RE: Mid-engined Corvette Stingray revealed!
Discussion
Grindle said:
The Americans have never done RHD, save for the Chrysler 300 and latterly the Mustang with few exceptions. Quite why they haven't sold Corvettes, Camaros, Challengers and Vipers in RHD though, is strange?
Strange but true, there are a lot of RHD cars built in USA. For instance, until recently all BMW Z4s were built in USA. And I think a lot of the BMW X models are built there as well.Cadillac had a go at selling RHD Cadillacs in UK about 15 years ago but didn't get anywhere. I think it was at a time when GM still owned Saab and they were platform sharing so easy to do RHD.
Jeep? I'm not sure where the off-road ones like Wrangler are built but I guess it's likely to be America.
akadk said:
It’s not the messiah
Audi did this 10 years ago
Mid engine
4.2 V8 420PS
186mph
Supercar looks
Open metal gate manual
Aluminium spaceframe
The original R8 was priced at £7xk
And ten years later dispose inflation Chevy made a car the will our perform the Audi and like cheaper to maintain. Audi did this 10 years ago
Mid engine
4.2 V8 420PS
186mph
Supercar looks
Open metal gate manual
Aluminium spaceframe
The original R8 was priced at £7xk
as with any engineering team, there are a number of contributors on a range of disciplines
here's a promotional video from Chevrolet, about the engineers, including Tadge Juechter, who has been with Corvette a long time now and who I think is kinda cool
video here:
https://youtu.be/FeMfPDURncw
.
here's a promotional video from Chevrolet, about the engineers, including Tadge Juechter, who has been with Corvette a long time now and who I think is kinda cool
video here:
https://youtu.be/FeMfPDURncw
.
What are peoples thoughts on UK pricing?
A 2019 Corvette Stingray here starts at £72,945 ($91,220). In the US it looks like they start at $55,900 so we're about 63% more expensive.
Using those numbers £78,200 ($97,800). Probably rounded up to a £79,995 start price is my guess.
Certainly gives new R8, 911 and used McLaren buyers something to think about.
A 2019 Corvette Stingray here starts at £72,945 ($91,220). In the US it looks like they start at $55,900 so we're about 63% more expensive.
Using those numbers £78,200 ($97,800). Probably rounded up to a £79,995 start price is my guess.
Certainly gives new R8, 911 and used McLaren buyers something to think about.
Jay Leno has a walk around the new car in a video released today. He mentions the design philosophy of the corvette was always moving to mid engines and now that dream is realized. Some of the angles in the video sent so flattering because it looks a little long. But, I suspect that’s a combination of lens and YouTube compression. It’s a very good car even ignoring the price.
America continues to show they can make a decent car and meet the tastes of the US driver. I think that demonstrates the increased sophistication, and demands, of the persons buying cars like these.
America continues to show they can make a decent car and meet the tastes of the US driver. I think that demonstrates the increased sophistication, and demands, of the persons buying cars like these.
scottydoesntknow said:
What are peoples thoughts on UK pricing? Probably rounded up to a £79,995 start price is my guess.
Yes, I think that's the best we can hope for. Essentially the same price as a 6-pot Porsche Cayman/Boxster GT4/Spyder. And prices will go upwards from there.This new Vette will be a big car, so whether Brits want it at all is a significant question. You could be off up the road in a smaller, recently used McLaren for around the same money.
akadk said:
It’s not the messiah
Audi did this 10 years ago
Mid engine
4.2 V8 420PS
186mph
Supercar looks
Open metal gate manual
Aluminium spaceframe
The original R8 was priced at £7xk
A boring engine for a car which promised so much. I like the R8 and had one i bought cheaply at auction for a while, but until the V10 came out it was too weak on power with a dated engine and at today's prices like someone else said cost a fortune. Supercar looks with little more than company repmobile diesel power.Audi did this 10 years ago
Mid engine
4.2 V8 420PS
186mph
Supercar looks
Open metal gate manual
Aluminium spaceframe
The original R8 was priced at £7xk
unsprung said:
Grindle said:
Quite why they haven't sold Corvettes, Camaros, Challengers and Vipers in RHD though, is strange?
After all it's not just the UK, it's Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Malta, Hong Kong, Japan, Cyprus, Singapore and probably many more i don't know about.
