According to Autoextremist the possibility of America’s favourite front-engined sports car going to a mid-engined layout for its 7th generation incarnation is more than just a rumour.
Autoextremist claim they have the ear of one or two GM heavies and these super reliable sources have confirmed that a mid-engined Corvette has gone beyond the planning stages with engineering already being well underway.
The Corvette has been America’s affordable iconic muscle car since its inception and it is this very formula of cost effective performance that has hindered moves to a mid-engined layout. Expensive transaxles and complicated engine cooling requirements would have moved a mid-engined Corvette from Muscle car to Supercar…both in performance and pricing.
According to Autoextremist, a way has been found to develop the mid-engined layout without massively increasing the price. Try a mid-engined Corvette for current model Corvette convertible money!
Having found a solution to engineering a mid-engined car cost-effectively, GM are believed to be analyzing every aspect of the mid-engined Corvette business case. There is more to it than just selling well priced performance cars though. GM would like to be the second American manufacturer to take the flag at the Le Mans 24-hour race and a mid-engined Corvette offers them a chance to achieve this with a modified production car.
Autoextremist believe that the green light will be given to the project in early September this year and that 2010 will see the introduction of the C7 mid-engined Corvette road car and Le Mans racer. Should be a good year!
Steane
[Source: Autoextremist via Jalopnik]
[Image source: Performance Driving Network]
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They shouldn’t make it a mid-engine car because it would take away from the history of the car and the Z-R1 is a “supercar” already. Part of being a front engine car is the ease of working on and to use parts on other custom cars and that would be made more difficult for Chevy lovers to do if it was a mid-engine car. I say NO and will become a FORD guy if they do.
@ Joe,
Yes it is, but the Corvette cant get that much faster than the ZR1 without at least switching to AWD. And mid engine would be an be a great improvement for traction. But even with the corvettes current layout, I wouldnt say its that easy to work on. My dad had a C6 coupe, and man that thing is complex. Everything is electronic, good luck working on that engine, and everything is so expensive I would hate to take it apart and mess with anything.
However I can say that it would change the car completely, and I can see how it could be a big debate. Kinda like the whole headlight change with the C6.
I think MOST people arent going to be doing heavy work on these cars in their home garage, so for the most part, I think mid engine would be a great improvement.
Mid engined lambo’s and ferrari’s are harder to work on, but that doesnt stop car enthusiasts from loving them and buying them!!!!!!
Ohh, and also, if you switch to Ford, what one of their cars are you going to buy that would beat the Vette? The only thing I could possibly think would be the discontinued, mid-engined, Ford GT.