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Corvette Today: Corvette News & Headlines, Early October 2023

The automotive industry is going through a tumultuous time right now with the United Auto Workers striking the Big 3 automakers. Your CORVETTE TODAY host, Steve Garrett, teams up again with Keith Cornett from CorvetteBlogger to bring you the most up-to-date information in the world of Corvette. https://youtu.be/N-JFEwaK2PQ?si=u3tepRnTgFEcCKAM; https://podcasts.adorilabs.com/corve...AyWJ7BnoEURVpA

Besides the UAW strike, here are some of the other Corvette topics that Steve and Keith will discuss:

1. 2024 Corvette production started on Monday, September 18th

2. Two ZR1 prototypes are spotted in Colorado with no wheel coverings and no exhaust sounds

3. A C3 Corvette gets a "Mako-over" into a Mako Shark II

4. A C8 Z06 falls off a lift at a dealership

5. A 2023 70th Anniversary Z06 sells at Mecum for $247,500

6. A Chevy Silverado rolls over a C8 Corvette....ON PURPOSE!

Every other week, CORVETTE TODAY brings you the latest news in the world of Corvette to keep you informed on what's happening with America's Sports Car!
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2024 & 2023 Corvette Info Including E-Ray, SR & Z06 Pricing, SR & Z06 Visualizers, 70th Anniversary Info, Press Releases for SR & Z06 & Their Build & Price, Order Guides & Visualizers

2024 Order Guide Here: https://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NA...=22639&type=0#
2023 Corvette Brochure: https://www.chevrolet.com/content/da...D7Q0fp8nIEE57Y
E-Ray Visualizer: https://visualizer.chevrolet.com/ui?...US&channel=b2c
Official E-Ray Press Release: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...-press-release
Official GM E-Ray Pictures: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...and-visualizer
+ 25 KEY E-Ray Components/Factors: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...rs-information
E-Ray Leaked Info/Visualizer: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...tte-e-ray-leak
Z51 & Z06 GM Track Specs: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...ecommendations
Z06 BUILD & PRICE: https://www.chevrolet.com/performanc...d-price/config
Z06 Order Guide: https://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NA...D=22412&type=0
Z06 MSRP and Options Pricing: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...freight-charge
2023 SR Build & Price: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...up-and-running
*2023 SR & Z06 Official Owners Manual: https://www.corvetteblogger.com/docs...ersManual.pdf; and,
https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...owner-s-manual
* 2023 GM Bash Major Seminar with HQ video: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...ore-bash-video
*2023 Stingray Visualizer: https://visualizer.chevrolet.com/ui?...US&channel=b2c
* COPMPLETE 2023 STINGRAY PRICING: https://www.corvetteactioncenter.com...ion-Center.pdf
*2023 Stingray (ONLY Order Guide: https://www.gmfleetorderguide.com/NA...D=22412&type=0
*70th Anniversary Combined Press Release For SR & Z06: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...iversary-model
*Z06 Press Release: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...-press-release
*Z06 Reveal Pictures: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...eveal-pictures
*Z06 Visualizer: https://visualizer.chevrolet.com/ui?...US&channel=b2c
Order Guide (unofficial): https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...-action-center
*Z06 vs Z07 Aero Components: https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...s-similarities
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Advantages of ME Configuration Over The Eroneously Lauded 50-50 Weight Perfection

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  • Advantages of ME Configuration Over The Eroneously Lauded 50-50 Weight Perfection

    Great Corvette, Cadillac and 24 Hours of LeMans wining driver Andy Pilgrim, explains that the supposed 50-50 weight distribution perfection model, is really not. Thanks to CorvetteOnLIne for this wonderful article. If you have not yet found CorvetteOnLine, it nicely and thankfully appears in my daily email inbox.

