Future Corvettes: E-Ray, ZR1, C9 EV, and more

[Hagerty]

Fulfilling long-held rumors, our beloved Chevy Corvette has officially begun its journey toward full-electric propulsion. On April 25, GM President Mark Reuss announced two near-term Corvette variants-what he called an "electrified" model due early next year to be followed by a fully electric, Ultium-based vehicle.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/future-corvettes-e-ray-zr1-c9-ev-and-more/

[Piper]

The C8 will never be on my wish list because I like sunny afternoon drives with my wife and small dog.
It’s not really a problem though because all the Vettes I have owned are used.
A C6 Grand Sport however “is” on the wish list.

[GeorgeWA]

An EV Corvette looks like every other hi end SUV from Aston Martin , Lamborghini or even the Pedestrian looking Porsche SUV’s , not very promising… That said there are some really great looking and performing internal Combustion Vettes that are coming our way… My suggestion is that forgo the EV to your next “family carrier” and stick with push-rod engines for your sports cars…

[at7000ft]

Interesting, I think you critiquing a vehicle that does not exist?

[Gary_Bechtold]

A hybrid (not plug in) sounds nice but the weight does not. A full electric Corvette, uh no. That fat pig can be turned into bacon. No thanks.

I don't mind electric but I do mind the batteries. Give me a refuelable (hydrogen or something else) electric car and I am interested. Having to tether my car to a wall plug is a no thanks for me.

[JSievers]

Until they fix the styling I have no interest in purchasing a C8 of any type. I'll stick with my C6 Z06 instead.

[ed]

I was not a fan of the C8 styling either, until I saw the Z06 in person. It's wider, to accommodate wider tires and the front end has been tamed a bit. Overall, acceptable.

[Twwtuna]

No surprise that most respondents (including current Corvette owners/admirers) are not enthused at all about the prospects of an E-Ray. What readers should realize is that GM is not building the electrified future Corvette for the aforementioned. They plan on moving on to an entirely new demographic of Corvette owners with the furture car. Us current car enthusiasts are in the rear view mirror for GM. Can you say irrelevant because that's what we will become to corporate. That decision has already been made.

[hyperv6]

This is not about the buyer it is about survival. 

the big players like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche are migrating to Hybrids and in time full l electric models too. This is to meet regulations set to change the world in more than climate. 

[Twwtuna]

The average age of a Corvette owner is still in the 60s. GM wants to transition the brand to a much younger demographic for obvious reasons. Younger generations generally are much more socially conscious about climate issues, etc. There may be some market/regulatory reasons as well to develop the E-Ray but in the end it is mostly about the customer that drives corporate decisions. The Corvette is no exception.

[Hacksaw]

Think you mean the new younger brain washed indoctrinated.

[Smilodon]

But the youngsters, unless they're trust fund kids, will not be able to afford the car or the insurance.

[hyperv6]

Z06 as it is the one I would most likely buy.

GM best leave the V8 Vette alone and the very last car to convert.

I am not out to save the planet when I buy a Corvette. I am out to test the limits of the earths gravity.

I know they will have a very agile and fast Electric Corvette but the sound, feel and smell of a Internal combustion Corvette is part of the experience.

This will be me in the future. Words courtesy of Rush that I slight adjusted for my future.  

My uncle preserved for me an old machine
For 50 odd years
To keep it as new has been his dearest dream
I strip away the old debris
That hides a shining car
A brilliant red Corvette
From a better vanished time
We fire up the willing engine
Responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel
I commit my weekly crime
Wind in my hair
Shifting and drifting
Mechanical music
Adrenaline surge
Well-weathered leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware
Suddenly ahead of me
Across the mountainside
A gleaming alloy air car
Shoots towards me, two lanes wide
I spin around with shrieking tires
To run the deadly race
Go screaming through the valley
As another joins the chase
Drive like the wind
Straining the limits of machine and man
Laughing out loud with fear and hope
I've got a desperate plan
At the one-lane bridge
I leave the giants stranded at the riverside
Race back to the farm
To dream with my uncle at the fireside

[Gary_Bechtold]

Mine is a Silver Turbo "Barchetta".  (Well Targa actually).

