Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinjlm
I know I’m in the minority in thinking that. Even in my own company. Had that discussion today with the guy that actually does the forecast for GM vehicles. I look at it from a “what’s needed to make the ZR1 a better performer than Z06” perspective. The “problem” that Z06 has is it cannot put all its power down to the rear wheels. It’s traction limited on launch. Twin turbo would just give ZR1 more power that it can’t put down. The E-Ray, with less power than the Z06, walks it in the quarter mile. Why? Traction from the E-Motor. E-Ray already has the widebody look of the Z06. Remove the LT2 and drop in an LT6 and voila! You have a widebody Corvette that outperforms the Z06. Then add the TT to that and get a Zora.
That’s the way I’d play it if I was king for a day. But I’m not, so it probably won’t shake out that way. But if it does, I will have the biggest $#!t-e@tin’ grin on my face that you’ve ever seen.
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No doubt what you say makes sense. But I think ZR1 will stick to its roots for now in being a pure RWD performance vehicle.
The C8 seems to be the generation being used as the Corvette team putting out what they have always to wanted to make in each Corvette variation.
Stingray- It's the mid-engine Corvette they always wanted to do available to the masses.
Z06- This is the pinnacle Z06 they have always wanted to do. From the mid-engine architecture to the engine. This is what they truly wanted to succeed the C6 Z06 and LS7.
ZR1- It's going to be the ultimate pure bred power monster put into a RWD vehicle.
I don't think they will meddle with the established variants yet. I don't think the C8 will be the "swan song" for the ICE Corvette, but it may be the last gen to be pure ICE. Who knows. The E-Ray I think is certainly there to get the fanbase used to the idea of at least a performance hybrid. But its reception has been ho hum so far. They barely built 400 E-Ray's so far and MSRP is already the market for it.
I think the biggest issue E-Ray has for it is you have the Z06 in the line up and priced so close to the E-Ray. The enthusiasts are gushing over the LT6( myself included naturally) and that is overshadowing the E-Ray. Given how "special" the Z06 is, you might as well spend the little extra to go Z06 over E-Ray.
I think Zora will get a different reception than E-Ray. In different, I mean more positive gushing over it given it will be LT7+electric motor. LT2 is viewed as "boring".
Oh and forgot another sign the ZR1 has no electrification: The ZR1 mules around the 'Ring has no markings letting first responders know it contains a HV battery pack like the E-Ray mules had.