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C8 Average Selling Price Surpasses $106K, 4th Qtr 2023
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EVENTS updated - 2/16/24
MEETING MINUTES added - 2/16/24
STORY added - 3/15/24
PHOTOS added - 10/27/23
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C8 Average Selling Price Surpasses $106K, 4th Qtr 2023

General Motors made a huge bet when they decided to transition the Corvette from its traditional front engine configuration to the now current mid-engine body style, and with the demise of the Camaro, it's currently the only performance car offering in the line-up.

That point was recently driven home following a new report from Cox Automotive regarding GM's Q4 2023 U.S. Market Performance. GM's average transaction price during the 4th quarter 2023 was $53,310 but the C8 Corvette's ATP was nearly double with an average transaction price of $106,032! That's an increase of 20.9% over the year previously. That's despite the fact that Corvette sales actually fell 2.4% during the same time. period.



The big jump in the Average Transaction Price over the year for the Corvette is directly the result of the 2024 Corvette Z06. Chevy's latest track weapon first debuted in fourth quarter 2022, but the model was still in its production ramp-up phase by the time the quarter ended. For the 4th quarter of 2023, there were approximately 2,738 new Z06s produced which helped to skew the numbers upwards.

The Corvette Z06 now has a starting price of $112,700 and we found that during the launch year, the cars were overwhelmingly loaded with features as a majority buyers added the 3LZ trim package. Other high-priced options that helped push the ATP higher included the Z07 Performance Package, Visible Carbon Fiber Wheels, and Brembo's Carbon Ceramic Brakes.

Cox Automotive listed the Average Transaction Prices (ATP) for all Chevy models, and second to the Corvette is the Suburban SUV at $76,275. Rounding out the Top 3 was the Tahoe at $72,635. In addition to the Corvette, two other Chevy models showed double-digit ATP growth during the 4th quarter. The Chevrolet Express van has an ATP of $54,440 with its year-over-year change being 18.3%. The Chevrolet Colorado has a $42,773 ATP and that model posted a 13.8% increase over 2022.

Read the story.

Source: Keith Cornett - CorvetterBlogger.com

Posted 3/15/24



Corvette Stingray vs Tesla Model 3 - Drag Strip



Use the link at end of this story to watch the video.

Normally when we see a Tesla on a drag racing video, we just see another soulless EV that has just one thing going for it - all-out acceleration via its massive instant torque. At least, that was our impression before coming across this video of a Tesla Model 3 lining up against a sinister looking C8 Corvette Stingray dressed all in Black.

These two American autos found each other recently on the starting line at the Las Vegas International Speedway and we wonder if the Tesla and the Corvette owner were both thinking the same thing: "Oh, s**t! I have to race against that?"



Each brand does offer a higher level of performance like the Plaids and the Z06s, and we could see fans of both manufacturers suggesting a different outcome if only those performance models would have lined up opposite of the other. However, you run what you brung, and the C8 Corvette Stingray certainly seemed eager to play.

As the Christmas tree lights up, the Model 3 is first off the line but he was either sleeping or was daydreaming about the Plaid's third motor as the Stingray passed him within 100-feet of the starting line and then never looked back. The Stingray finished the race with a time of 12.29 seconds at 114 mph vs the Tesla's very pedestrian run of 13.84 seconds at 98 mph.

Watch the video.

Source: Keith Cornett - CorvetterBlogger.com

Posted 3/8/24



Rezvani Beast Is 1,000 HP Corvette



It's been teased for months, and now it's here. Say hello to the Beast, the latest bonkers build from California-based Rezvani. If the name sounds familiar, the very first Rezvani was also called Beast. However, whereas that was based on the Aerial Atom, the new Beast is a C8 Chevrolet Corvette at heart. In true Rezvani fashion, there are electrified door handles, bullet-proof glass, a smoke screen feature, and 1,000 horsepower.

Let's start with the engine. It's a 6.2-liter V8 not unlike the one you'd find under the engine cover of a Corvette Stingray, though this one uses a pair of turbochargers to belt out 1,000 hp and 878 pound-feet of torque. Other engine details aren't provided, but it's still connected to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. .



Flat out, Rezvani claims the Beast will reach 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and finish a quarter-mile in 9.6 seconds. A full carbon-fiber body helps with the performance, dropping vehicle weight to 2,960 pounds. The exterior retains some C8 Corvette cues, like the large side intakes and removable roof, but the fascias and fenders largely eliminate the 'Vette's sharper body lines with smoother shapes. Stacked quad exhaust tips at the rear make for an aggressive look, flanking a big ol' diffuser down low. Rounding out the wild supercar theme are the butterfly doors.

There's more Chevrolet flavor on the inside, though Rezvani eliminates the spine of buttons bisecting the driver and passenger seats. The steering wheel is also sliced off at the top, a decision the company says was influenced by Formula 1. The company logo replaces the Corvette emblem on the airbag, and we can see the dash receives fresh upholstery that looks a bit awkward to us. Perhaps that's due to the litany of spy-hunter options available on this sleek machine.

