SPIED + VIDEO: All-new Clips Capture The Mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Testing — What Do They Tell YOU?

One of the most highly anticipated sports car launches is coming soon. That's because the legendary Chevrolet Corvette is going to go from being a front-engined V8 to something different.

Looking more like an Italian exotic than than an Amercian muscle car, we're excited to see what General Motors has cooked up. As I've mentioned before, if there's ONE thing that GM does right, it's high-performance vehicles.

The two latest spy videos emerging show the car doing two things:

1) Driving on normal city streets. Nothing too crazy there, except it does give you a super up close look at the new Corvette.

2) The next-gen Corvette lines up multiple times at what I am guessing is Milford Proving Grounds for what appears to be Launch Control tests.

That said, I wanted to see if there's ANYTHING the Spies can deduce from these two videos.

Let's see what you come up with, Spies!

runninglogan1 - 6/23/2018 2:04:32 AM

+1 Boost

Tells me it's normally aspirated and has a dual-clutch auto. Also tells me it's going to be awesome!

TomM - 6/23/2018 6:43:38 PM

+2 Boost

GM already has a Regular 8 speed Automatic - that competes with all of the Dual Clutch units for speed of shift - and is more civilised when you want it to be. As a Transmission man - I would much prefer that - a GM speciality - to anything else they can come up with

MDarringer - 6/23/2018 7:18:41 PM

+2 Boost

Dual-clutch transmissions are notoriously fragile. Give me a real automatic with flippers.

bmw7er - 6/23/2018 2:21:54 AM

+1 Boost

Was nice knowing you, Corvette.

MDarringer - 6/23/2018 7:55:37 AM

+1 Boost

I agree. Making Corvette a brand and having a mid-engined halo would be find, but the days of the Corvette being an accessible--if not affordable by all--sports car are gone.

mre30 - 6/23/2018 9:20:31 AM

0 Boost

While I'm glad that some engineering team has "won" at Chevy and finally got their dream of producing a mid-engine Corvette approved, I struggle to see how Chevy can leverage this into a profitable production run.

Do they roll out a low (minuscule?) volume and expensive mid-engine sports car and then badge engineer the name "Corvette" onto a whole bunch of other vehicles that are already in the lineup?

Chevy Suburban "Corvette" anyone?

MDarringer - 6/23/2018 10:37:27 AM

0 Boost

They should turn Corvette into a Porsche-fighting brand and co-brand it with Cadillac in premium dealers.

Corvette models:

Zora / mid-engine halo
Stingray / mainstream model
Mantaray / Boxster
Shark / Cayenne
Piranha / Macan

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 6/23/2018 12:04:58 PM

+1 Boost

@MD This suggestion (you have stated it often) has always made a ton of sense to me. If Porsche has done it and reaped the benefits many times over, it only makes sense for GM to do it with the Corvette brand. I can't see this as anything other than a big win for GM.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 6/23/2018 12:11:47 PM

+2 Boost

I'd still like to see the buyer research that says the Z06, ZR1 or Stingray customer said they would pony up for a mid-engined Corvette. I am still skeptical that there is a need for this model in the lineup. I don't see it doing a lot of volume. And there has been too much put into it for it to be a short run 500-1,500 unit play.

MDarringer - 6/23/2018 12:23:39 PM

-1 Boost

@CC As long as the Corvette is a Chevy, it is antithetical for it to cost a lot because the gap in price between the Corvette and say a Malibu makes it look silly. The same is true of the NSX being 4-5X the cost of a TLX. The same is true of the R8 versus Audi's median transaction.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 6/23/2018 9:48:20 PM

+1 Boost

@MD Agreed. It is a very expensive car now. Has been that way in Canada for a long while. Which is odd since it had a low rent interior for so many years. Now that the C7 shows what it could have always been, it is too pricey for most. Being that it is not on a shared platform, it may always be this way.

MDarringer - 6/23/2018 9:54:09 PM

0 Boost

@CC I've long wanted a Z06 but I don't know what I want to sell. My wife allowed me to build a "barn" on our property. It has 4 lifts (8 cars stored) and 4 more in front of the lifts. Something would have to go for the Corvette to go in. LOL

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 6/23/2018 10:20:16 PM

+1 Boost

@MD As previously discussed, you married a Gem.

MDarringer - 6/24/2018 9:39:15 AM

+1 Boost

@CC Two things she comes from a wealthy family and makes plenty of her own money. Although the story is long and convoluted, I inherited well. She's never had to worry about money and because I grew up having to hustle to make a buck, it's still in me.

