Car and Driver reporting that C7 and C8 models produced together.

[WoW Factor]

According to Car and Driver Base C8 with be produced with C7 Z06 and C7 ZR1: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...dition-europe/

It's unlikely that this particular Final Edition C7 Corvette will ever make its way to the United States, because Chevrolet's plans for the new Corvette's rollout differ by market. While there may be a gap between C7 and C8 models in Europe, that's not the case for America. We have it on good authority that there will be some overlap between production of the C7 and C8 Corvettes for the first year or two of the mid-engined C8 car's run, with the high-performance Z06 and ZR1 C7 models continuing on as Chevrolet builds out the C8 lineup beyond the base car, which will launch first.

[Nickhull]

I can see a point in time where they might be building the final production C7 units at the same time as the C8 starts. There is no way the will be producing the C8 along side the C7.

The simple question is why would they? The C8 is going to sell for a slightly higher unit price, they started discounting C7s and the demand is going to be crazy for the C8.

[John]

While that was GM’s initial plans (going back to 2016 for sure and maybe earlier), trying to assemble them back to back on the single assembly line within the Plant, that turned out to be a far more difficult task than initially envisioned. Whether due to the supposed delay fo the C8, GM is going to re-configure things within BGA to make co-assembly easier, e.g., efficient production line speed possible, is not known.

It is realized that many are sure the Plant will have two assembly lines, but that is not what I am hearing — despite the Plant being made much larger when the new Paint shop was built. A doubled up assembly line leads to much great labor costs, for example now two sets of door installers instead of one.

[meyerweb]

I can see a point in time where they might be building the final production C7 units at the same time as the C8 starts. There is no way the will be producing the C8 along side the C7.

The simple question is why would they? The C8 is going to sell for a slightly higher unit price, they started discounting C7s and the demand is going to be crazy for the C8.

As the C&D quote above says, because initially only a base model C8 will be available. People who want a high horsepower, supercharged car won't be able to get it in the C8. Assuming C&D is correct, GM apparently thinks there will be enough demand for the Z06 and ZR1 to keep producing them. Probably in small numbers.

[meyerweb]

While that was GM’s initial plans (going back to 2016 for sure and maybe earlier), trying to assemble them back to back on the single assembly line within the Plant, that turned out to be a far more difficult task than initially envisioned. Whether due to the supposed delay fo the C8, GM is going to re-configure things within BGA to make co-assembly easier, e.g., efficient production line speed possible, is not known.

If the Z06 and ZR1 do continue in production in small numbers, the plant could batch those orders, so there's a week (or a few days) when the plant only assembles C7s, and then reverts to C8 production. Not saying they will do this, but it is a way to mitigate the difficulty of making two different models intermixed back to back.

[John]

Meyerweb, I did not see your above post before I wrote this, but as noted at the end of this post, we could be on the same page. IF???

GM has never done this before. For example, for 2014 there was only a Stingray and a Z-51 Stingray, but no C6 Z06 nor a ZR1 continued forward — and neither SR version could meet Z06 nor ZR1 performance standards. . Historically for Corvettes, once a generation has ended, there has not been two Corvette generations during a transition year or two.

If as is more than unlikely, the entry ME is as fast or faster than the Z06, then why continue the Z06? Conversely, if C&D had said that the ZR1 alone, which was designed from the outset as a two year model, but took an extra year to come to market, were to continue onward for another year to meet currenlty unmet ZR1 demand, that would be more likely IMO..

At the same time, it is acknowledged that there is so much still in a state of flux, that C&D could be correct, especially if BGA has figured out a way to efficiently and economically produce ME’s 3 1/2 weeks of the month but the last 1/2 week do just C7 Z06’s/ZR1’s.

Yet even that makes no sense as GM know that once the ME floodgates are open, that initial demand will greatly exceed demand, and there is that old truthful saying, “strike while the iron is hot.”

Not convinced yet of C&D’s double down.... They could be correct, but not yet convinced.

[Foreverfuelie]

Question, when BGA was assembling the Cadillac XLR (using C5 chassis components) along side C6 production in a plant nearly 1/3 of it’s now expanded state, why would producing a C7 and C8 on the same assembly line be any different? I agree, that the demand for C7’s had waned as of late making the continued production of C7’s seem unnecessary, the exceptions being ZR1’s and maybe GS’s. Using the “door installer” example, with the computer controlled assembly delivery process, although the door attachment may differ slightly, the proper doors, hardware and positioning equipment can all be supplied to the correct vehicle, just as it currently does for those with differing color and trim. Just saying, IMHO, not a long reach for the BGA talented folks.

[John]

Darn good questions Foreverfuelie. Here’s some partial answers. The XLR had is own, completely separate section of the Plant (it’s own assembly line). It occupied 250,000 square feet of the plant.

The old paint shop was coincidentally 250,000 square feet in area, and would have worked IF BGA had planned to use that area for a second assembly line. However, much of that area has been, and is still is being gobbled up by an increasing size of the Powertrain Build Center. How much of the 250,000 is being used for PBC increased size? We do not know, but it is probable that so much of it has been used up, that there is now insufficient space for a second assembly line.

Assembling a ME and a FE within a plant, is typically done at places like Ferrari, on a separate assembly line.