For the wanna-be James Bonds out there, a $45,000 optional "007" package includes gas masks, thermal night vision, electromagnetic pulse protection, electrified door handles, a pepper spray dispenser, magnetic deadbolts, strobe lights, sirens, first-aid and hypothermia kits, and for reasons we can't explain, an intercom system for a small two-seat supercar. There's an optional explosive device detection system too, but the price for that isn't mentioned.

There's legit body armor for the supercar, too, but it'll cost you an extra $55,000. For that you get unspecified amounts of armor for the exterior, as well as bullet-proof glass. Presumably, that takes a big chunk out of the Beast's performance. Such is the price for surviving the apocalypse in style.

Read the full story.

Source: Christopher Smith - Motor21.com

Posted 3/1/24



Some 2024 Corvettes Have Drone Noise



General Motors has released a Service Bulletin for select units of the C8 Corvette Stingray over an issue of an audio booming or droning noise.

Bulletin number 23-NA-205 indicates that certain 2024 Corvette Stingray 1LT units may have a condition where customer notes one or more unwanted boom or drone noises. Applying to both coupe and convertible models equipped with the standard Bose Premium 10-speaker system (RPO code UQS), this noise reportedly occurs during Active Fuel Management (AFM) operation and between 1,500 and 2,000 rpms.

It's worth noting that 2LT and 3LT trim levels of the C8 Stingray are equipped with the Bose Performance Series 14-speaker sound system (RPO code UQH).



To remedy this unwanted annoyance, certified GM technicians are to inspect affected vehicles and check to see if the wiring harness has a different polarity than the amplifier for the right front midrange speaker. To do this, techs will access the T3 radio speaker amplifier through the passenger footwell, and subsequently begin testing terminals.

Notably, it should take less than an hour to perform this fix.

Read the full story.

Source: Trey Hawkins - GM Authority

Posted 2/23/24



No Discounts For 2024 Corvettes



In February 2024, any Chevy Corvette discount or incentive remain unavailable on the mid-engine sports car. Below, check out details on the 2024 Chevy Corvette variants - Corvette Stingray, Corvette Z06, and first-ever Corvette E-Ray.



The 2024 Chevy Corvette adds new active safety tech to its features list to bring it more in line with other Bow Tie brand models, including Automatic Emergency Braking and standard IntelliBeam automatic high-beam headlamps as well as Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning. The 2024 Corvette also gets new driver mode selection animations along with a new infotainment system that incorporates Google built-in features. According to a J.D. Power Study, the Chevy Corvette already has a great multimedia system.

Additionally, the 2024 Corvette Stingray drops two alloy wheel choices, replacing them with new designs. Check out all the 2024 Corvette wheel options. Furthermore, the 2024 Corvette gets a new Edge Red painted rear fascia script LPO-level option.

Furthermore, the Stingray's M1L transmission gets a case design update and, critically, will no longer require two extra quarts of transmission fluid for track use. It should be noted that GM does not condone tracking M1L-equipped vehicles without the Z51 package.\

A year ago, GM debuted the first-ever 2024 Chevy Corvette E-Ray, featuring the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 engine from the Stingray mated to an electric motor mounted up front. The E-Ray is also the first-ever production Corvette equipped with front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive traction.

That combination also makes the E-Ray the fastest Corvette ever, with a 0-to-60 mph time of just 2.5 seconds, a tenth of a second quicker than the Z06.

The Corvette Z06 features the 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine, a race-bred, naturally aspirated, dual-overhead cam, flat-plane-crank powerplant.

Read the full story.

Source: Vince Brown - GM Authority

Posted 2/16/24



Corvette Dealers At NCM For E-Ray Training



When Chevrolet first revealed the 2024 Corvette E-Ray, they used the tagline "One Like None" to make the point about the performance hybrid's unique front motor that offers All-Wheel Drive on the Corvette for the first time ever. To help prepare dealers to sell and service the new Corvette model, Chevrolet will be hosting a round of training sessions at the National Corvette Museum's NCM Motorsports Park starting in March and running into April.



The training will consist of classroom sessions to go over detailed product information and the delivery process for both the E-Ray and the Z06, and the driving portions of the training on the track will most likely share the blistering quickness of the E-Ray's acceleration from a stop thanks to the new AWD setup.

Chevrolet held a top-level dealers meeting last October in Las Vegas, and participants could watch the new E-Ray drag race a Ferrari F8 at the Las Vegas Speedway, so perhaps they will have a similar set up.

Chevrolet has previously held off-site trainings for dealers and service techs on their new Corvettes, with the last one occurring for the launch of the C8 Corvette Stingray. To become a certified Corvette dealer of the C8, dealers had to send both a sales specialist and a service technician to Spring Mountain for training, while dealers also needed to purchase nearly $1500 in specific tools to service the new car. We are told that dealership tool requirements for the E-Ray will cost only $250, but the specific item(s) haven't been made public.