Jump to the ground
As the turbo slows to cross the borderline
Run like the wind
As excitement shivers up and down my spine

[Smilodon]

The video shown behind the stage for this when it was first performed? Jeezus wept. 2112 was great as a concept, but this? Epic. And it's "Bark-etta" not "Barch-etta". 1977 Indianapolis was the epicenter for cars, and Rush tried to kill us. One of my favorite songs.

[SAG]

since Calif. is determined to be "all Electric".
If GM want's sales there,
'A bend over, w/o a Reach around' will be necessary.

[TonyT]

And no kiss!

[Gary_Bechtold]

or lube.

Too soon?

[Smilodon]

Cali can have Tesla. We want real Corvettes.

[tabboo]

Mary Barra is surely the ANTICHRIST.

[hyperv6]

Folks this is bigger than California and bigger than Mary. 

The cold harsh reality is automakers need to be global and the global regulations are driving this not California alone. 

The automakers are all investing billions into this and have stopped fighting. They are not going to cut bait and run on this as they have no choice to sell cars in a global market.

Add to this the majority of the people who buy vehicles will make the change as the cars get cheaper and easier to charge.

Most car buyers are not enthusiast and only care about getting where they are going and could care less if it is gas or electric. In fact most would love to never change oil again. They are not like us who love the drive.

The change over is a matter of survival and the biggest players are well on their way not. 

The only real variable is this. Th3 time line may be adjusted as development and accept is moved along. 

So if you want to get mad get mad at the global community pushing the climate  change crap and are forcing not only EV products in us but also are pushing regulate our manufacturing in our country that can effect our standing in the economic world. 

You think a EV Corvette is horrible we have much worse things we are going to face and it is not of Mary’s doing. She is only looking for a way to keep the company she is in charge of viable in the future. That takes president over just keeping us gear heads happy. 

I am working in the racing and performance market and we are looking and moving to any and all options to our path in the future. 

[Smilodon]

Climate change is demonstrable scientific fact, not "crap". Fox News much?

[Biffster]

RIP CORVETTE
IT WAS NICE WHILE IT LASTED

[ed]

The 'future' Corvette that I am interested in is the Z06. Been on the waiting list for a year, and they won't even start building them until sometime this summer. At least 2 years, unless I buy from a flipper.

[hyperv6]

The C8 is a smash hit no matter what the detractors like to portray. Even with no chip shortages the wait would be long. 

Like the change to the Mid engine the change to EV there still will be a Corvette. We may not always like the changes but in the end this car will survive. Now if the rest of the market were not going EV then it may have been an issue but at some point they all will be at the same place. 

If I were to worry about anything I would be more concerned what the EPA plans are for collector cars. We have enough old Corvettes to take care of everyone for a long time as long as we can get gas for them and the oils and other things that could be cut off.

Even worse we need to guard against the EPA restricting collector cars.  

Don't day it can't happen. In some countries where you drive can be restricted and others they are looking to add more alcohol to the fuel.  

Some countries charge more tax as a car ages so it is more expensive to keep.  They can and odds are will try to price you out of the hobby. 

This should be our front burner concern. 

[cassman66]

hyperv6, check out Singapore's rules for collector cars or, for that matter, any car over a certain age. You are spot on correct.

[Highrider]

I be happy to see GM ( Mary Barra) actually make some current models, so I could buy one without getting put over the barrel.
So far the " new" corvette gets a "F" for fantasy , because that's all they have been since they came out, UNAVAILABLE MOST OF THE TIME

[J3]

We may have to destroy the earth to save it. It takes 500,000 to 600,000 lbs of earth to mined to make the battery for one battery for one car. That is 12 tractor trailer loads. Since there are 1.5 billion vehicles in the world that is some very big holes in the earth

[Hacksaw]

I have no problem with electric cars, want one, buy one. However, they are being forced on us. The government is going to destroy the fuel supply for the citizens of gas powered machines. I will take mum to breakfast in the C2 today and enjoy every minute of it. People come out of the restaurant and take pictures and say beautiful car. Nobody ever comes out and says, oooh nice Prius. Electric Vette? Not yet, and at my age, never.

