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A C8 perhaps reveal location/concept...
First, The Facility:
Overview: We have heard from a couple of sources including GM Authority, that GM wants a standalone reveal event for the C8, in an environment that they totally control. What place does GM better control than the lobby of its GM headquarters building, called the Renaissance Center? Around the time of the C7 reveal, we distinctly remember seeing along the back wall of its lobby, a very, very large space with its about 10 vehicles. However since then, GM has massively invested in its RenCen first floor, huge lobby, now calling it “GM World.” GM World, among many new features, currently has a rotating, Lazy-Susan-like, canted display area holding full-sized GM vehicles.
Picture credit/thanks to Derek Moore, NCM Curator.
Might the rotating multiple-vehicle-sized ramp hold on reveal day, different GM historical Corvette mid engine sports car prototypes?
https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...-to-production
Video Screens: We all remember that large video screens which were an integral part of both the 1.13.13 C7 reveal, and most recently for the LA reveal of the ZR1 convertible in Nov, 2017. The new video screens in GM World have 5,000 square feet of digital area, the size of two full size tennis courts — perfect for a reveal event, especially if used for an internet simulcast.
Size: GM World is huge, can easily and comfortably hold up to 500 people. Another coincidence, for that is roughly the number in attendance at both of the above mentioned Corvette reveals?
Movement of GM’s Corvette ME Prototypes:
About 18 months ago, we remember the removal from the National Corvette Museum of two C5 mid engine concepts, one created by Tom Peters, the other one by John Cafaro. Where did they go after they left NCM? They went to the GM Heritage Center located not so coincidentally, outside of Detroit; and according to rumors, they went there to each undergo a complete restoration. [BTW, are separate rumors correct, that John Cafaro, who after his very successful C5 design, who then went on to work on GM trucks/SUVs, might since be involved in some aspect of the C8 project, and could have been brought into its design process by the new head of GM Vice President of Global Design, Michael Simcoe?]
Last summer, for the first time in years, we started to see several of the Corvette ME prototypes appearing, at key GM events. For example at last June’s Belle Isle Indy Car Race, we saw the Aerovette, the Reynolds Concept and the Corvette Indy Concept. Thank you CorvetteBlogger for the following details.
Thanks/credit to SuperChevy, we have this picture of the Corvette Indy Concept.
We have since seen some of these Corvette prototypes at Corvette Corrals at some C7.R races, including at Laguna Seca last September.
I have talked with others in the last few days and they too feel that is it more than a coincidence that after over thirty years in Europe, the XP-897, the Corvette ME prototype which was at one point was going to be the 1976 Corvette, is coming the U.S. in time for next month’s Amelia Island Concours. After Amelia Island, the XP-897 is currently scheduled to next go to the National Corvette Museum. However, on its travels from Amelia island, might it either be “transferred” to GM’s Heritage Center, or might it go to NCM for a short period of time and then, like the earlier two C5 mid engine concepts, head to the Detroit area?
One vision of the ME’s reveal is at GM World within the RenCen. What better place to totally control the reveal experience? It certainly would be the standalone event that is rumored. Might it be there held just a day before the June 1/2 Indy Car Belle Isle race weekend, or at some other time this summer? [It certainly would be much more preferable flying in to Detroit for a Corvette reveal in the summer, than many of us have historically done several times at NAIAS in dead winter.]
Of course, we would only definitively know when GM officially tells us when and where the C8’s reveal will be.
* https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2018...it-grand-prix/
First, The Facility:
Overview: We have heard from a couple of sources including GM Authority, that GM wants a standalone reveal event for the C8, in an environment that they totally control. What place does GM better control than the lobby of its GM headquarters building, called the Renaissance Center? Around the time of the C7 reveal, we distinctly remember seeing along the back wall of its lobby, a very, very large space with its about 10 vehicles. However since then, GM has massively invested in its RenCen first floor, huge lobby, now calling it “GM World.” GM World, among many new features, currently has a rotating, Lazy-Susan-like, canted display area holding full-sized GM vehicles.
Picture credit/thanks to Derek Moore, NCM Curator.
Might the rotating multiple-vehicle-sized ramp hold on reveal day, different GM historical Corvette mid engine sports car prototypes?
https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...-to-production
Video Screens: We all remember that large video screens which were an integral part of both the 1.13.13 C7 reveal, and most recently for the LA reveal of the ZR1 convertible in Nov, 2017. The new video screens in GM World have 5,000 square feet of digital area, the size of two full size tennis courts — perfect for a reveal event, especially if used for an internet simulcast.
