Corvette FE and ME Nomenclature

[Skank]

Ok, I think a question on the Corvette model nomenclature is in order from Harlan Charles or Tadge Juechter. Or maybe we need to have a Ask Harlen Poll. Each generational change usually was developed on a well defined chassis that was different from the prior generation chassis. I always thought that it was a mistake to assume this new ME Corvette was a C8. From the C7 all the way back to the C1 the car was based on the front engined configuration. While the mid engine car will still be considered a Corvette I believe the use of the Zora name will indicate it as a model. The Stingray, Grand Sport, ZO6, and ZR1 names should remain as a front engined model name only thereby requiring a separate generational nomenclature for the mid engine car itself.

[91ZR1]

I agree. If there is a new FE in a couple of years, as I believe, that should be the C8. The ME is the first of a new platform.

On the other hand, Chevrolet can name it whatever they want. OK with me.
Bring it on! ?

[John]

I am hearing from several that there will be a C7 continuation — though whether that is for one year, two years, or it morphs into a FE C8, is not known. Factually, the C7 can not become a 2022 becuase it lacks then required Federal safety standards for that year (e.g., AEB and BSP). Tadge specifically stated, in a Q&A, that “there is no room in the C7 to fit BSP due to the heat exchangers being located there.

[MsBadWolf]

As I stated in another thread, I think the idea of another front engine Corvette will hinge on potential sales. If the ME sells extremely well, the next gen FE car might be delayed or cancelled. I'm hoping there is room for both and enough buyers to keep both styles coming out for many years to come. The Corvette has made wonderful advancements with each gen and even sometimes with year to year improvements. They have the front engine car so well figured out it doesn't seem to make sense to abandon the whole platform. That would be a waste of all the R&D and lessons learned from years before.

[Corvette Phil]

I agree that the C7 platform will continue after the intro of the ME. There's too much to be "lost" by moving to a totally new radical design platform. The C7 is only in its 6th year - not enough time to amortize tooling etc.

[John]

GM has made one ton of money on the C7, and all costs have been long amortized. With C7’s continuing as you suggest Corvette Phil, GM will make more money on the 7th gen.

[John]

As I stated in another thread, I think the idea of another front engine Corvette will hinge on potential sales. If the ME sells extremely well, the next gen FE car might be delayed or cancelled. I'm hoping there is room for both and enough buyers to keep both styles coming out for many years to come. The Corvette has made wonderful advancements with each gen and even sometimes with year to year improvements. They have the front engine car so well figured out it doesn't seem to make sense to abandon the whole platform. That would be a waste of all the R&D and lessons learned from years before.

As I learned from Skank (thank you), at a recent competition among the very top brands, an engineer from a competing brand said that the C7 in its final version is the best front driver there is. Period, no qualifiers, the “very best FE there is.”

I believe Corvette is splitting platforms, e.g. an FE platform and a ME platform, giving more choices to us all. More excellent choices are always a good thing for us Corvette lovers.

[Skank]

It would be great to get a short dissertation on naming logic from Harlan on this. There seems to be a lot of confusion on this.

[John]

It sure would be; though I believe that Harlan would only talk about C7 and earlier naming practices — and least until the day of the reveal.

[Mobius]

For the last few years, I was convinced that the C7 would be the last FE Corvette, and I wasn't totally convinced either that the C7 and ME would simultaneously share the BG production line (as there is no precedent in 60+ years for two Corvette generations being produced at the same time).

So, the majority opinion now seems to be that the C7 and ME will share the BG assembly line for a couple of years, and that there may be future Corvette FE generations.

Of course, I'm all for that if it works out that way, as more choice in models is always a good thing, especially when the base ME/FE cars will start with 500+ Eagles under the hood.

Relative to the thread title, I'm curious if the ME convertible will be labelled a Spyder (which is just another interchangeable term for Roadster or Convertible). Personally, I hope GM chooses the term Spyder for the ME convertible.

[John]

Maybe we will have an ME coupe, a soft top ME convertible, a ME HT Spyder. That would be nice.

[Strake]

I agree. If there is a new FE in a couple of years, as I believe, that should be the C8. The ME is the first of a new platform.

On the other hand, Chevrolet can name it whatever they want. OK with me.
Bring it on! ?

I agree !!! I'm in the camp that there will be both the FE and ME going for a few years. I hope that the ME gets a new name, rather than C8....... hold that one back for an up styled FE Corvette in awhile.

[John]

Thank you Strake. You (and I) would be fine if the ME were named a Corvette Zora, which might result in the 2020+ ME generation being called the Z1 generation — with the ME generation which followed this first one being the Z2 Corvette generation, etc.

[OnPoint]

C8 and CZ1 (for Corvette Zora), perhaps.

[Skank]

A C8 and a Z1 or CZ1 would work too.