    Thank you Andy Bolig/CorvetteOnLine for the following excellent article:

    https://www.corvetteonline.com/featu...gine-corvette/

    Originally posted by corvetteonline
    Andy Pilgrim Explains The Benefits Of A Mid-Engine Corvette


    By ANDY BOLIG FEBRUARY 21, 2019

    https://www.corvetteonline.com/featu...gine-corvette/

    The concept of a mid-engine Corvette has been passed around the halls of Chevrolet for decades. Zora Arkus-Duntov was a key proponent in the push to move the engine rearward in America’s beloved two-seater. Ever since the first generation Corvette, Zora was exploring the benefits, using his clout within Chevrolet to build and test vehicles with a mid-mounted engine. Up until the C5 Corvette came on the scene with its near “perfect” 50/50 weight distribution, Chevrolet always seemed to have a test-bed, mid-engine Corvette prototype dangling in front of the public view.

    Corvette started out with a very conventional front-engine design, but it wasn’t long before engineers were looking at alternative locations for their engines.

    All that seemed to change when Chevrolet was able to better limit the weight on the front wheels by mounting the C5 Corvette’s transmission in the rear of the car, directly in front of the differential. This opened up Corvette to the world as a perfectly-balanced sports car with the highly sought-after 50/50 weight bias. The new design put the engine as far rearward as possible while still being accessible by a front-opening hood.

    It seemed that since Corvette was now tipping the scales so evenly, the thought of moving the engine back with the transmission was shelved. There are likely several reasons why Chevrolet could have deemed the move unnecessary. Undoubtedly, the main reason was the enormous cost of re-engineering Corvette to a mid-engine format. Beyond that, improvements to vehicle control systems and Corvette Racing’s dominance on the racetracks around the globe were a testament to the effectiveness of the front engine design.

    The C5 Corvette platform was introduced in 1997. The same basic configuration has carried over to both C6 and C7 generations of Corvette. Each generation improved on the basic design and brought about better control, refinement, and performance potential. The increase in performance may be the very reason Corvette needs to be a mid-engine design with the next generation ‘Vette.

    We recently had a conversation with Andy Pilgrim. Long-time Corvette enthusiasts will recall Andy was one of the original drivers of the Corvette Racing team on the C5-R Corvette. He is now a valued consultant and team member for the National Corvette Museum and the NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Andy has extensive experience driving front-, mid-, and rear-engine cars in both competition and on the street. Check out the Racing Sports Cars website for a growing list of cars Andy has wielded around the apexes in competition. Andy is also an excellent instructor in both driving safety and performance driving. We asked Andy to help us understand, given Corvette’s current 50/50 weight ratio, what more could a mid-engine configuration bring to Corvette.

    A MORE Perfect 50/50


    We’ve grown accustomed to touting Corvette’s “perfect” 50/50 weight ratio, but there’s actually more to it than dividing front and rear parts equally. “It’s all about physics,” Andy says. “You have to look at things like the vehicle’s center of gravity as well as weight distribution. Things like the height of weight distribution/CG [center of gravity] can have a profound effect on a car’s handling. Beyond that, other characteristics such as a car’s polar moment [resistance to change direction] can change the way a car performs. It’s all VERY important.”

    In 1964, Chevrolet created the XP-819 concept car that had the engine hanging off the back, much like a Porsche. The Corvette Indy was created in 1986 with a much more mid-engine design.
    Andy explains the concept of polar moment so well by using a simple broom as an example. “Grab the handle end of a broom and try to swing it. It doesn’t want to change direction hardly at all. Grab in the middle of the handle and it’s easier, but still quite hard. But if you twist near the brush end, it changes direction much more easily.”

    It’s the same when shifting the placement of an engine – you’re moving that polar moment. When you place mass in the middle, instead of the outer points of the car, it is much easier to turn. So much so, that the car’s newfound willingness to change direction can become a stability issue. The car can become super-responsive, to the point of being quite twitchy. Andy explains though, “The engineers can fix all that! That’s what they work on.”

