Next-generation Corvette wants to be a rival for Ferrari.. what are the chances?

"Next-generation Corvette wants to be a rival for Ferrari.. what are the chances?"

Great!! As evidenced by the ZO6, the Vette has always been great in straight line, barn-burning performance. However, shoddy construction (read as interior) and sub-par "everything else" ability MUST improve dramatically for this new product to be REALLY respected as the true exotic that it should be. This car always had the ability to be a Porsche, Ferrari, Nissan (GT-R) Audi, Aston, Lambo fighter! Make us proud, boys!!

I hate to sound like a blind know it all fanboy... but the Z06 has cornering performance as well as straight line, in numerous comparisons it holds its own on the skid pad, besting out Porsches and even Gallardo's.

As to having sub-par "everything else" might I ask how this is true? It has a massive 7.0L engine yet it weighs less then some carbon monocoqued 5.0L engined cars.

I don't think they can do it without creating a brand out of Corvette and offering models in distinctive configurations (mid-engined?) and price points (higher?). Power-train and trim differences won't cut it and bang-for-the-buck doesn't matter in the bespoke class.

And, I'm assuming that by "rival" they are referring to market perception and not track performance.

I meant to Deboost you, internationalmanofmystery.

ZO6 (for anyone who knows, that's enough said).

If Chevy's thinking about dramatically improve the Vette... I am drooling with the simple thoughts of how incredible it will perform. No question it will output numbers like Ferrari does. (NUMBERS, at the track, it's what matters)

lol

Just make it pricier, leave everything as is, and then it will be a Ferrari contender... hahaha AlleVier, you're a moron.

Very kind of you to say, GTR35, but I'm not saying leave everything as is (mid-engine would obviously not be). And as for pricing, I meant leave the entry-level model, but offer more expensive models (super-car or hyper-car level) with a greater distinction from the entry-level and with higher level of refinement and more dramatic styling.

Those who don't think this was a question of whether GM can get Ferrari buyers to cross-shop Chevy's current offerings needn't respond. If it's just about the boring question of whether GM can build a Corvette that can beat a Ferrari on the track, the obvious answer is yes, it can.

I hope they include some hydraulic dampers in place of sway bars. If they do include a forced induction v6, I would like to see the weight of this vehicle under the 3,000 lb mark.

"Next-generation Corvette wants to be a rival for Ferrari.. what are the chances?"


- Better than Lexus' chance.

The fact that you even care amazes me more.

OK... You cared enough to respond. That fact that you were the only person who responded tells me that there's more to it. Guess you and the other "observers" are just going to have to live with it then.

"As to having sub-par "everything else" might I ask how this is true?"

To Joe:
Watch any Top Gear reviews?

"NUMBERS, at the track, it's what matters"

Oh, really???

"...hope they include some hydraulic dampers"

Answering your own questions, Joe?

GTR35:

I will credit your account with the unearned boost!

thanks buddy!

Top gear is Anti American like most of you.I recently read a review of a comparison "The best handling cars under 100K" The corvettte kicked everyones butt but was place 5th out of 7.The reason they gave was the Recarro seats did not have have enough lateral support.How did they pull 1.07 G on the skid pad? Give it up.When the Germans,Europeans,Italians,Japanese etc loose they have to find some excuse.Blame the interior!!!!!!!!! That will make you win a race.

If i owned a Ferrari 599 GTB or SLS or and other Front Engined, Rear Driven GT, i would jump into it often and take it for a 3hr drive to watch my Football Team {Support, Not Own} Play. The performance is very important but more so is the quality of the interior and seats. Its ability to be driven for long periods at a time without fatigue from Vibrations and Noise and unsupportive seats is essential.

The problem with fanboys is that they live in fantasy land, they have no clue about the real buyers of these vehicles and the real world applications.

Some Buyers of these take them to the track, the vast majority NEVER take it to the track, EVER.

So just screaming about skidpad no's and refusing to acknowledge the interior fit and finish inferiority of the Corvette would be typical of the attitude of the NA manufacturers prior to the Financial Crash.

0.00%

I hear ya. I am sure vette fans are tired of it only being the bang for your buck car.

A proper suspension devoid of leaf springs? Do you have any idea how the leafs prings are utilized in a modern Vette? Research!

Fit and Finish is the Vette's problem, not the performance. Until the Vette can ditch the "Plastic Fantastic" moniker, it won't beat the Ferrari.

Corvette is already competitive, just check out the stig times at Nuremberg. These numbers are cold hard facts, love them or hate them.

Performance wise it certainly will. I am sure the interior will be greatly improved as well. The only problem in my opinion is that a nice interior and other improvements to make it more luxurious will up the weight a decent amount.

As for mid engine/V6, not too sure about that.

lets get real here. nobody that is shopping for a ferrari or a lambo is cross shopping it with a chevy. yes the vette performance numbers are fantastic but you cant stay in a vette too long. well not without a headache backache etc. fact is the best vette zr1 is over 100k with very bad interior add 10 k for the not as bad interior . now i ask you this for 150 grand are you getting a vette or the audi v10 which you can daily drive. and just for laughs ask a woman what car is sexier the aston audi ferrari or the vette you will have to say but thats a zr1 she will say what is a zr1 ill take james bond lol

Performance wise it is very competent now. It can match or beat the best of what Ferrari has now, problem is the horrifically cheap interior. When you step up to the level of Ferarri, numbers alone will not do it. It take smore than just speed to match Ferrari. You need a well crafted interior that isn't made of random parts from the GM parts bin. I can sit in a vette and name at least 15 items at a glance that are also reside in Cavaliers, Pontiac Vibes, Chevy Impala's ETC. To make it world class it needs an interior to match its performance. A Lancer Evo has performance comparable to an M3 but is in no way close in any other area. Problem is if they do that it will not be the Affordable supercar, as it will cost more than a GTR which is faster and far better built. I love the vettes performance but the build quality is horrible. the back bumper can easily be pushed in 3 inched and reminds me of a Rubbermaid brute trash can. Just look at the top gear test. I know Clarkson says a lot of biased things but look at how the whole rear end bows in when he lightly presses on the bumper. Keep the big V8, as it makes the Vette American, and big V8 engines are the signature of American sports cars, like the flat plane V8 is a signature Ferrari thing. Improve the interior and fit and finish to be better than the GTR and on par with at least Porsche without raising the price to their levels, and you have the ultimate supercar bang for your buck.

Zero to None.

I don't doubt GM can and will improve the Corvette; the Corvette is already a worthy sports car performance-wise. My only concern is that the Corvette is also built to a price point - there's a reason it's the bargain of the sports car world.

That on its own is not a flaw, mind you - the Corvette is arguably even more impressive when its price tag is factored into a comparison against its rivals from "premium brands." But, the benefit of that relatively low price comes at the expense of the R&D required to achieve a comparably refined product to those found from premium brands.

Will the new Corvette be better than the current iteration? Undoubtedly.
Will the new Corvette truly rival Ferrari and Porsche in all respects? Maybe.

No doubt Gm can do it, but how much will it cost? What will they sell to the guy that just wan to spend the usual 50k to 60k and don't desire the supercar performance?

I think chevy should be more concerned with competing with the new Viper first.

I will believe it when I see it. They have been talking about a mid-engined Vette for 3 generations already.

OAN: If they DO go mid-engine, PLEASE LET CADDY GET A VERSION! Resurrect the XLR and do it properly this time!

Shows what little you know about the next Viper!