Truthy - 6/23/2018 9:44:13 AM

+2 Boost

A couple of observations. The Corvette is moving away from the affordable car niche. The Camaro will fill in this niche. The front engine Corvette will be sold along with the new Vette for at least a year and then a lower priced mid-engined offering with likely a turbo V-6 will replace it.

And there is the very real possibility of a Cadillac version.

MDarringer - 6/23/2018 10:00:56 AM

-1 Boost

The Corvette moving away from its niche makes as much sense as an FWD 911.

xjug1987a - 6/23/2018 3:01:45 PM

0 Boost

I’ve always said and could be wrong, but with all the success that Cadillac Racing has experienced, this being a Cadillac... makes more sense than an extremely expensive Chevrolet...

MDarringer - 6/23/2018 3:46:05 PM

-1 Boost

Indeed and it's a gamble worth taking.

dumpsty - 6/25/2018 8:17:47 AM

+1 Boost

Really? I've been hearing that the front-engine Corvette will remain in production for the foreseeable future. The rear-engine Corvette will come-in strong & possibly get a TT-V6 version in 2-3 years after initial production.

Also, there is a rumored (possibility) of Chevy making a low-slung CUV variant - only if gas-prices stay bearable & the market for sport-performance (if that means anything) CUV's stay strong. Think GM's response to FCA's Grd Cherokee SRT Trackhawk.

runninglogan1 - 6/23/2018 4:13:33 PM

+1 Boost

It won't be that expensive. Well under $100k to start.

MDarringer - 6/23/2018 4:53:14 PM

+1 Boost

#oxymoronic statement

dumpsty - 6/25/2018 8:29:17 AM

+1 Boost

I'm trying to figure out what new rear-engine performance or luxury car is priced under $100k?

...nada...can't think of any....

I'd expect the rear-engine Corvette to start at $175k maybe. Depending on initial specs. And that's assuming initial production models will have Z06/ZR1 levels of performance, at the minimum.

TheSteve - 6/23/2018 5:24:11 PM

+2 Boost

I hope that the traditional front engine/rear drive 'Vette does not disappear. It's an icon -- an American icon -- in America and abroad. It proved that "Yanks" can design and build a car that competes with Ferrari, for a fraction of the price, and which requires as lot less maintenance.

I'd hate to see a legend disappear. I'm not a GM fan, nor a 'Vette fan, but I do respect noteworthy accomplishments.

xjug1987a - 6/23/2018 6:42:13 PM

+1 Boost

I love it when politics are not here, it’s so nice to agree!

MDarringer - 6/23/2018 6:19:46 PM

0 Boost

Time to buy a Z06 while you can.

carloslassiter - 6/24/2018 5:57:47 AM

+2 Boost

I've considered a Corvette a few times through the years, but 5 minutes in one of Chevy's for-crap K-mart style dealerships is enough to sour me on the idea.

MDarringer - 6/24/2018 10:12:02 AM

+2 Boost

Indeed. The local Chevy dealer used to be downtown. When they relocated to the automall, they bought a massive property and then built the dealer at the far back of the lot. All of their big used car selection is out front on display. After driving past that, is their massive new inventory on display. After driving past that is the dealer with space for (not exaggerating) 10 people to park. The Chevy showroom isn't big or impressive. Behind the showroom is the service entrance and behind the service entrance is a tiny space for Cadillac.When they sold Saabs, Cadillac had to share space. The place is 100% idiocy in design.

garysandiego - 6/25/2018 7:05:33 PM

+1 Boost

I have had the same impression and it's induced the same visceral response. Linoleum tile floors, glass sales booths, salesmen in polyester ties and short sleeve shirts, screaming kids all over the place. It's a living breathing stereotype. And to top it off, no one wants to help you with a Corvette. They just expect you write a check. I guess they encounter a lot of curious motor-heads who just want to cop a ride but have no means to buy the car. If they intend to price the next generation car well north of six digits, they are going to need to get those cars out of that sort of environment.

Truthy - 6/25/2018 11:23:37 AM

+1 Boost

I'll take this over my local BMW dealer. They are the most unaccommodating sales staff I have encountered. They act as though they have something better to do than to wait on customers. Horrible service.

garysandiego - 6/25/2018 7:08:28 PM

+1 Boost

I've never been able to get a salesman's attention at the local BMW dealerships in San Diego. But it's not a problem in LA. What gives?

MDarringer - 6/25/2018 7:23:23 PM

+1 Boost

You're probably blasting 91X too loudly.