With the ZR-1 coming out next year, has there been any talk of discontinuing the Z06?
I have always thought that was strange that they discontinued it in '05, and such cars have been discontinued historically. I would imagine that GM is concerned about putting out 6-7k Z06's that bring their mpg numbers down (even with as good of gas milage as they get).
The ZR-1 was not intended to replace the Z06. They are two different animals in my opinion.
I have not heard anything about discontinuing the Z06, but I have heard rumors that the next gen Corvette will be lighter, smaller, less powerful, and possibly supercharged. It would be foolish for GM to toss the Z06 aside - it has been somewhat of a success, right?
__________________ "I put a dollar in one of those change machines. Nothing changed." ~George Carlin 4 good Toyo T1Rs - back in business / CAGS Defeat / Tint / Soon to be Lowered / DEAD Braille, now --> Walmart Battery / Seat Bolster Mod / HPDE Checklist
I am trying to gauge how long I can wait to get a C6Z....
The Z06 is likely to be discontinued at some point. GM has never continued with any such designated car, and I have little doubt that if demand wains that they will discontinue it until there is more excitement.
There is also the mpg CAFE standards, and with 6-7k Z06 that creates a pretty good gap in their overall search for 35 mpg as a fleet. My wife is an Enviro lawyer and does a lot of work for Nissan and Mercedes, and she says I better get one fairly soon.
I just wanted to see if anyone had heard anything. Thanks.
Interesting that a SMART car (a little bigger than a push cart at Home Depot) gets approx. 35 mpg. Damn.... are they stupid-looking!!
My Z gets mid-20's on the highway in cruise. I'll gladly trade the 10 mpg penalty to drive the Z.
Or gain the lost 10 mpg by riding my BMW!
I'm not being a SMARTASS but I know someone w/ the Smartcar and he is getting 44-50 mpg. Damn small. My wifes 06 Jetta TDI gets 42 -50 depending on who's driving so no Smart car here!
My guess is that the current 427 Z06 will be continued through 2011 or whenever the C7 is introduced. It's not hard to visualize that current political trends (Dems probably taking over completely) and oil pricing trends will kill the LS7 motor at the end of the C6 run. Just in case I am wrong, I hedged my bet by getting my '08 Za few weeks ago at a great price!
No doubt in my mind that the C7 (and if there is a C7 Z) will be considerably smaller, lighter with a much smaller V8 - I have been hearing around 4.5 liters. If there is a C7 Z, the smaller engine will have to be direct injected and supercharged to have any chance to compare with today's performance. If GM does do something really special for the last year of the LS7 cars, not just another "paint and decal" cosmetic offering, I might buy it as a very long term keeper.
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'08 Atomic Orange Z06 with 3 LZ Sienna Wrap Interior, Nav, and Chromies. M2W, Halltech Killer Bee, Air Charger, 180 degree thermo, Body Colored Spoiler, More Mods coming
My guess is that the current 427 Z06 will be continued through 2011 or whenever the C7 is introduced. It's not hard to visualize that current political trends (Dems probably taking over completely) and oil pricing trends will kill the LS7 motor at the end of the C6 run. Just in case I am wrong, I hedged my bet by getting my '08 Za few weeks ago at a great price!
No doubt in my mind that the C7 (and if there is a C7 Z) will be considerably smaller, lighter with a much smaller V8 - I have been hearing around 4.5 liters.
According to GM, ALL future LSx engines will be supercharged. That's neither rumor nor speculation.
- It will almost certainly be forced induction, likely supercharged
- It will likely rely on fewer cubic inches
- It may be a dimensionally smaller car, possibly along the lines of GM's Kappa architecture
- It will likely utilize more exotic, light weight materials, such as those used in the ZR1 for example
- It will likely have less mass (simply less of it) and thus be lighter weight
And, according to the June '08 edition of Road & Track, the C7 will remain front engine, be smaller, lighter and will have a 4.7 liter V8. It appears it will be based on the Pontiac Solstice (Kappa platform) with Solstice assembly already being moved to Bowling Green.
And, according to the June '08 edition of Road & Track, the C7 will remain front engine, be smaller, lighter and will have a 4.7 liter V8. It appears it will be based on the Pontiac Solstice (Kappa platform) with Solstice assembly already being moved to Bowling Green.
