The future of Corvette

[Koenigsegg]

How is that a long way off? It hasn't been officially announced yet when they'll release the Corvette C7. It's not going to be 2012. So if it is released in 2013, then it's only 1 year. Porsche 991 GT3 RSR is a longer wait.

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by David

Doug Fehan of Corvette Racing confirmed at the Road America ALMS that they would not race the C7 until 2014.

David

And if I remember correctly, the Corvette Racing program has only been green-lighted through the end of 2013. Perhaps we'll see Corvettes and Camaros racing together in the new series in 2014.

[David]

Originally Posted by Koenigsegg

How is that a long way off? It hasn't been officially announced yet when they'll release the Corvette C7. It's not going to be 2012. So if it is released in 2013, then it's only 1 year.

The Corvette factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky stopped visitor tours in mid-September in order to begin converting the assembly line to the new Corvette. A credible source has said that the official press announcement will be at the Detroit Auto Show on January 17, 2013. Production of the new Corvette will apparently begin later in 2013 as a 2014 model.

If you want more details, I have assimilated much of the credible speculation HERE.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

And if I remember correctly, the Corvette Racing program has only been green-lighted through the end of 2013. Perhaps we'll see Corvettes and Camaros racing together in the new series in 2014.

Perhaps on the same track, but not in the same class. (Corvette Racing vs. tube frame Camaros, I mean.. yes I know both are in Grand Am GT)

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Koenigsegg

How is that a long way off? It hasn't been officially announced yet when they'll release the Corvette C7. It's not going to be 2012. So if it is released in 2013, then it's only 1 year. Porsche 991 GT3 RSR is a longer wait.

At least 17 months, if they race a C7R at Sebring in 2014, that's a long time for me!

[Tim the Grey]

David? that seems like a VERY long time to switch tools? Jaguar Brown's Lane switched from XJ-S to XK in around 6 weeks, IIRC...
I cannot believe they are taking nearly a YEAR to re-tool a facility. That's just plain inefficient.

[David]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

David? that seems like a VERY long time to switch tools? Jaguar Brown's Lane switched from XJ-S to XK in around 6 weeks, IIRC...
I cannot believe they are taking nearly a YEAR to re-tool a facility. That's just plain inefficient.

"General Motors will be investing $131 million in the plant for upgrading tooling and machinery................"

It is apparently much more than a model changeover. As noted, they are doing some major tool and process upgrades and are apparently moving some previously outsourced operations in-house. They are also EXTREMELY security conscious and don't want anyone spotting even the stray C7 piece as they start to make the initial changeover plans.

Finally, of course, under no circumstances could we expect GM to be as efficient as Jaguar.....

[HJJ]

C7-R to be shown on Thursday.

Look for the Corvette C7.R to be announced on Thursday at Road Atlanta

- From John Dagys

In re-reading John's tweet it say's announced, maybe it won't be shown.

[rich07]

AFAIK the roadcar C7 hasn't been unveiled so this will most probably be an announcement.

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by HJJ

C7-R to be shown on Thursday.

- From John Dagys

In re-reading John's tweet it say's announced, maybe it won't be shown.

I can't imagine they'd show the C7.R before the show the C7 at NAIAS in January...

[TF110]

Take a page from the Viper and race it while the road car makes its appearance the same year. Well, I can only hope.

[joeb]

I was digging through some of my old IMSA GTP memorabilia the other day and found this nice fold-out poster of the GTP Corvette. I am including the image from the back of the pamphlet because it has a cool overlay of the GTP vs the street Vette. I would love to see a similar workup of the Vette DP and current street model. If you guys want to see more of this pamphlet I can try and figure out a way to scan it.

[David]

Originally Posted by joeb

I was digging through some of my old IMSA GTP memorabilia the other day and found this nice fold-out poster of the GTP Corvette. I am including the image from the back of the pamphlet because it has a cool overlay of the GTP vs the street Vette. I would love to see a similar workup of the Vette DP and current street model. If you guys want to see more of this pamphlet I can try and figure out a way to scan it.

Excellent info, thanks for posting. I for one would very much like to see more of the pamphlet.

[joeb]

Here is the next set of images from the Corvette GTP pamphlet:

[joeb]

Here are the last 4 pieces of the puzzle.You have to use your imagination to put a couple of the pieces together, but trust me it looks pretty good in the flesh.

[David]

Excellent scans, thanks very much. I may have to do a print, cut and paste just to see it in proper perspective!

Regards,

[Tzyghan]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

I can't imagine they'd show the C7.R before the show the C7 at NAIAS in January...

Competition with BMW says much about C7.R. With new Z4 GTE for RLL Team, new C7.R at Sebring 2014 is just a formality...

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

I can't imagine they'd show the C7.R before the show the C7 at NAIAS in January...