Your enthusiasm is infectious, but there's little to no market in the countries you've listed. Take a look at median household incomes. Then look at operating costs. Or simply the price of petrol. After all it's not just the UK, it's Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Malta, Hong Kong, Japan, Cyprus, Singapore and probably many more i don't know about.
And don't forget to include heavy-handed government charges, as in Singapore, where automobile ownership is essentially repressed.
There is no contest between LHD and RHD; the former is massive and global and overwhelmingly represents the world's higher-earning households. I despair when people post here as if the jury is still out on this topic.
You are very wrong. The actual answer rather is that they've realised it makes sense rather late, which is why we DO have RHD Mustangs now.
I refer you to the Corvette owners club which i was in for years where they had international owners of the cars who would have loved to have the wheel on the correct side for their roads.
scottydoesntknow said:
What are peoples thoughts on UK pricing?
A 2019 Corvette Stingray here starts at £72,945 ($91,220). In the US it looks like they start at $55,900 so we're about 63% more expensive.
Using those numbers £78,200 ($97,800). Probably rounded up to a £79,995 start price is my guess.
Certainly gives new R8, 911 and used McLaren buyers something to think about.
USA and UK pricing has always been madness with USA sports cars. I lived in USA for 2 years and i bought a brand new Corvette in 2002 with a small discount off the sticker price as they call it for buying just before month-end. I paid around 40% less than the price the official importer in London was charging. That's a huge difference. Not so long ago you could get a 5 litre V8 Mustang over there in base trim for the price of a Focus diesel here. (I think it was 2017).A 2019 Corvette Stingray here starts at £72,945 ($91,220). In the US it looks like they start at $55,900 so we're about 63% more expensive.
Using those numbers £78,200 ($97,800). Probably rounded up to a £79,995 start price is my guess.
Certainly gives new R8, 911 and used McLaren buyers something to think about.
rockin said:
Strange but true, there are a lot of RHD cars built in USA. For instance, until recently all BMW Z4s were built in USA. And I think a lot of the BMW X models are built there as well.
Cadillac had a go at selling RHD Cadillacs in UK about 15 years ago but didn't get anywhere. I think it was at a time when GM still owned Saab and they were platform sharing so easy to do RHD.
Jeep? I'm not sure where the off-road ones like Wrangler are built but I guess it's likely to be America.
Yes, I have a Wrangler, they’re still built in Toledo, their traditional home. They make RHD versions for the U.K., Australia and for the United States Postal Service.Cadillac had a go at selling RHD Cadillacs in UK about 15 years ago but didn't get anywhere. I think it was at a time when GM still owned Saab and they were platform sharing so easy to do RHD.
Jeep? I'm not sure where the off-road ones like Wrangler are built but I guess it's likely to be America.
They’re also building the new Gladiator pick up at the same factory which will also be available as RHD
, only because i wont be able to afford one 
that said im so pleased they are making it in rhd. Pricing is all guesswork.
Look at it logically. A new Mustang Bullitt is just over 46k dollars in the US and £47k pounds in the UK.
If GM have seen fit to launch at 60k dollars and have seen the way the Mustang has sold in Europe, why would they not do the same? Granted they have a dealer problem but it is a little more exclusive than a Mustang.
What GM don't want is slow sales like the old Vette. Time will tell.
Look at it logically. A new Mustang Bullitt is just over 46k dollars in the US and £47k pounds in the UK.
If GM have seen fit to launch at 60k dollars and have seen the way the Mustang has sold in Europe, why would they not do the same? Granted they have a dealer problem but it is a little more exclusive than a Mustang.
What GM don't want is slow sales like the old Vette. Time will tell.
Grindle said:
What? There is no market in places like Australia where they love their fast cars, New Zealand and the car mad Japanese have no money?
You are very wrong. The actual answer rather is that they've realised it makes sense rather late, which is why we DO have RHD Mustangs now.
I refer you to the Corvette owners club which i was in for years where they had international owners of the cars who would have loved to have the wheel on the correct side for their roads.
The Japanese buy LHD - it is a sign of wealth and status (and being in the Yakuza).You are very wrong. The actual answer rather is that they've realised it makes sense rather late, which is why we DO have RHD Mustangs now.
I refer you to the Corvette owners club which i was in for years where they had international owners of the cars who would have loved to have the wheel on the correct side for their roads.
GM simply don’t know how to do RHD. They’ve never had to do it: Holden engineered everything for Australia, Opel looked after Europe, and Korea did their own stuff, so North America have never had to engineer RHD. Recently they have they started to do it for Australia (Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Acadia are both sold as Holden in Aus).