I didn't see your earlier post on this subject - well, at least I was independently "in the ballpark." This will be a huge sea lane change for the Corvette, and although it may be necessary to preserve the marque, it will be interesting to see how the Corvette buying community will react. I would think that the new smaller C7 will have to be at least 300 lbs lighter to achieve C6 level performance with a 4.7 liter motor. I would think that the "standard" coupe and vert would NOT be supercharged, but a Z06 version WOULD be - just IMHO. Also, in an effort to attract new buyers, yet appeal to current buyers, the C7 will have to have some drop dead styling while incorporating some traditional cues - a much greater departure than C5 to C6 was. Once again just IMHO...
well, at least I was independently "in the ballpark." This will be a huge sea lane change for the Corvette, and although it may be necessary to preserve the marque, it will be interesting to see how the Corvette buying community will react. I would think that the new smaller C7 will have to be at least 300 lbs lighter to achieve C6 level performance with a 4.7 liter motor.
And your hunch appears to be correct. You're also correct in that the next Corvette may be lighter by "at least 300 lbs" because Corvette Chief Engineer Tom Wallace told Motor Trends Angus MacKenzie at this years Detroit Auto Show a regular LS2 powered Corvette with a 300 pound weight reduction would deliver the same performance as the current 505 h.p. Z06.
And yes, it will be a paradigm shift for Corvette. In addition, you’re correct in questioning how buyers will react to such a change. In fact, that very topic came up during a discussion concerning the potential of future Corvettes being AWD and/or mid-engine designs.
Interestingly, and as I said in this thread in August of last year.....
A smaller, lighter car with, dare I say it: something other than a V8 may eventually become a necessity. Then again, I was saying the same thing circa the mid to late 70's on the future of Corvette design. In fact, at one time I among others believed the Corvette would ultimately take the form of something akin to a (don't laugh) Pontiac Fiero or Sunbird.
Well, it may not be a Fiero or Sunbird, but the Solstice is in essence the modern equivalent. Let's not quibble over the fact it's a 'Roadster'.
The point here is not to say, "I told you so", but rather to re-state something that many have felt was the inevitable future of Corvette design for some time. It's just taking a while longer - but it's coming.
Personally, as much as I like the current Z06, a smaller, lighter, more nimble car with an equal power to weight ratio would be even better in my opinion. The dilemma GM finds themselves in, is will such a car sell to the Corvette demographic? Perhaps this helps explain why the C7 is on hold.
And your hunch appears to be correct. You're also correct in that the next Corvette may be lighter by "at least 300 lbs" because Corvette Chief Engineer Tom Wallace told Motor Trends Angus MacKenzie at this years Detroit Auto Show a regular LS2 powered Corvette with a 300 pound weight reduction would deliver the same performance as the current 505 h.p. Z06.
And yes, it will be a paradigm shift for Corvette. In addition, you’re correct in questioning how buyers will react to such a change. In fact, that very topic came up during a discussion concerning the potential of future Corvettes being AWD and/or mid-engine designs.
Interestingly, and as I said in this thread in August of last year.....
Well, it may not be a Fiero or Sunbird, but the Solstice is in essence the modern equivalent. Let's not quibble over the fact it's a 'Roadster'.
The point here is not to say, "I told you so", but rather to re-state something that many have felt was the inevitable future of Corvette design for some time. It's just taking a while longer - but it's coming.
Personally, as much as I like the current Z06, a smaller, lighter, more nimble car with an equal power to weight ratio would be even better in my opinion. The dilemma GM finds themselves in, is will such a car sell to the Corvette demographic? Perhaps this helps explain why the C7 is on hold.
I can't disagree in principle with your reasoning, but let me say this about that: My normal everyday use cars are not objects of emotion or passion, but my Corvettes (had 7 counting the new Z) are. Even had a '93 ZR-1. The 427 LS7 engine has an incredibly strong emotional appeal to a large segment of the Corvette community. This community has also willingly embraced the steadily increasing power that the Corvette has offered since the dark days of the late 70's, early 80's. I look at my '08 Z and see a wealth of power, engineering, and Corvette-related styling in my aluminum frame, carbon fiber and magnesium 427 Vette that is an 11 second 198 mph car from the factory. Hell, even the 3 LZ interior is pretty damn nice. These are the good old days - right now. I cannot say with any certitude that regardless of power/weight ratios a Solstice sized future Vette sporting a 287 cubic inch supercharged engine will have enough allure for me. My '02 Z was supercharged to over 600 h/p, but even though it had 100 h/p more, supercharging (which was very well done by LPE and ECS) still had it's "issues" from time to time and the '08 normally aspirated 427 is just plain superior IMHO. Also, very easy to get more power from...
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