Corvette going green

An end to the horsepower war? These are sad times indeed.

tht sucks. hopefully the ZR1 should be a handful.

I am all for this change of direction for GM's sportscar division. While I like to hear about and talk about 620hp, we all know that a true sportscar is about a lot more than just power. Overall balance is key.

Colin Chapman founder of Lotus said it best "add lightweightedness". His recipie has given some of the best performing cars ever produced. The Elise/Exige both do 4.x sec 0-60, corner and brake like nothing else out there yet only need 190-250hp from a 2.0L 4-cyl engine. As a result the cars cost is less (40-60k) and as a bonus you get 30MPG on the freeway in what is basically a supercar.

THe recipe of 300-400lbs less weight and 150 less hp is FAR more tantalizing than a 700hp corvette. Lets be honest guys, we all like to talk and hear about big numbers, but if any of you have driven such a high powered RWD car, you will understand, that it makes the car very difficult to balance. There is too much power for the available traction nearly all the time, making the car more of a dragster and less of a sports car. GM has done a great job with the Z06 and ZR1 and the engineers have made them handle as best they can, but I think reduced weight will be far more beneficial in the future Corvettes than added power.

Add power and what you get is a less balanced car more prone to traciton issues, and straight line speed. Bigger engine, is heavier, less efficient and worsens the cars dynamic handling.

Remove weight, and you get a better balanced car. It will accelerate faster with less power, it will brake better, it will corner harder, and change direction faster all due to reduced momentum. It will also allow a smaller cheaper, more efficient engine to be installed, without sacrificing overall performance. Need I go on?

Lightweight is a very good way to go. Well done GM figuring that out! It's good to see that a major manufacturer has recognized the key to allow performance and economy to coexist. They are not mutually exclusive as some people belive. It will just take a change of heart on the part of manufactueres and enthusiasts. Bigger is not necessarily better.

I look forward to the next Corvette to see how seriously that ideal is taken to heart.

Only fault of the Lotus Exige/Elise is that it is a track toy only. I have a buddy that bought one recently and returned it...lol. Def not a vehicle you want as a primary or only vehicle.

I would also say the ZR1 is not a recommended commuter but the base Corvette truly is. GM is making believers with the latest Corvette.

too bad toyota couldn't produce them that way...and by the way, that 1200 never makes it to the ground

GM should get a big pat on the back for not only producing a car with such power but also not producing that power just to move a heavy beast. A LA M Benz.

Instead GM's engineers wanted to make a World class Sports car with great balance of power and reduced weight!

I know Rosko is trying his best to be a class clown. All good. I can guarantee that 1200HP Supra needs more maintenance than a used Yugo. Def not a daily driver and I am truly not knocking the Supra, it is just a aftermarket fact!

It appears the Corvette has a new competitor in the GTR. The GTR in my mind is the bar GM should be working towards with the next c7z. A more compact design and forced induction instead of more displacement seem key to me. Ideally I invision a twin turbo 5.7L LSX motor on the solstice platform.

I DONT KNOW WHY THIS HAS TO BE THE END OF HORSEPOWER THEY SHOULD BE WORKING TO GET BOTH HORSEPOWER AND GOOD GAS MILEAGE GMS EUROPEAN COMPANY OPAL HAS COME UP WITH A SPORTS CAR THAT HAS A 1.3 LITER TURBODIESEL THAT HAS A 0 TO 60 TIME OF 4 SECONDS A TOP SPEED OF 155 MPH AND GETS 113 MPG AT 140 MPH SO YOU SEE IT CAN BE DONE.