    When the C5 (and subsequent C6 and C7) hit the streets, it was touted as having a near-perfect 50/50 weight bias. While distributed evenly among the front and rear wheels, there were still better ways to carry the weight. Photo: GM Archives

    Another consideration is how high the car’s center of gravity is from the road surface. Andy explained how a move to mid-engine would solve several issues that have plagued Corvettes. “I’ve learned an incredible amount from engineers, but I’m not an engineer. I’ve learned that with a front-engine configuration, you’ve got a ton of stuff packed around the engine. You need to connect the front wheels with steering, which typically resides under part of the engine. That means you can’t get the engine down low enough. With a mid-engine, you can lower the engine and have a ton of space to do what you want with the suspension/steering.” Our ears perked up as he (without prodding) further explains why this is important: “Now you’ve got the room to put alternate power up front.” We like the sound of that!
    Pursuit, Or Result Of Performance?


    Corvette engineers have devised some ingenious ways to harness Corvette’s power potential throughout the years, but subtle refinements to a car’s chassis cannot outrun exponential increases to its engine’s horsepower output. Recently, we have seen horsepower numbers soar with the C6, and now C7 ZR1 and Z06 Corvettes. With horsepower numbers nestled snugly amid super-car status, it could be said that Corvette’s chassis configuration was left wanting. A scenario that Andy knows all too well.

    Andy Pilgrim was selected for Corvette Racing’s first factory ALMS effort in the 1999 Corvette C5-R. He has since driven various race cars for GM. He resides in Bowling Green, Kentucky and offers driving safety and performance driving instruction at the NCM Motorsports Park. Photo: NCM Motorsports Park

    “The current Grand Sport is superb on the racetrack. It’s a well-balanced package and you can utilize ALL of it,” he adds. “I can be extremely aggressive with a Z06 or ZR1; I know what they’ll do. But with the additional power of the Z06 and ZR1, after a hot lap or two, they totally over-drive the tires. Even in a straight line, cars with 250 less horsepower can out-power a ZR1 for loss of traction.”

    The move to mid-engine would place the weight of the engine more on the rear tires, which would help with traction in severe acceleration situations. How severe you ask? Andy is confident that a mid-engine Corvette could be quite capable of breaking the 3-second 0-60 barrier! A feat not even possible with a front engine, mass-produced car.

    On the downside, moving the engine to the car’s mid-section can also benefit its braking. Andy explains, “Once braking starts, it can unsettle the rear in a front-engine car. With the mass further back, you can be more aggressive on both the front and the rear, as the rear brakes will be able to do more work. It’s all dependent on how the engineers set up the suspension.”

    A mid-engine car can also offer more stability in an extreme braking event, both in a straight line and while turning. Having driven everything from the extremely overpowered, front-heavy (57 Front/43 Rear) Hellcat Red Eye to the rear-engine 911 at their limits, Andy shares his thoughts on what he thinks that means for the mid-engine Corvette. “It’s decreased polar moment means it is more resistant to understeer, but also should be a more stable platform, as forces occur equally at both ends of the car. It should feel INCREDIBLY stable!” Andy says.

    A mid-engine layout puts the engine directly mounted to the transmission in the rearward part of the car. This aids in traction and lowers the car’s polar moment, or resistance to changes in direction. The result is a more agile, better turning car. Photo: MidEngineCorvetteForum.com A Different Driving Style


    We asked Andy what the different driving characteristics of a mid-engine Corvette may mean to the Corvette enthusiast. Would it require a complete change in driving style? He assured us that any learning curve would be full of benefits for both the average Corvette driver or seasoned veteran track star.

    He explains, “Whether on-track or on the street, with a front-engine car, the front tires will warm up quickly while the rear tires will take more time. With a rear engine car, there’s obviously more weight on the rear tires, which is essentially safer even when tires are cold. A mid-engine configuration balances between both scenarios.”



