As far as "the death knell for performance" meme, they said that in the 70's when stricter pollution laws essentially made fuel injection and engine control management a requirement. Now look what we have! Horrors! 638hp V8s or 306hp V6s. Oh the human suffering we have experienced.

The government sure did ruin things for us, didn't they?

I just can't understand where all this "government-owned" crap keeps coming from. The government LOANED GM enough money to make it through the refusal-of-the-banks-to-lend-the-money-that-the-government-GAVE-to-them-for-the-specific-purpose-of-lending. The government didn't/doesn't want GM; they want the good-paying jobs that GM provides, both directly and indirectly. The government wants GM to succeed, and they're aware that they don't know anything about running a car company. The one and only concession to political reality that the government made in the whole deal was to oust GM's C.E.O. right at the start...and they knew when they did it that he was doing a great job, but the political right had the public whipped into such a "screw-the-car-companies" frenzy by then that they figured firing the guy was the only way to get everyone to accept the deal.

I thought that GM had completely repaid their loan by now, since Chrysler fully repaid theirs after only 22 months (and at nearly 20% interest!). The taxpayers made out very nicely on their loans to the automakers. Anyone remember how we did on the ten-times-greater amount that we GAVE to the banks? I'll tell you: it's long gone...rather than lend it out to get the economy moving again, they spent it on massive bonuses (hey...they deserved it for doing such a great job, right?) and gobbling each other up in hostel take-overs. Before all this happened, they had become "too big to fail"...now, they're "way-the-hell too big to fail". The auto industry has turned itself around and made huge progress, yet the banking industry is bigger, badder, and worse than ever, and the looming mess that they're leading us into will make this recent (and enduring) unpleasantness seem like a fart on the breeze in comparison...

**Huskerman** · 07-01-12, 07:00 PM

Didn't GM go bankrupt to shed a bunch of debt also........

GM's next government bailout to start saving it billions - Feb. 23, 2011

and then there is the good old UAW....lets see how they made out......

UAW Makes Out (Again) on GM Bankruptcy

Sorry about the post hijack......

**catbert** · 07-01-12, 07:06 PM

OK guys - and me too. Back to the C7. Sorry

**1analguy** · 07-03-12, 03:29 AM

Originally Posted by Huskerman

Didn't GM go bankrupt to shed a bunch of debt also........

GM's next government bailout to start saving it billions - Feb. 23, 2011

and then there is the good old UAW....lets see how they made out......

UAW Makes Out (Again) on GM Bankruptcy

Sorry about the post hijack......

While you're at it, don't forget to apologize for posting links to politically-motivated fabrications disguised as accurate reporting, too. This garbage may have fooled you, but I've worked inside the industry at the O.E.M. level for decades, in both management and labor, and I know what happened, why it happened, and the actual circumstances and conditions of the final deals. I've lived it first hand. I was there. So perhaps you'll understand why it upsets me when people post this kind of fabricated trash. It's damaging because most people who read it, without any prior knowledge, will accept it as factual because it sounds kind of plausible. That's not fair to the many tens of thousands of people in the American auto industry who've worked so hard and sacrificed so much (or to the many more thousands of people who are now no longer in the industry) to keep it all going.

And now, back to the C7...

**xfirez51** · 07-03-12, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by 1analguy

While you're at it, don't forget to apologize for posting links to politically-motivated fabrications disguised as accurate reporting, too. This garbage may have fooled you, but I've worked inside the industry at the O.E.M. level for decades, in both management and labor, and I know what happened, why it happened, and the actual circumstances and conditions of the final deals. I've lived it first hand. I was there. So perhaps you'll understand why it upsets me when people post this kind of fabricated trash. It's damaging because most people who read it, without any prior knowledge, will accept it as factual because it sounds kind of plausible. That's not fair to the many tens of thousands of people in the American auto industry who've worked so hard and sacrificed so much (or to the many more thousands of people who are now no longer in the industry) to keep it all going.

And now, back to the C7...

Bravo! Well said.

**catbert** · 07-03-12, 08:59 AM

OK - If you would like to continue this interesting, but off-topic discussion, please take it to "you know where." Thanks

**Yoda** · 07-07-12, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by 1analguy

GM is its own company. There are no "government owners"...

1analguy...

I will not belabor the issue of ownership of GM here. I am sending you a PM with a link to another forum here in the Action Center. The link will take you to our "Edge Forum" it is our forums for such items and subjects as have been discussed here

outside the C7 Design and marketing

I would be interested in your take on the video, either posted in the Edge or privately in a PM back to me..

Thanks

Bud