Perhaps the message about RHD has started to get through, but given Aus and Thailand are the only two mass market RHD countries left in GM, and the volumes there aren’t huge, I’m not sure how long it will continue.
Jader1973 said:
The Japanese buy LHD - it is a sign of wealth and status (and being in the Yakuza).
GM simply don’t know how to do RHD. They’ve never had to do it: Holden engineered everything for Australia, Opel looked after Europe, and Korea did their own stuff, so North America have never had to engineer RHD. Recently they have they started to do it for Australia (Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Acadia are both sold as Holden in Aus).
Perhaps the message about RHD has started to get through, but given Aus and Thailand are the only two mass market RHD countries left in GM, and the volumes there aren’t huge, I’m not sure how long it will continue.
as this car is midengined.. much easier to engineer and deliver RHD.. than a front engine car.GM simply don’t know how to do RHD. They’ve never had to do it: Holden engineered everything for Australia, Opel looked after Europe, and Korea did their own stuff, so North America have never had to engineer RHD. Recently they have they started to do it for Australia (Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Acadia are both sold as Holden in Aus).
Perhaps the message about RHD has started to get through, but given Aus and Thailand are the only two mass market RHD countries left in GM, and the volumes there aren’t huge, I’m not sure how long it will continue.
Grindle said:
scottydoesntknow said:
What are peoples thoughts on UK pricing?
A 2019 Corvette Stingray here starts at £72,945 ($91,220). In the US it looks like they start at $55,900 so we're about 63% more expensive.
Using those numbers £78,200 ($97,800). Probably rounded up to a £79,995 start price is my guess.
Certainly gives new R8, 911 and used McLaren buyers something to think about.
USA and UK pricing has always been madness with USA sports cars. I lived in USA for 2 years and i bought a brand new Corvette in 2002 with a small discount off the sticker price as they call it for buying just before month-end. I paid around 40% less than the price the official importer in London was charging. That's a huge difference. Not so long ago you could get a 5 litre V8 Mustang over there in base trim for the price of a Focus diesel here. (I think it was 2017).A 2019 Corvette Stingray here starts at £72,945 ($91,220). In the US it looks like they start at $55,900 so we're about 63% more expensive.
Using those numbers £78,200 ($97,800). Probably rounded up to a £79,995 start price is my guess.
Certainly gives new R8, 911 and used McLaren buyers something to think about.
Everyone seems to be forgetting about VAT - the driver of a big part of the differential in price is that US prices are before sales taxes.
Corvettes are built in Kentucky is a dedicated factory. It’s well worth a visit, tour and the corvette museum is there too. The DNA runs deep, and the history and ethos of building light and with surprising innovation is cool. My C5 z06 has carbon fiber hood, aluminum frame, magnesium roof frame, titanium exhaust etc from 2003. Best engines by far despite pushrod - mount low and are light (and yes I have an Aston V12 so I know good engines). Heads up display, magnetic shocks etc all found first in Vettes.
Anyway.... Vette factory always has just had one line making one car - with variants only for convertible or Z06 or options. Did make the Cadillac XLS in a corner in limited numbers for a while. Whenever I have done the tour (done it for every one I’ve ordered) I’ve asked about RHD and they’ve shrugged and said ‘we can sell everything we make here in the US - when the sales start flattening in the later years we’re tooling for the next one and don’t want to tool for RHD’ or something similar.
Corvettes are built in Kentucky is a dedicated factory. It’s well worth a visit, tour and the corvette museum is there too. The DNA runs deep, and the history and ethos of building light and with surprising innovation is cool. My C5 z06 has carbon fiber hood, aluminum frame, magnesium roof frame, titanium exhaust etc from 2003. Best engines by far despite pushrod - mount low and are light (and yes I have an Aston V12 so I know good engines). Heads up display, magnetic shocks etc all found first in Vettes.
Anyway.... Vette factory always has just had one line making one car - with variants only for convertible or Z06 or options. Did make the Cadillac XLS in a corner in limited numbers for a while. Whenever I have done the tour (done it for every one I’ve ordered) I’ve asked about RHD and they’ve shrugged and said ‘we can sell everything we make here in the US - when the sales start flattening in the later years we’re tooling for the next one and don’t want to tool for RHD’ or something similar.
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