    He goes on to explain, with the mid-engine car’s lower polar moment, the front will react quicker, meaning the driver will notice that the car is more responsive to turning input of the steering wheel. In a sense, the car will give you more of what you want, the driver simply needs to be aware of the car’s improved responsiveness. Of course, engineers seek to capitalize on the benefits and limit any unwanted characteristics.

    Andy confides this is all part of the suspension setup. “It’s not simple” he explains. “It’s quite complicated. But the general consensus is, it will be a better handling vehicle and have much greater potential for a quick racing vehicle.” Other Benefits of the Move


    There are other concerns when designing a mid-engine street car. Corvette buyers like a car that has storage space. A mid-engine layout makes that more difficult, and brings new design challenges for engineers. “Today’s Corvette is a street car, and buyers like the utility of the current Corvette,” Andy states. “It will be interesting to see how they have addressed that with a mid-engine Corvette. I’d be stunned if they did not address storage!”

    These leaked CAD drawings help show how the engine/trans will be nestled over the rear cradle for the suspension. Swapping storage from the rear to the front allows a lot of area for improved chassis geometry and other items, but doesn't help with where to put the golf clubs. Photos: MidEngineCorvetteForum.com
    His experience in driving other mid-engine cars assures him that Corvette owners will soon cozy up to some of the inherent benefits besides performance. “Corvettes have always had that big hood out front, and with this car, that all changes. The windshield will be expansive and you’ll have a panoramic view of the world around you. You won’t have a big hood out in front, which tends to help the driver feel more in control.”

    Overall, there should be a safer feeling, as they can drive and see things better. The short hood has a lot of benefits. Along with the amazing view, it helps give a totally different driving experience. I think enthusiasts are going to love it!”

    As we ended our conversation, it was clear that Andy is just as enthusiastic as the rest of us to experience the car first-hand. He understands Corvette’s roots and heritage, but also knows what it takes to stay on top of the competition. He sees the move to mid-engine as a natural progression of improving the car’s performance, but also acknowledges that it is a bold step.

    “There’s a history there,” he says. “It’s a huge risk, but you’ve got to give a hats-off to any company that takes on this task. There aren’t many sub $100,000 mid-engine sports cars out there, yet it affords much greater potential for a quick racing vehicle. It will be able to run up with the best! It’s gonna be great!”
    Attached Files
    Last edited by John; 05-30-2019, 07:05 AM.
    2023 Z06: Elkhart Lake Blue, 2-tone blue interior, HTC, Standard Z06 with Z07 aero pkg, CCB’s, 3LZ, E60, every visible carbon fiber option including wheels, Jake Design Pkg. Lifetime, annual contributors, and 25 year NCM members. Home is the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

  • #2
    Well written article, I would recommend reading it completely. It clearly explains why the midengine design is superior to a front engine design. I might add that the so called 50% 50% of the front engine platform is a static weight value. It can not transfer as much weight to the rear wheels under acceleration as a mid engined design. The ME has more static and dynamic weight transfer under acceleration. also, as the ME has more rear weight both static and dynamic, more rear brake bias is used, helping to reduce the front brake loads.
    And again, the balance of any car can be tuned to any level of understeer or oversteer, that’s where the magic is.
    In my racing career, I started out thinking horsepower, horsepower, horsepower. But the real speed is found in traction, balance of handling.As stated in the article, the ZR1-ZO6 are monsters until the tires are overwhelmed, overheated, and can’t produce any traction to hookup. A car with less horsepower and better handling can be faster.
    Just my .$.04 Your thoughts!
    3LT Long Beach Red , Z51, FE4 , ZZ3, Black interior ,38S red stitching, Q8T, FA5, ER1, CFX, and R8C