While some have posted that the new paint shop is triple the size of the old one, and as we know is in a brand new and separate building, most but not all, believe there is no room within it for an assembly line. Specifically when the Board of Directors of NCM came back from a private tour of the huge new paint shop, and some were individually asked upon their return if they saw anything relating to a potential new assembly line area capability, they said no, that what they saw was 100% the new paint shop, yet included one area for nightly charging of electric forklifts. Again and conversely, what is in this paragraph, is not believed by some forum members.

[SheepDog]

1. Would GM decide the issue in advance as a mental exercise? Or offer both models and allow the market to decide?
2. GM currently has several months back supply of FE cars and is continuing to build faster than it is selling FE's. What are the meanings and applications of this?
3. A flexible assembly line that builds two models. Impossibility? Solved engineering challenge?

4 What degree of line flexibility is required to do other ME variants on the same line with different power train, body and internal components.
5 May the unknown, undisclosed mid engine car be closely enough designed or specifically designed to allow both FE and ME on the same line.
6. If the line allows SR, Z06 and Z1 all different, then what specific ME feature prevents it from coming down the same line?

[meyerweb]

3. A flexible assembly line that builds two models. Impossibility? Solved engineering challenge?

I'm not sure what issues GM is having at BG, but building multiple models is old hat in the auto business. I had a tour of a Toyota plant in Japan about 15 years ago, and they were building Corollas, smaller Japan market cars, small minivans, and more on the same line, all intermixed. I've not seen it, but others have said American auto factories have been doing similar intermixing for a long time, too. I do know the joint Ford / Mazda factory in the U.S. built Ford Probes, Mazda 626s, and MX-6s all on the same line in the early and mid 90s, but those were all the same basic platform.

Maybe trying to mix the ME and FE is more complex.

[John]

Addressing just one small part of your post:

What specific ME feature prevents it from coming down the same line?

Here are just some of the components and systems of the ME that are completely different from the FE>

* All exterior panels;

* All interior panels;

* Completely different glass;

* Completely revised suspension;

* Completely different powertrain;

* Highly or completely different electrical system;

* Highly or completely different HVAC system;

* Highly or completely different cooling system;

* Etc.

Or looking at this from a completely different perspective:

The number of parts that were not changed from the C6 to the C7, was shown in the week after the C7’s reveal as being one zip lock bag full of bolts/washer/nuts, and additionally two additional carryover body pieces. A month later we learned that one of the two carryover body pieces, the coupe roof’s C6 rear hatch latch, wwas also going to be changed. If one counts individual, specific pieces in a car, you get a part count for a Corvette as being approximately 5,000 different parts.

Or a third perspective, assembly a mid engine rear third of the car is much more complex, far more intricate process than assembling the front third of a FE.

[3 Z06ZR1]

Meyerweb, I did not see your above post before I wrote this, but as noted at the end of this post, we could be on the same page. IF???

GM has never done this before. For example, for 2014 there was only a Stingray and a Z-51 Stingray, but no C6 Z06 nor a ZR1 continued forward — and neither SR version could meet Z06 nor ZR1 performance standards. . Historically for Corvettes, once a generation has ended, there has not been two Corvette generations during a transition year or two.

If as is more than unlikely, the entry ME is as fast or faster than the Z06, then why continue the Z06? Conversely, if C&D had said that the ZR1 alone, which was designed from the outset as a two year model, but took an extra year to come to market, were to continue onward for another year to meet currenlty unmet ZR1 demand, that would be more likely IMO..

At the same time, it is acknowledged that there is so much still in a state of flux, that C&D could be correct, especially if BGA has figured out a way to efficiently and economically produce ME’s 3 1/2 weeks of the month but the last 1/2 week do just C7 Z06’s/ZR1’s.

Yet even that makes no sense as GM know that once the ME floodgates are open, that initial demand will greatly exceed demand, and there is that old truthful saying, “strike while the iron is hot.”

Not convinced yet of C&D’s double down.... They could be correct, but not yet convinced.

The base C8 being heavier and 460hp shouldn't be as fast the C7 Z cars.

[John]

Most believe that the LT2 will be close to the 500 HP range, and coupled with a DCT and its much better accelerative traction, let us not rule out the ME having really good performance capabilities.

Yet as you noted, the potential for additional weight for the ME is a real one, and if so, that probability is likely due to its greater safety components.

However, mitigating and perhaps compensatingly, we do not yet know whether GM’s lightweighting problem could result in counteractive weight effects — as described in this two minute GM video.

https://video.marketing.gm.com/10508...-weighting.mp4

[MidEngine]

The ME will have technological enhancements, a better interior, more safety features and a very exciting exterior. On the opposite side, soft top convertible and manual transmission folks will wish for the FE to remain forever. As will those who have loved the long front hood look of the Corvette for its whole history.

All in all I continue to think that one the C8 starts that there will be no more C7’s made.

[3 Z06ZR1]

The ME will have technological enhancements, a better interior, more safety features and a very exciting exterior. On the opposite side, soft top convertible and manual transmission folks will wish for the FE to remain forever. As will those who have loved the long front hood look of the Corvette for its whole history.

All in all I continue to think that one the C8 starts that there will be no more C7’s made.

To me it's a good time to stock up on the Z06! I really like the cabin room, plus you carry suitcases, you can mod the car. The incredible aftermarket support of the C7 is nothing short of amazing. C8 has a lot to make up!