GM never considered building C7 & C8 together (???)

[meyerweb]

From GM Authority:

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/07/simultaneous-corvette-c8-and-c7-production-never-even-considered/

Now that the all-new 2020 Corvette C8 has officially made its big debut, all those rumors we’ve collected over the past years are finally being put to the test. One of of the rumors, like the one that Chevrolet would offer the Corvette C8 in a right-hand drive version, turned out to be true, while others, like the one about a surprise debut for the C8 at the 2019 North American International Auto Show, not so much. And now, we know that GM never intended to produce the all-new C8 alongside the outgoing Corvette C7.

During the July 18^th debut of the 2020 Corvette in Tustin, California, we asked GM President, Mark Reuss, if GM ever considered simultaneous production of the C8 and C7. Reuss responded by saying, “That wasn’t something that we planned. This [mid-engine Corvette C8] was always the replacement.”

This is particularly noteworthy as it demonstrates that GM had always intended the new mid-engine 2020 Corvette to completely replace the outgoing Corvette C7, rather than create a separate sub-family of Corvette models, as was rumored in the months leading up to the C8’s reveal.

While we’re still on the fence as to whether or not the new 2020 Corvette will be as much of a commercial success as the C7 when it comes to sales over the long haul, Chevy seems committed to offering its most famous sports car nameplate exclusively with a mid-engine configuration going forward, making the C7 last-ever front-engined Corvette ever produced.

For many, the hype of the new 2020 Corvette C8 will stay strong well after the first examples start rolling into dealers, and memories of the C7 won’t be twinged with a sense of longing for “the way things used to be.” We certainly hope that’s the case for the majority, and that the tidal wave of support for the C8 we’re seeing since the car’s debut can translate to actual sales figures.

That doesn't match the statement from the company that manufacturers the body panels that they were going to continue production of C7 panels alongside "the new model." Unless they were referring only to making a small number of replacement parts for crash repair.

[John]

You are right IMO meyerweb, for Continental Structural Plastics was never considering just replacement panels, but instead had applied for and received funding to build a major second building strictly for the new gen Corvette specifically mentioning a two year overlap in two different Corvette lines. Please read this article for corroboration:

CSP could be awarded “two significant product lines” that would launch in 2019, Reid said. The first line would be body p[anels for the new generation of Corvettes. The body panels now being made in Huntington are for the current C7 Corvette; Reid says the plant is working to win the right to manufacture body panels for the eighth generation of the sports car.

The current model would continue to be manufactured for two years after production of the new model begins, Reid said, necessitating the addition of 110,000 to 130,000 square feet to the current 165,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
“We want to expand the facility so we can make both at the same time,” he said.

http://www.huntingtoncountytab.com/c...-two-new-lines

[ZORA 69]

The C7/C8 side by side production never made sense. Especially with C7s declining sales. That rumor was started based on certain individuals , and I am not one of them, believing that the C8 would be over the top in cost. The main change/concern to the car overall and stated as such by Tadge was the transmission. Yes the engine was moved to the back but was this new technology ? NO. Did it add to the cost of production ??? Evidently not or obviously NOT. The C8 is priced at sub 60K.

[Colorado]

I think this is also an interesting case of not going to the boss until the decision has been made. Reuss only every heard the final decision--the C8 is the one and only Corvette going forward. Tadge has said otherwise elsewhere:

Vette: We have been asked the question why did you not keep building the amazing C7 and make this Corvette's halo car in the $160,000 range?

TJ: We thought about it for a while, but as the design of this car evolved we realized that it was so good we could offer it for $60,000. Our state of the art Bowling Green Production facility is fully capable of producing this new Corvette. It will be built with exceptional quality at this price point.

Source: http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/pai...tadge-juechter

There was another quote somewhere (can't find a link) where he said when you see a C8 and C7 next to each other you can't sell a C7. That is partly marketing hype but they obviously felt it true enough not to pursue the C7 and C8 being sold simultaneously.

[meyerweb]

The C7/C8 side by side production never made sense. Especially with C7s declining sales. That rumor was started based on certain individuals , and I am not one of them, believing that the C8 would be over the top in cost. .

It wasn't a rumor, it was a formal request by the manufacturer of the C7's body panels to expand to plant to support two car lines. And at the time that request was made (February 2016), C7 sales were still going strong. I suspect declining sales of the C7 are what changed GM's original plans to continue to overlap the two models.

And, as Colorado posted immediately above, there was consideration within GM to make the ME a much more expensive halo car.

[Fireeagle]

I think this is also an interesting case of not going to the boss until the decision has been made. Reuss only every heard the final decision--the C8 is the one and only Corvette going forward. Tadge has said otherwise elsewhere:



Source: http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/pai...tadge-juechter

There was another quote somewhere (can't find a link) where he said when you see a C8 and C7 next to each other you can't sell a C7. That is partly marketing hype but they obviously felt it true enough not to pursue the C7 and C8 being sold simultaneously.

GM was smart to realize that they would have joined the ranks of Acura and the NSX selling only a handful of cars at that $160k and over price point. Keeping the cost around the amount for a C7 really made it pointless for them to have 2 simultaneous versions in production at the same time. Sure they would still sell some C7's that were manual, ust because they are front engine or just because they look so good, but when you can get the performance and improvements made to the C8 at the same price point, I think it's gonna sell at least as well as the C7. GM committed and now they are fully behind that commitment to the C8.