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks Racer86. I am following you completely. I was awed by many of the ZR1’s components, but less than awed by its +$40K increased cost over a Z06, yet for the automatic version, its 0-60 time only reduced by 0.1 second, from 2.95 to 2.85 seconds.
      2023 Z06: Elkhart Lake Blue, 2-tone blue interior, HTC, Standard Z06 with Z07 aero pkg, CCB’s, 3LZ, E60, every visible carbon fiber option including wheels, Jake Design Pkg. Lifetime, annual contributors, and 25 year NCM members. Home is the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

      Comment


      • #4
        That quicker initial turn in and the much expanded view of the road are some of the benefits Im most interested.

        should be a very different driving experience.

        im all in for the new rear mid engine c8

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by John
          Thanks Racer86. I am following you completely. I was awed by many of the ZR1’s components, but less than awed by its +$40K increased cost over a Z06, yet for the automatic version, its 0-60 time only reduced by 0.1 second, from 2.95 to 2.85 seconds.
          John, and that 0-60 time is with traction control. Who knows what percentage of the actual available horsepower is being routed to the tires. I might add that a lower horsepower car (ZO6) is useing a higher percentage of Availible HP and slightly less traction control intervention. I would love to see a data on how the traction control allows tire slip and the amount of power and braking that is added and pulled out by the ECU.
          in the “OLD” days, traction control was the right foot, a skill that seems to have been lost. But my right foot got me into some very bad deals, so I am all for the new tech
          3LT Long Beach Red , Z51, FE4 , ZZ3, Black interior ,38S red stitching, Q8T, FA5, ER1, CFX, and R8C

          Comment


          • #6
            Yes, driving my C7 Z06 on less than a hot day with my tires also hot, is a continual exercise in throttle modulation.
            2023 Z06: Elkhart Lake Blue, 2-tone blue interior, HTC, Standard Z06 with Z07 aero pkg, CCB’s, 3LZ, E60, every visible carbon fiber option including wheels, Jake Design Pkg. Lifetime, annual contributors, and 25 year NCM members. Home is the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by JB
              That quicker initial turn in and the much expanded view of the road are some of the benefits Im most interested.

              should be a very different driving experience.

              im all in for the new rear mid engine c8
              Why I am definitely returning to Spring Mountain!

              Comment


              • #8
                I hope the braking is as good as my C7. My brakes are my friends.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Typical;y having the motor in the back results in even better braking.
                  2023 Z06: Elkhart Lake Blue, 2-tone blue interior, HTC, Standard Z06 with Z07 aero pkg, CCB’s, 3LZ, E60, every visible carbon fiber option including wheels, Jake Design Pkg. Lifetime, annual contributors, and 25 year NCM members. Home is the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Samuel Clemens once said that an education is what you have left when you forget all the specifics of what you were taught in school. At this stage I have an education.

                    I think its called Polar Moment of Inertia. The closer the mass is to the axis around which the object turns, the more easily it will turn. For example, when a spinning ice skater pulls in his/her arms closer to their body, they spin faster.

                    You could have two cars with 50-50 weight distribution, but one with the mass divided over the axles (front engine-rear transaxle), and the other with the mass concentrated between the axles (mid engine). The mid engine one would turn more easily with less rotational force needed to initiate the turn.
                    2022 HTC 2LT Z51
                    Front lift, mag ride
                    black exterior, adrenaline red interior, bright red calipers, MRR F10 wheels

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Good analysis Rob. To me I have come to two conclusions. And a third belief.

                      First, from the point of view of sports car operational efficiency, a FE Corvette is like racing with tires and brakes needing to be changed.

                      Second, right now the majority of those not on a mid engine Corvette forum, nor a foreign exotic lover, greatly prefer the visual presentation of the front engined Corvette.

