POLL: What’s Next Reveal Timing

[John]

As we heard nothing at Petit LeMans, GM has chosen a different pre-reveal strategy for the ME than they did for the C7 — where we remember their using Petit LeMans in 2012 to announce the 1.13.13 NAIAS location/date, and they actually showed us the C7’s evolved emblem.

So time for us to mentally regroup and try to figure out what might GM do as far as either a pre-reveal tease program, or might they pop out a total surprise reveal (as Ford did with their GT), and/or will they do something very different from GM’s past Corvette reveal strategies.

What is GM now planning are far as the C8’s pre-reveal strategy? There are so many options, so please pick as to which one is most probable in your opinion.

Since it is possible that GM will split reveal the coupe and the HT convertible, please choose/vote below based on the first version of the ME’s reveal ME reveal — and as always if you wish, please post below your reasons for why you voted as you did.

[Bluevette]

Number 4 and 5 are the same. Also, I still believe that they will do the NAIAS reveal. Now whether or not they will do a pre-tease is another question.

[John]

Fixed; thanks for pointing it out.

[Frenzy36]

Where the announcement of the reveal comes from I wouldn't even guess. However I have thought from the start it would be revealed in Chicago being the largest in the US with the most exposure.

[RedDropTop]

First of all, I have no idea. I voted "No pre-reveal tease program, but reveal it at NAIAS". Here's my thinking... I think GM really wants to reveal at NAIAS (and I really want that) but GM is still testing and is still ironing things out. They are not going to pre-reveal until they know for certain that everything is a go. I hope they will be confident by December to prepare their NAIAS booth for January. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[John]

I ike your analysis/thinking RedDropTop.

[RedDropTop]

I think GM is in a real bind. On the back end they have already announced the date of the end of production of the C7. On the front end they are still de-bugging an entirely new architecture with all new parts, such as DCT, and with all new challenges, such as cooling. At some point they have to start making the ME and selling it, and they can't let that gap get too wide. Since we have not seen a pre-release by now it may mean they are having technical issues.
Edit: This is complete conjecture on my part.

[Plasboy]

I didn’t vote for any of the above since I don’t have any basis for a good guess. Hope it’s not number seven though.

Maybe they are are not really that close to ready with the ME and will announce the future of the FE.

[WoW Factor]

With this new paradigm (C8) GM will want to reveal at NAIAS.

[Fasttoys]

Dealers have a lot of C7 yet to sell, I think this alone could change how GM typically announces a new release. I reluctantly picked 6 but had good intell that tease info would be starting in November, at this point I am not sure of anything.

On another note: The higher interest rates and the FED actions could slow down this economy. All my friends in the car biz & housing have seen a slight slowdown with 2019 looking like a slower selling year for these two segments. Low interest rates have heated up the car industry & change buying habits, higher rates will push it in the other direction. I Never thought I would be saying 5.5% is high.

My 2 cents: GM get this thing moving along because timing is very important when releasing a new product. If I was GM and the ME is the only car coming out of BG late next year I would plan on slowing down c7 production to meet demand and get the ME on line sooner than later. ( If the ME is tested and ready to go)

The NSX team prematurely announced the development and waited way to long to release the car. So many loyal fans went in other directions and all the teasing and hype never gave the NSX a chance. At least by now come out an admit your producing the ME, It’s one thing to get fans craving for more information drag it out way to long and you will get more undeserving criticism.

[Racer86]

Dealers have a lot of C7 yet to sell, I think this alone could change how GM typically announces the new ME. I reluctantly picked 6 but had good intell that tease info would be starting in November, at this point I am not sure of anything.

On another note: The higher interest rates and the FED actions could slow down this economy. All my friends in the car biz & housing have seen a slight slowdown with 2019 looking like a slower selling year for these two segments. Low interest rates have heated up the car industry, higher ones will push it in the other direction. I Never thought I would be saying 5.5% is high.

My 2 cents: GM get this thing moving along because timing is very important. If I was GM and the ME is the only car coming out of BG next year I would plan on killing the C7 at an earlier date or slow down production and get the ME on line sooner than later. ( If the ME is tested and ready to go) The NSX team waited way to long and all the teasing and hype never gave that car a chance when they finally released it.

I agree about the tease on the NSX. While the Me Corvette should be tested and refined before its release, at some point I will grow tired of the waiting, and will look elsewhere to buy. If they are going to build a ME, I think that they should tell us.

[Bikerjulio]

Dealers have a lot of C7 yet to sell, I think this alone could change how GM typically announces a new release. I reluctantly picked 6 but had good intell that tease info would be starting in November, at this point I am not sure of anything.

On another note: The higher interest rates and the FED actions could slow down this economy. All my friends in the car biz & housing have seen a slight slowdown with 2019 looking like a slower selling year for these two segments. Low interest rates have heated up the car industry, higher ones will push it in the other direction. I Never thought I would be saying 5.5% is high.

My 2 cents: GM get this thing moving along because timing is very important. If I was GM and the ME is the only car coming out of BG next year I would plan on killing the C7 at an earlier date or slow down production and get the ME on line sooner than later. ( If the ME is tested and ready to go) The NSX team waited way to long to release that car and all the teasing and hype never gave that NSX a chance.

Agree. My dealer is sitting on about 3X their usual stock and it's not moving too fast. I've already predicted that GM will do what is normally done in this situation - plant shutdowns. Don't know if that has ever been done at BG because of slow sales. 2009-10 maybe?

[Bikerjulio]

6a. There could still be teasing as well as a NAIAS reveal.

[John]

I think GM is in a real bind. On the back end they have already announced the date of the end of production of the C7.

I hope that my earlier comment did not get us into a locked in date for the end of C7 preoduction, when I posted that in a December 11, 2017 memo to its dealers which were getting a ZR1 allocation, GM stated that its production allocations were based on production of the ZR1 through approximately March, 2019.

Then we had one other probably-confirming bit of information, that when a dealer went into his GM WorkBench Connect program and similar software, there were no C7’s listed for production beyond next March — though he could see defined C7 production schedules through March, 2019.

However, as we all know, GM always reserves, and sometime exercises, its prerogative to change its mind, for the following sentence was also included in GM’s December 11th memo.

”The estimated production guide for Chevrolets is based on estimated production schedule, which remains subject to change.”

Thus the C7’s production while currrently scheduled to end in March, could conversely end in January or months later than next March.

As RedDropTop appropriately noted, how well’s the ME’s testing and development schedule is proceeding, is probably the major determinant.

But as the number new C7’s produced during the just concluded months of July, August and September were greater than its customer deliveries, and as winter is upcoming... This is further ccompounded by the more there is ME news is, which at least for two of my friends caused them to hold on on 2019 purchases {“at least until I see the C8’), there might be reverse reasons for the ME starting production sooner than later

[Frenzy36]

I agree about the tease on the NSX. While the Me Corvette should be tested and refined before its release, at some point I will grow tired of the waiting, and will look elsewhere to buy. If they are going to build a ME, I think that they should tell us.

GM - Should At Least Let Us Know It's Coming ! I will grow tired of SILENCE FROM GM ALSO. Then there will be a gently used low mileage Ferrari in my garage instead.