Today there was a rumor that surfaced online that the next generation Corvette may have a mid-engine layout, or will have a mid-engined variant.
First let’s make it clear that Chevrolet does produce a mid-engined Corvette. However, here “a mid-engined Corvette” means Chevy actually only made one unit of such a Corvette, which is the Corvette Daytona Prototype, which Chevrolet created specifically for the 2012 Daytona race. Below are images of this Corvette.
Corvette Daytona Prototype is not a production car, and Chevrolet has no plan to make it a production car, plain and simple.
The fact is, beginning 3 generations earlier – starting from C4, before every new generation came out, there were always some rumors saying that the next “new” generation will be mid-engine, just like the current rumor saying that C8 will be mid-engine. So, do not put too much hope into the C8 Chevrolet Corvette.
On the other hand, it makes a hard business case for GM to massively build a mid-engine Corvette. The 2014 Corvette Stingray is bearing a starting MSRP of $53,000, but already offers a full aluminum car frame. Currently no other auto maker is able to sell a similar product in this price range (an full-aluminum sports car body within $50k price range). Obviously a mid-engine layout costs more, which will jacks up the MSRP without a doubt.
A higher MSRP will put the Corvette into a completely different consumer base. Consumer’s choice is seldom rational, and brand image deeply dominates consumer’s purchase decisions. For example, with the similar price, the Kia K900 offers more features and better performance than the Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan (actually the K900 is designed and equipped to be compete with the S-class), but from sales stats you see the Mercedes-Benz sold way more units of the E-class than the Kia K900.
The current MSRP of the 2014 Corvette is already overlap with some of Porsche’s models (for example, the Porsche Cayman). If the price of the Corvette had gone up for $10k – $20k, this kind of money can already get you a nicely equipped Porsche, which will steer consumer away from the Corvette.
What about Chevrolet wanting to build a 6-figure-price exotic car? Well, think about the Kia K900 case. Good design and good performance does not guarantee market success. Brand image also plays a vital role, and I believe Chevrolet or even Cadillac, still need some hard work to be competitive in the exotic car market.
Feel free to voice your opinion in the comment section below.
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