                      However, my belief is that given three years of folks getting used to a ME Corvette, even including Corvette traditionalists within a poll taken then, that the shift to really liking the look of ME Corvettes would be a growing one (perhaps/maybe even over 50% at that time).
                      2023 Z06: Elkhart Lake Blue, 2-tone blue interior, HTC, Standard Z06 with Z07 aero pkg, CCB’s, 3LZ, E60, every visible carbon fiber option including wheels, Jake Design Pkg. Lifetime, annual contributors, and 25 year NCM members. Home is the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Racer86
                        Well written article, I would recommend reading it completely. It clearly explains why the midengine design is superior to a front engine design. I might add that the so called 50% 50% of the front engine platform is a static weight value. It can not transfer as much weight to the rear wheels under acceleration as a mid engined design. The ME has more static and dynamic weight transfer under acceleration. also, as the ME has more rear weight both static and dynamic, more rear brake bias is used, helping to reduce the front brake loads.
                        And again, the balance of any car can be tuned to any level of understeer or oversteer, that’s where the magic is.
                        In my racing career, I started out thinking horsepower, horsepower, horsepower. But the real speed is found in traction, balance of handling.As stated in the article, the ZR1-ZO6 are monsters until the tires are overwhelmed, overheated, and can’t produce any traction to hookup. A car with less horsepower and better handling can be faster.
                        Just my .$.04 Your thoughts!
                        Great points. My Lotus EvoraS had less power and wasn't 4 wheel drive like my R8 and on tighter curves felt faster. The Audi just had to much power and overwhelmed the tires plus the extra weight versus the Lotus did not help.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          “The current Grand Sport is superb on the racetrack. It’s a well-balanced package and you can utilize ALL of it,” he adds. “I can be extremely aggressive with a Z06 or ZR1; I know what they’ll do. But with the additional power of the Z06 and ZR1, after a hot lap or two, they totally over-drive the tires. Even in a straight line, cars with 250 less horsepower can out-power a ZR1 for loss of traction.”

                          In a world where comparing horsepower numbers creates a sausage fest, THIS is always my answer. The complete package, covering most aspects of the driving experience, is what is really what the engineers strive for.

                          This was an interesting read on several levels, but I liked the part about how the engineers will compensate for the areas that are sensitive.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by John
                            Thanks Racer86. I am following you completely. I was awed by many of the ZR1’s components, but less than awed by its +$40K increased cost over a Z06, yet for the automatic version, its 0-60 time only reduced by 0.1 second, from 2.95 to 2.85 seconds.
                            That is because GM added all the weight to the nose on the ZR1 while the rear is the same as the Z06 with less weight. Just why I added 120 rwhp to my Z06's lighter and faster.
                            Passing on a ZR1 I'm not big on the look of the huge front end on the ZR1.
                            Then my new Z06 was 18 percent off pretty loaded for 74 k including taxes and 4 year plate. Best value anywhere.
                            My two new Z06s cost 142k very little over the ZR1 price for 1 car.

                            The Z06 has a traction advantage over the ZR1 on the same tire. Then 65 years of FE will be hard to over come on the very first ME. The FE will still be better on the skid pad as well with the 50/50 balance. But the ME will have the traction advantage. Thus when the second year and higher HP models show then I might get one then. See about the weight and balance vs the 720S which is my favorite ME.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by John
                              Good analysis Rob. To me I have come to two conclusions. And a third belief.

                              First, from the point of view of sports car operational efficiency, a FE Corvette is like racing with tires and brakes needing to be changed.

                              Second, right now the majority of those not on a mid engine Corvette forum, nor a foreign exotic lover, greatly prefer the visual presentation of the front engined Corvette.

                              However, my belief is that given three years of folks getting used to a ME Corvette, even including Corvette traditionalists within a poll taken then, that the shift to really liking the look of ME Corvettes would be a growing one (perhaps/maybe even over 50% at that time).
                              So true, when Porsche replaced the 356 with the new 911, the Porsche people went crazy. Most really hated the style of the 911. Look at the
                              beloved 911 now. Life goes on, nothing new here to see, move along!
                              3LT Long Beach Red , Z51, FE4 , ZZ3, Black interior ,38S red stitching, Q8T, FA5, ER1, CFX, and R8C

                              Comment

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