Looks like the long wait for the mid-engine Corvette is almost over...Chevy plans to officially take the wraps off in July. Motor Trend, though, in a short article, looks like they have a credible image, so I'll post it.

Years ago, when he was at GM, Bob Lutz was talking about the car, but he said, back then, that budgetary issues held up its development for several years. Recently, of course, most of the development money has gone into new SUVs.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/futu...-with-cayman-t

WHAT'S NOW

CHEVROLET CORVETTE

What's New: The long-awaited mid-engine Corvette is finally here. After years of rumors, spy shots, leaks, and speculation, Chevrolet will finally peel the camo off this July. When it does, we expect to find a dual-overhead-cam V-8 under the rear glass with a pair of turbochargers driving the rear wheels through a manual or dual-clutch automatic transaxle. Multiple power outputs are expected courtesy of various displacements, with both 4.2-liter and 5.5-liter versions to be fitted. An all-new electrical architecture will feature top-of-the-line sensors and computers for performance and handling enhancement, but you'll no doubt be able to turn them all off, too. Inside, Chevrolet has gone upscale with a classy, driver-focused interior featuring premium materials and a digital instrument cluster. Although base-model Corvettes will start at about $70,000, higher-performance models will quickly shoot up in price to cover both the development cost and the improvements in technology, performance, and comfort. But they should still remain relatively attainable.

this is going to be an early adopters nightmare considering the sloppy engineering job they did on the C7Z, now its an completely new chassis engine configuration and a slew of new engines. There was suppose to be a 6.2 liter DOHC V8 that we saw in patents, not seeing it here

New mid engine platform, twin turbo 8 cylinder, DSG all for around 70K, they had to cut some major corners to get it at that price or they are just going to sell them for a big loss.

I've got a deposit in for one. Can't wait.

Great time to buy C7.

50k for a NA V8 manual in a true sport car with decent interior and tech.

Enjoy it for 3-5yrs and then get C8 after kinks are worked out....

Congratulations. I might (?) stand corrected on this one, but I think you are the first person in Car Chat, that I know of, who is actually ordering one.

Just out of curiosity (if you don't mind telling us) how much did the dealership want for the deposit? $1000 or so is typical for most ordered new vehicles, but, for something like the mid-engined 'Vette, I suspect they would want more.

$1000. Once it is released with pricing, you are required to either order your car and pay 5% of MSRP or you can cancel and get your $1000 back. Once you pay the 5%, it is non-refundable.

Aha. That's where they get you.

I'm sure it will be worth it, though....and that you will really enjoy that car.

Yeah, I'm a little nervous about if I will be able to fit or not. I'm 6'7" 240 lbs, so I'm really interested in not just the price or the performance, but the interior measurements. I've had several Corvettes before I was married, so as long as the dimensions are in the same ballpark, I think I will be fine. Maybe Lexus making a LS I dislike is going to work out for the best for me. Keep the 430 I love and add a true sports car instead of having one luxury car that tries to be somewhat sporty, kinda.

It's gonna be effin awesome!

Hell no I won't be buying a new one.

GM had trouble with ignition switches ffs.

+1 on getting a C7. Those things rip on the track and can outdo cars 3x their price tag,,, in stock form!!

I don't see where that is an issue today. First, that was the GM of 15 years ago, not today. Second, most GM vehicles (as well as many others) won't even use conventional ignition switches anymore....it's all either electronic push-button starters or electronic key-fobs that are stuck into a slot.

C7Z had horrible design issues that contributed to its overheating nature when driven:
undersized supercharger that functions as a heat pump at high rpm (1.7 liter supercharger), there is a reason most production car superchargers are 2.3 liters, and funny these don't seem to have overheating issues. Hence why the ZR1 has a larger more efficient supercharger (2.65 liter)
radiator is the same as the normal vette despite having 200 more hp and a much greater heat load
radiator exhausts heat over the power steering rack which sometimes triggers power steering faults and limp mode
catalytic converter located right next to the oil cooler, kind of making it a oil heater instead
there is not enough airflow for the front fascia into the engine to cool it, hence the ZR1 getting very venty and grilley. ZL1 which uses the same engine doesnt have cooling issues because it has a giant grille and many more coolers. ZR1 copied all the aftermarket intakes and vents to fix their Z06
Added an additional radiator around 2016, not sure if it fixed the issue
C7Z Forums have a overheating sticky thread thats approaching 5500 posts and over 630k views going all the way back to 2014

Definitely inspires confidence that they are doing a mid engine (even tougher cooling challenges than a front engine car) C8

@mmarshall Maybe the cooling will not be conventional anymore. hehehe

The issue w/GM 15 yrs ago was "giving a ****". They knew about that ignition problem, but kept sweeping it under the rug. Until a few ppl died, then they gave a ****. I don't think the corporate culture has changed. Prove me wrong.

Some things in the corporate culture have indeed changed....and others haven't. It is more responsible today, from a safety point of view, than in the days when penny-pinching determined the difference between a secure ignition switch and one that would fail in a potentially dangerous way. But, recent actions also show that GM's marketing, which has often s**cked, continues to do so.

The fact that C8 was delayed several times due to numerous development issues plus the fact this is their first mid-engine platform - means there will be MANY teething issues for early buyers.

Unless u have a car YouTube channel or just Corvette fanboy with $$$ to burn - no good reason to be a guinea pig.
McLaren M12C also had huge issues as it was the 1st model, the newer models are more reliable.