Corvette Redesign In Global Hands?

2010 Chevy Corvette

I love to use the word “iconic” when I describe the Ford Mustang, America’s enduring pony car. For nearly a half century, this particular steed has filled a need in the heart of many sport coupe enthusiasts.

Though the Mustang has certainly earned its place in the halls of American autodom, I would give the hot car nod to the Chevrolet Corvette, a true sportscar by every definition. Importantly, the Corvette has a longer product run with the first model rolling out in 1953 well before the muscle car era got its start.

Corvette Appeal

The Corvette’s appeal in America is well known, but less so in markets around the world. Sure, the Corvette is available overseas including in Europe, but it has a miniscule following as it must go up against some of the finest sports cars in the world. Like Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati and Lotus to name just a few. That has put the Corvette at a distinct disadvantage, one that GM management hopes to erase by inviting global designers to participate in the Corvette redesign process.

Yes, the next generation of America’s sports car may still be built in Bowling Green, Kentucky but its design may be hatched in a design studio in Germany, Japan or elsewhere. Sounds almost sacrilegious doesn’t it?

New Design

Well, yes and no. GM knows that the key to the Corvette’s enduring success is to attract younger buyers. Unfortunately, the Corvette comes across more like your granddaddy’s sports car, one that today’s up and coming buyers are not identifying with. That’s not good news for any car line as you must keep that attraction strong from generation to generation. Today’s Corvette, though fast and stylish, is not as refined as a Porsche. GM isn’t giving buyers any reason to consider Corvette at least in its current iteration.

In the Mar. 8, 2010 issue of “Autoweek,” GM’s VP of global design Ed Welburn noted that the Corvette’s redesign was opened up to ten design studios around the world in 2009. With those designs now in hand, GM appears pleased with what they have received although a final design has yet to be chosen.

The current Corvette is criticized for looking too big and for having a cheap interior. Just under 14,000 Corvettes were sold in 2009, a drop of 48 percent from the year before. A new model is about two to three years out, but expect that the new design will be settled this year in order to stay on target.

Real Corvette

Changing the Corvette will be a delicate act, one that can take the model into a different direction completely which raises an important point—will the next generation Corvette no longer be a Corvette? Let’s hope so because this “iconic” model deserves to be given the chance to not only survive, but thrive.

Photo Credit: GM Corp.

Good-Bye (Again) To Bob & Other Musings

Concept Porsche 918 Spyder

Maximum Bob is retiring. Again.

Robert A. (Bob) Lutz, the larger than life Swiss-born auto industry personality who is widely credited with reviving the electric car, announced that he was stepping down from his position at General Motors. Lutz, who had announced and then rescinded his retirement in 2009 will leave GM on May 1. Lutz is 78.

There is so much that can be said about Bob, one of the more colorful characters of our time at least in the auto industry where towing the line is an art form. But in start contrast to that way of thinking, Lutz often said what he thought and didn’t care too much about people’s reactions including once publicly calling global warming a crock of sh*t.

Lutz began his automotive career with GM Europe in 1963 before heading off to BMW in 1971.  Following his three year stint at BMW, Lutz took turns at Ford, Chrysler and GM with a four year tenure at Exide, a global battery manufacturer preceding his final GM years.

Though credited with influencing the building of the BMW 3-Series, Chrysler LH sedans, Dodge Viper and Plym0uth Prowler, Lutz’ role in getting GM to start thinking about electric cars again may yet prove to be his most significant accomplishment.

Although the car is not due out until November, the Chevrolet Volt is at the vanguard of new electrification technology which promises to reshape the way people view their cars.  Some felt that Lutz would stay around until after the car made its debut, but the heavy lifting has already been completed, therefore Lutz can move on.

In Other News

Lutz’s retirement isn’t the only news of note this week. The Geneva Motor Show’s press days are over, revealing a number of dazzling new models and concepts which will be on display through March 14 in Switzerland.

I have yet to complete my sifting through of press materials, photos and schematics related to what has been revealed, though the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept (pictured) is certainly a looker. And, if Porsche goes ahead and builds the car it could turn the industry on its ear.

How so? Because the 918 is a plug-in hybrid model, pairing an explosive V8 engine with lithium-ion hybrid technology. Porsche says that the 918 can travel from zero to sixty in just 3.2 seconds while achieving 78 mpg on the highway! Most certainly that is an unheard of combination of power and fuel economy, numbers competing manufacturers would need to match if Porsche follows through and builds the 918.

Final Thoughts

I also noted that Hyundai did follow through and roll out their iFlow concept at Geneva but the only pictures to be had are the four auto show images on their website. I had hoped to snag a few more, but that will have to wait until Hyundai updates their site. Take it from Ford and GM, Hyundai: when you announce a new car or concept, have those pictures available to the press pronto.

Lastly, in the Mar. 1, 2010 Consumer Reports (CR) Car Blog posting, it was noted that Toyota will pick up cars and provide free loaner service for affected owners of recalled models. Then again, when you read the CR article you have to wonder if something might have gotten lost in translation….