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Even though the idea of a mid-engine Corvette stems from the Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle (1959) of Zora Arkus-Duntov, the golden bowtie needed six decades to put the man’s dream into production. The thing is, “sources familiar with the matter” revealed the mid-engine Corvette had been delayed by six months over an electrical problem.
Speaking to GM Authority, these sources claim “the vehicle’s electrical system can’t carry the load necessary to support the necessary components.” Remember when General Motors cheaped out on the detent plunger and spring of the ignition switch that materialized into a worldwide recall, 124 deaths, and a forfeit of $900 million?
It is likely the engineers didn’t take the load into consideration when designing the electrical system or the beancounters cheaped out on the development process to save a few dollars here and there. Taking a look at the bigger picture, what does this mean for the people who work on the mid-engine Corvette?
GM Authority explains that “changes made to the sports car will also need to be coordinated with suppliers (…) as well as any associated equipment.” Beyond engineering, this is also a problem of logistics. And thus, the six-month delay of the project ultimately translates into a delayed U.S. launch.
The motoring publication hopes the mid-engine Corvette will arrive at dealers for the 2020 model year, “though a 2021 model year launch is not entirely off the table” if the undertaking doesn’t go according to plan. Looking at the glass as half full, it’s reassuring that General Motors is taking its time to get the newcomer right instead of rushing things out.
Even though the Detroit Auto Show is the place where a lot of previous Corvette models have debuted, the C8 isn’t expected to surface until sometime in the spring. Following an investment of nearly $800 million in the Bowling Green plant, the mid-engine Corvette is understood to start production no sooner than the fall of 2019.
It is likely the engineers didn’t take the load into consideration when designing the electrical system or the beancounters cheaped out on the development process to save a few dollars here and there. Taking a look at the bigger picture, what does this mean for the people who work on the mid-engine Corvette?
GM Authority explains that “changes made to the sports car will also need to be coordinated with suppliers (…) as well as any associated equipment.” Beyond engineering, this is also a problem of logistics. And thus, the six-month delay of the project ultimately translates into a delayed U.S. launch.
The motoring publication hopes the mid-engine Corvette will arrive at dealers for the 2020 model year, “though a 2021 model year launch is not entirely off the table” if the undertaking doesn’t go according to plan. Looking at the glass as half full, it’s reassuring that General Motors is taking its time to get the newcomer right instead of rushing things out.
Even though the Detroit Auto Show is the place where a lot of previous Corvette models have debuted, the C8 isn’t expected to surface until sometime in the spring. Following an investment of nearly $800 million in the Bowling Green plant, the mid-engine Corvette is understood to start production no sooner than the fall of 2019.
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