Size: GM World is huge, can easily and comfortably hold up to 500 people. Another coincidence, for that is roughly the number in attendance at both of the above mentioned Corvette reveals?
Movement of GM’s Corvette ME Prototypes:
About 18 months ago, we remember the removal from the National Corvette Museum of two C5 mid engine concepts, one created by Tom Peters, the other one by John Cafaro. Where did they go after they left NCM? They went to the GM Heritage Center located not so coincidentally, outside of Detroit; and according to rumors, they went there to each undergo a complete restoration. [BTW, are separate rumors correct, that John Cafaro, who after his very successful C5 design, who then went on to work on GM trucks/SUVs, might since be involved in some aspect of the C8 project, and could have been brought into its design process by the new head of GM Vice President of Global Design, Michael Simcoe?]
Last summer, for the first time in years, we started to see several of the Corvette ME prototypes appearing, at key GM events. For example at last June’s Belle Isle Indy Car Race, we saw the Aerovette, the Reynolds Concept and the Corvette Indy Concept. Thank you CorvetteBlogger for the following details.
Originally posted by CorvetteBlogger
We also learned that Chevrolet brought out several historic Corvette prototypes and concepts from the GM Heritage Center for the Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle. Positioned around the great white fountain, were three mid-engine Corvette prototypes, the Aerovette, the Reynolds concept and the Corvette Indy concept. Also on display was the ultra cool 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer.
Youtuber DtRockstar1 captured the Aerovette and Reynolds mid-engine prototypes on video and we get to check them out as they are running, along with the demonstration of several features including the interior, engine compartments, and cargo storage.
The Aerovette was designed in 1973 by Bill Mitchell and his design team as a showcase for GM’s rotary engines. Under the sloping rear glass was an experimental four-rotor engine. The almond-shaped prototype was fitted with bi-fold gullwing doors and was sterling silver with silver leather interior. After GM ended the rotary engine program, the Aerovette was fitted with a small-block Chevy V8.
The Reynolds concept (XP-895) was constructed in 1972 as one of a series of experimental Corvettes designed for testing alternative engine layouts as well as the use of aluminum in car manufacturing. The names comes from the car’s joint development program with Reynolds Aluminum. The Reynolds Concept has a 400 ci Chevy small block V8 mounted transversely behind the driver.
Youtuber DtRockstar1 captured the Aerovette and Reynolds mid-engine prototypes on video and we get to check them out as they are running, along with the demonstration of several features including the interior, engine compartments, and cargo storage.
The Aerovette was designed in 1973 by Bill Mitchell and his design team as a showcase for GM’s rotary engines. Under the sloping rear glass was an experimental four-rotor engine. The almond-shaped prototype was fitted with bi-fold gullwing doors and was sterling silver with silver leather interior. After GM ended the rotary engine program, the Aerovette was fitted with a small-block Chevy V8.
The Reynolds concept (XP-895) was constructed in 1972 as one of a series of experimental Corvettes designed for testing alternative engine layouts as well as the use of aluminum in car manufacturing. The names comes from the car’s joint development program with Reynolds Aluminum. The Reynolds Concept has a 400 ci Chevy small block V8 mounted transversely behind the driver.
We have since seen some of these Corvette prototypes at Corvette Corrals at some C7.R races, including at Laguna Seca last September.
I have talked with others in the last few days and they too feel that is it more than a coincidence that after over thirty years in Europe, the XP-897, the Corvette ME prototype which was at one point was going to be the 1976 Corvette, is coming the U.S. in time for next month’s Amelia Island Concours. After Amelia Island, the XP-897 is currently scheduled to next go to the National Corvette Museum. However, on its travels from Amelia island, might it either be “transferred” to GM’s Heritage Center, or might it go to NCM for a short period of time and then, like the earlier two C5 mid engine concepts, head to the Detroit area?
One vision of the ME’s reveal is at GM World within the RenCen. What better place to totally control the reveal experience? It certainly would be the standalone event that is rumored. Might it be there held just a day before the June 1/2 Indy Car Belle Isle race weekend, or at some other time this summer? [It certainly would be much more preferable flying in to Detroit for a Corvette reveal in the summer, than many of us have historically done several times at NAIAS in dead winter.]
Of course, we would only definitively know when GM officially tells us when and where the C8’s reveal will be.
* https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2018...it-grand-prix/
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