[Hacksaw]

I have no problem with electric cars, want one, buy one. However, they are being forced on us. The government is going to destroy the fuel supply for the citizens of gas powered machines. I will take mum to breakfast in the C2 today and enjoy every minute of it. People come out of the restaurant and take pictures and say beautiful car. Nobody ever comes out and says, oooh nice Prius. Electric Vette? Not yet, and at my age, never.
On another note, California just announced they expect electrical supply shortages this summer. They will push you into electric, then discover they don't have enough of it, and then blame you because you ran your air conditioner.

[stefanvon]

Hello! I like what You say except that You like to buy 1 e-mm.I believe that You said that because You as well I see no other way to take us from a- b.They (our elected sc pros,lol)force us to buy them.Best regards Stefan.

[79CORVETTE2021]

As a NEW owner of a 79 Corvette, NEVER,NEVER a SUV

[stefanvon]

I just wrote a lot about how much a e-vehicle is nothing but something that'll take You from a to b as fast as possible.Since I'm 65 I hoped that I was old enought to NOT have to buy that **bleep**,I seem to be wrong very,very sad.Since to me a car is car with an american V8,period.I have a 76 Eldo with ALL options her hydramatic is the by far the smothest gearbox that I've ever had.I wish You guys the best of cruising.Best regards Stefan

[Corvettebaggs]

IMO, by the time they get the EV's so they can go 800 to a 1000 miles on a charge and have the infrastructure set up to handle all the vehicles, something else will come along and make electric obsolete. You know technology is going to stop at electric.

[Autopiloted]

Here's my take. I have a C-7 seven speed manual. (I once had a '57 C-1 manual). Zora Arkus-Duntov believed America's Sportscar should be fun to drive. He replaced the pedestrian 6 with a V-8 coupled to a 3 then 4 speed manual. I wanted a C-8 until I learned a manual trans was not offered. When I take my C-7 out for a drive, it is to DRIVE not ride. As a former fighter pilot, I want to "bank and yank" (lower the wing and pull back hard on the stick to turn). If "self-driving cars" are next following electric cars, then I'm going to hang on to my C-7 and watch it increase in desirability. My other ride is a five speed Saturn Sky w/ LS-2 thanks to Mallett, Inc. I hope GM gets the message that with Pontiac and Olds gone, GM will no longer offer true performance cars that are fun to drive. The E-Ray may be a fancy looking appliance. Ho-hum.

[Smilodon]

I see your C7 and Mallet, and raise you my '04 40th Anniversary Holden/Pontiac GTO with the Blueprint Engines LS based 7.0 and the factory Tremec 6spd crunch box and aftermarket 4.33 independent posi rear axle. Don't care about "desirability" or resale. All the interior leather is popping seams, the carpet is fried, and aesthetic compromises were made to install the cage, necessary in a car that runs sub-12 second quarter miles, but will do a radar and GPS verified 177mph on the lonely long North Dakota highways. Mine and I love it, and have an album full of late model Mopars & 'Stangs that watched my taillights and the owners fattened my wallet. Self driving "cars"? Jeezus take me now, life's no longer life. I'm coming home, 'Lizabeth!

[Autopiloted]

You get me brother!

[OB1Kubota]

Whiny old men with tiny........ minds. ICE is out. Electric it will be. Get over it or get out of the way. It ain't never going backwards. Just hope you will be able to drive your own set of wheels and not be issued a self driving pod. zip up!

[BB66Vett]

How many Corvettes do you own?

[TBob]

I for one am waiting for a 1962 with C 7 running gear.Come on GM you can do it.