If you read the whole story and note the part by Dave McLellan and how the Mid Engine V6 Vette proposal in the 70's lead to the V6 Fiero.
This was where the idea originated and then was used by Hulki. This is a little known and correct fact about the Fiero. It really did start as a idea for the Corvette by GM Design. Unused Ideas at GM never die they get moved around a and used on later cars.
As for the C7 going mid engine don't hold your breath as its not likely to happen. GM goes through this on ever redesign and there is just not enough support in the Corvette camp to get it done.
There is only a slight chance it could appear as a second low volume model costing over $100K and shared with Caddy. But right now neither company really needs to spend a ton of money on cars like this till they get the rest of their line ups fix. Cars that make profits are the priority and a mid engine car is just a halo inthis case.
IP: Logged
06:50 PM
PFF
System Bot
Francis T Member
Posts: 6620 From: spotsylvania va. usa Registered: Oct 2003
Guys.. thats not a GM drawing or design. A magazine illustrator made those up so the article just wouldn't be text. The artwork is meaningless; the C7 will not look like that.
IP: Logged
08:18 PM
WhiteDevil88 Member
Posts: 8518 From: Coastal California Registered: Mar 2007
*IF* they EVER do it, they'll probably use a longitudinal setup instead of a transverse, especially if they want it to be a "supercar", so that trans wouldn't go so good for us.
If they DID do it transverse, that would be the best thing to happen for our V8 swappers in a long time.
IP: Logged
07:56 AM
Xanth Member
Posts: 6886 From: Massachusetts Registered: May 2006
That looks like someone tried to force Corvette design cues on a Cadillac CIen. Not a happy marriage.
Looks good to me. I like the Cien so naturally I like this concept. It would be nice if they could come up with something new and not recycle past designes though. Either that or they could drop the Chevy badging and call it a Cadillac Corvette. Why not? They are both high-end General Motors products and are also in the same price bracket.
I would love to see the Chevrolet team morn the loss of the car from their division. It would serve them right for having a part in killing the Fiero.
I reallty don't think that the Chevy brand name is worthy of the Corvette anymore when they offer cars like the Aveo. Imagine if Lamborghini made the equivelant. The Corvette is an oddity in the Chevrolet line-up and has become better suited to the Cadillac line. In my opinion the car would have greater credibility when compaied to the other high-end performance cars from Europe. 0.02
[This message has been edited by RACE (edited 06-28-2007).]
IP: Logged
12:14 PM
Gokart Mozart Member
Posts: 12143 From: Metro Detroit Registered: Mar 2003
Reading the interviews they don't want to change the look from the classic sports car. There won't even be a high end Vette, something to compete with the supercars except a model like the zo6. Unless they make the Caddy Cien with the Vette sister car, like the XLR, the Vette will stay front engine.
IP: Logged
02:10 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
IMO, I think this idea is going anywhere. The Audi R8 and it's 100k price tag maybe tempting for GM in producing a high end euro killer like the Cien? However, the XLR super charger is nearing the 100K range and it's a front engine...not a rear mid/engine. Coupled with GM not wanting anything to knock down the sells of the Z06....I don't see this ever getting any wind in it's sails. Plus, the Corvette purithians will not want anything that looks closely related to a Fiero's rear end nor rear engine.
Everyone knows that the 1989 fiero prototype already has this type of design. The fact they want to put the engine in the back proves that they reconsidered the fiero. Of course - hell will freeze over before GM considers reviving a fiero like car (even under a diff name). Because Corvette sales would go down
IP: Logged
06:17 PM
Boostdreamer Member
Posts: 7175 From: Kingsport, Tennessee USA Registered: Jun 2007
The Caddy looks really good. The Corvette looks really bad. I don't know what the artist got for it but he should have gotten life! (Fred Flintstone paraphrase)
------------------ Boostdreamer Admin for Fiero Pilots group on Flickr.com 1987 SE Daily Driver 1985 SE parts car
IP: Logged
06:42 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
The Caddy looks really good. The Corvette looks really bad. I don't know what the artist got for it but he should have gotten life! (Fred Flintstone paraphrase)
I argee. It reminds me of the ole' BMW to which they chopped off the back end to make it smaller.
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 06-28-2007).]
IP: Logged
08:07 PM
Jun 29th, 2007
Brian Lamberts Member
Posts: 2691 From: TUCSON AZ USA Registered: Feb 2003
Winding Road is awesome. It's more about the passion of driving, rather than mere technical facts. It's free and that concept of online magazines might be the future, as retailers don't stock as many magazines anymore as they used to.
