What Will The NEW Corvette Have To Look Like To Get YOU In It?

All over the 'net today there has been overwhelming coverage about General Motors tapping all of their design studios to tackle the next-generation C7 Corvette design. And, that's great. Perhaps the brand is following Ford's stride as seen with the all-new 2012 Ford Focus. It was said to be a "global effort."

If you do not recall, the 2012 Focus was the handsome car that stole this year's Detroit Auto Show.

But the Corvette has not had as much success abroad and with America's youth. In fact, it appears that the average Corvette owner's age is rising. According to J.D. Power, the average age is 54. Yikes.

We want to know, what will it take for an import buyer to get into a Corvette. Yeah, yeah, we already know; a nicer interior. But what else?

Take a look at the Corvette Stingray concept from 2009, does that speak to you?

Let us know in the comments below...

Carscoop reports:

GM is about to try something new: making Chevrolet's Corvette appeal to international markets. The General is soliciting designs from all ten of its styling studios, meaning that more than just American-market brains are weighing in.

The goal is to bring in younger buyers from the States, while also help gain sales in the all-important European market, among others.

"We have challenges in the States with the Corvette," Welburn told journalists in an interview at the Geneva Salon. "The average age of the customer is really rising." According to J.D. Power and Associates, the current average age of a Corvette buyer is 54.

"It is a key time in the development of the Corvette," Welburn said. "There is a lot of debate and a lot of study on the bandwidth of Corvette..."








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Joe_Limon - 3/9/2010 9:50:15 PM

0 Boost

what will it take an import buyer to get into a corvette? a opel badge lol.

dumpsty - 3/10/2010 10:22:36 AM

+2 Boost

I'm looking at the 09 Corvette Stingray concept and I can imagine:

1. The cockpit shifted forward
2. A mid/rear engine powertrain using existing engines
3. All wheel drive option. System biased to RWD in normal conditions
4. Huge interior redesign to (at least) meet Cadillac standards.
5. Offer high output DOHC version using next-gen Northstar successor

I only say this b/c Chevy has made a lot of advances with the Corvette, but the industry needs to see a Corvette variant that takes the Legend of Corvette to a much higher performance (and luxury) standard.

lewishamiltonpimp - 3/9/2010 10:45:35 PM

+2 Boost

I have been involved with automotive message boards since Usenet days and I can tell you that the C6, more than any other generation is well respected by import owners, young ones too - the only downside being the interior quality.

If GM can improve the interior along the lines of what they have been doing with their other cars (the CTS comes to mind) they will get more fans.

Oh, and call the leafspring something else :)

Joe_Limon - 3/9/2010 11:34:34 PM

0 Boost

CETS-Composite Electronic Transverse Spring :P

CarCrazedinCali - 3/10/2010 3:22:30 AM

+4 Boost

Interior quality is a problem if you ask me, so its not just about how it LOOKS to get me in it, fix the interiors first

LACMAN - 3/10/2010 10:22:52 AM

+2 Boost

So badgewhore, you been around a long time? You are grown? WTF! You sure fooled the sh*t out of me...

Joe_Limon - 3/10/2010 11:24:47 AM

+1 Boost

I could see you calling the Corvette engine barbaric since it's a push rod. But tell me this, why does the Corvette get better fuel economy then anything of equivalent power?

C6 Vette
16/26mpg
430hp

911 GT3 (and this is a stripped out car with no weight!)
14/21mpg
435hp

Lexus ISF
16/23mpg
416hp

veyron1001 - 3/10/2010 12:09:17 PM

+1 Boost

Because the other 2 cars do not have a useless 6th gear.

Joe_Limon - 3/10/2010 12:40:28 PM

+1 Boost

if it was just the gear the Corvette would have abysmal city fuel economy.

Joe_Limon - 3/10/2010 3:32:16 PM

+2 Boost

I'm just throwing this out there... but bullshit badgewhore, I doubt you've ever driven a Corvette, let alone lots of them.

Also, I gave the manual transmission specs, what you described is an automatic vehicle.

freeagent - 3/10/2010 7:26:57 AM

+2 Boost

an exterior that competes with porsche in terms of class (but that retains corvette heritage while dropping the need for the owner to wear a gold chain), a far better interior, and a modern engine

blackbr - 3/10/2010 7:58:09 AM

+1 Boost

The Corvette brand is associated with mid-life crises and retirement toys. I think plenty of younger people like the car, but perhaps don't think the car is being made for them.

It's certainly not that they are fixated on the Asian brands. Young people LOVE the new Camaro.

That said I'd still like to see some evolution in the styling direction of the next Corvette... along with a vastly improved interior.

fatandsassy - 3/10/2010 8:59:28 AM

+1 Boost

Let Cadillac design team do the interior they are the new masters at GM on that note.
Exterior - bring back the flair the car once had. I love the Transformers concept. It could be toned down a little. Love the split window in the back.

91z4me - 3/10/2010 9:22:18 AM

+2 Boost

I think that, as everyone has said, the interior will be key in this model. The exterior needs to be instantly recognizable as a Corvette but could be made to seem less chunky.

lewishamiltonpimp - 3/10/2010 9:24:05 AM

+4 Boost

Badgewhore - disagree. I frequent a couple of BMW boards right now and the C6 gets big respect. Having a pushrod engine is irellevant as you would know if you have driven a Z06 or ZR1. The Vette will never have a V6.

Fix the interior.

LACMAN - 3/10/2010 10:27:29 AM

0 Boost

If Camaro does an even higher powered Z version (Z0 something, ZR something, or Z28), it could fill some of Corvette's shoes. That way the C7 could go mid-engined like I would love for it to. That and correct the interior. Exterior design Im not too worried about them getting wrong.

BondMI6 - 3/10/2010 12:28:48 PM

+3 Boost

As everyone else said- the interior......

lock - 3/10/2010 12:50:49 PM

+2 Boost

agreed...

mercuryguy - 3/10/2010 1:32:05 PM

+1 Boost

Something like an Audi R8 or Ford GT500 as a mid-engine Vette is long overdue.

The GT SuperCar mistakenly never achieved mass production. The limited production priced the car beyond reach of most enthusiasts. Had Ford built the car in mass quantity to compete with the $50K Vette and others in that price range, the GT car would have been a winner.

Hence if Chevy can build a Supercar with a $50K sticker, complete with a more luxurious interior that offers GPS and bluetooth, they will surely have a winner. More mesh and hood scoops will no longer get them to the finish line.

Perhaps Chevy should build One car by merging the Caddy Roadster with the Corvette under one model. Have SuperCar performance with a Roadster Caddy Interior. Merging technologies to build one great car is a better idea than having many different brand nameplates.

MBCLS07 - 3/10/2010 8:32:56 PM

+1 Boost

Step 1: Redesign the Corvette's consistently hideous roof line. There's no reason the next generation Corvette couldn't look more Ferrari-like in appearance.

Step 2: Improve the interior.

Step 3: Consider going mid-engine. But not necessary.

iamdabest1 - 3/10/2010 11:50:27 PM

+2 Boost

i think they should make it look more exotic looking, ( maybe take styling cues from the cadillac cien ) and seriously upgrade the interior finish ,,,,