I wouldn't mind if they were debuted together at the NAIAS.






L.P.

[HORNDAWG]

Since the C7.R is on the way I thought I would go ahead and drop theses in here also, 2013 GTE rules (adjustments to 2012) from the FIA.

http://www.fia.com/sites/default/fil...09.2012%29.pdf





L.P.

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by joeb

Here is the next set of images from the Corvette GTP pamphlet:

Very good. Like those! Thanks.

I was at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green this summer and saw the Corvette GTP #52 there on loan from GM. Here's the text from the display in front of the car...

Did you know…

Chevrolet initiated the project with the promise that the mid-engined GTP car had to maintain a resemblance of the bodywork of the production car. 1985 yielded little as the Corvette saw breaking engines and gearboxes. One bright spot was the Daytona Finale where van der Merwe scored pole position at 1-minute.38.883 seconds (time was blurry in photo).

1986 was better with two wins plus seven pole positions and three lap records. Although the V6's achieved over 1000HP in qualifying trim, the necessary electronic engine management was lacking, resulting in engine destroying detonation.

For 1987, the turbo charged engines faced a 3-liter limit and an advanced production based engine management system made by Chevrolet was tried. Sadly, it was a failure as the engines proved to be just too thirsty. Even Lotus-developed active suspension was tried but, although conferring an advantage, it too failed, needing development.

In 1988, Elliott Forbes-Robinson took Doc Bundy's place beside van der Merwe and the Hendrich Team used a T711 chassis now fitted with a normally aspirated Chevrolet V8 engine built by Randy Dorton and using a revised electronic management system. Sadly other GTP cars were superior and Hendrick closed the operation at the end of the year.

On loan from General Motors Corporation

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by joeb

Here are the last 4 pieces of the puzzle.You have to use your imagination to put a couple of the pieces together, but trust me it looks pretty good in the flesh.

Thanks Joe, I think I saw that run at Daytona this year.

[MitchZ06]

LT1 info from Road & Track .

Displacement remains at 6.2L
4.4" bore spacing .
11.5:1 compression ratio.
Piston cooling jets from the LSA now standard on all Gen 5's ,
Direct injection that runs off a cam lobe .
Variable valve timing that can advance or retard the cam 62 degree's.
Cylinder deactivation which GM calls Active fuel management (V4).
Dry sump is standard but higher models get a dry sump.
GM is promising 450hp and 450 ft-lb.

Corvette to continue kicking heads in 2014 with the C7R. Just wondering if they're going to try and get a DI version of the LS5.5R for next season in the C6.R....

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

LT1 info from Road & Track .

Displacement remains at 6.2L
4.4" bore spacing .
11.5:1 compression ratio.
Piston cooling jets from the LSA now standard on all Gen 5's ,
Direct injection that runs off a cam lobe .
Variable valve timing that can advance or retard the cam 62 degree's.
Cylinder deactivation which GM calls Active fuel management (V4).
Dry sump is standard but higher models get a dry sump.
GM is promising 450hp and 450 ft-lb.

Corvette to continue kicking heads in 2014 with the C7R. Just wondering if they're going to try and get a DI version of the LS5.5R for next season in the C6.R....

I was curious about that as well. I'm thinking that the smaller displacement engine will provide them with a better power band with the restrictor.

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

LT1 info from Road & Track .

Direct injection that runs off a cam lobe.

Is this how Audi, Peugeot and others do it? I thought that the control was all electronic.

[lucky snake]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

LT1 info from Road & Track .

Displacement remains at 6.2L
4.4" bore spacing .
11.5:1 compression ratio.
Piston cooling jets from the LSA now standard on all Gen 5's ,
Direct injection that runs off a cam lobe .
Variable valve timing that can advance or retard the cam 62 degree's.
Cylinder deactivation which GM calls Active fuel management (V4).
Dry sump is standard but higher models get a dry sump.
GM is promising 450hp and 450 ft-lb.

Corvette to continue kicking heads in 2014 with the C7R. Just wondering if they're going to try and get a DI version of the LS5.5R for next season in the C6.R....

didn't they use this function on the c6r in 2007 le mans during caution periods? if i'm not wrong this created issues with the drive shaft causing the retirment of the car. If 450hp and 610Nm are promised for the road C7 isn't so far from the performances of a LS3.

Originally Posted by JHamilton

I was curious about that as well. I'm thinking that the smaller displacement engine will provide them with a better power band with the restrictor.

more or less is the idea that callaway had for the 2012 Z06 GT3 powered by a 6.2L and not anymore by the LS7 7.0L. But as happened in the reality ADAC didn't care about it and progressively reduced the dimension of the restrictor (starting from 1x64, reducing to 1x58, then 1x55 and 1x54 at the end).