Read the full story.

Source: Keith Cornett - Corvette Blogger

Posted 2/9/24



2024 Stingrays & Audio Problems



General Motors has released a Service Bulletin for select units of the C8 Corvette Stingray over an issue of an audio booming or droning noise.

Bulletin number 23-NA-205 indicates that certain 2024 Corvette Stingray 1LT units may have a condition where customer notes one or more unwanted boom or drone noises. Applying to both coupe and convertible models equipped with the standard Bose Premium 10-speaker system (RPO code UQS), this noise reportedly occurs during Active Fuel Management (AFM) operation and between 1,500 and 2,000 rpms.



To remedy this unwanted annoyance, certified GM technicians are to inspect affected vehicles and check to see if the wiring harness has a different polarity than the amplifier for the right front midrange speaker. To do this, techs will access the T3 radio speaker amplifier through the passenger footwell, and subsequently begin testing terminals. Notably, it should take less than an hour to perform this fix.

As a reminder, the Corvette C8 Stingray is powered by the 6.2L LT2 V8 gasoline engine, which is rated at 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. However, those figures are bumped up five horsepower and five pound-feet of torque when the mid-engined Vette is equipped with the high-performance, dual-mode exhaust system (RPO code NPP), which has been quite the popular option.

Delivering this output to the pavement is the GM eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which exclusively drives the rear wheels.

Read the full story.

Source: Trey Hawkins - GM Authority

Posted 2/2/24



Immaculate 1954 Corvette For Sale - Best Hurray



In a story of enduring automotive love, a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette, cherished for an incredible 62 years by its current owner, has now surfaced, presenting a unique window into the past of American motoring. The car, the 3,474th of the 3,640 produced that year, was acquired in California in 1962 and later journeyed north to Oregon, where it has since been meticulously maintained.

Clad in a radiant white coat applied in the early 2010s, this classic C1 Corvette retains the iconic design elements that have made it a symbol of American automotive culture. The car is outfitted with a white convertible top, complementing the polished chrome grille and wire mesh headlight guards, a testament to the era's attention to detail and style. Despite its age, the car shows its history with pride; paint chips and signs of its adventures are evident, adding character and storytelling to this rolling piece of art.



The car's interior, a blend of vibrant red vinyl seats and coordinating dash pad and door panels, transports one back to a time of simpler yet exhilarating motoring. Recent care includes reupholstered seats and minor repairs, ensuring the car remains as comfortable as it is charming. The cabin, complete with a dash-mounted rear-view mirror, analog clock, and a classic heater, is a shrine to the automotive designs of the mid-20th century.

Under the hood lies the heartbeat of this classic - the 235ci "Blue Flame" inline-six engine, equipped with three Carter YH side-draft carburetors. Recent service to the fuel hose and exhaust hangers ensures that this vintage powerplant continues to purr with vitality. Despite signs of oxidation on some chrome components, the engine's authenticity and performance remain undiminished.

The car rides on red-finished 15" steel wheels with polished covers, giving it a stance that is both authoritative and graceful. The undercarriage, showing signs of its long journey through time, tells the story of countless roads traveled and adventures had.

This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette, a testament to the enduring allure of American automotive craftsmanship, stands not only as a collector's dream but as a living narrative of the love between a man and his machine. Its next chapter awaits the care of a new custodian, ready to write new stories and continue the legacy of this timeless classic.

More photos.

Source: Yahoo News (no writer credited)

Posted 1/26/24



Junkyard Find - 1985 Corvette



Out of all the eight generations of Chevrolet Corvette production, the biggest success in the showrooms was the 1968-1982 C3. The C3 looked wild and boasted Jimi Hendrix and Joan Didion provenance, but it handled like a truck and power numbers were grim once the Malaise Era took hold. The General decided he'd be wise to make its C4 successor a cornerin' and brakin' machine, and today's Junkyard Find is a first-year C4 discovered in a Northern California car graveyard last year.



For the record, the best-ever model year for Corvette sales was 1979, with 53,807 sold. The second-best year was 1984 (51,447 sold), and this one was built in June of that year.

We might consider the '84 Corvette to be two model years in one, because ( much-debated) production delays meant that no 1983 Corvettes were sold to the public. Still, its impressive sales figures weren't entirely due to pent-up Corvette demand after the lost year.

I graduated from the Class of 1984 at Alameda High School, and the now-defunct Chevrolet dealership a few blocks from the school made sure to pose the Hornets cheerleaders with the futuristic-looking new Corvette for use in local advertisements. There was much excitement among my gearhead peers about the C4, though the thing was well beyond the financial reach of anyone we knew at the time (and I thought the new Mitsubishi Starion looked cooler, anyway. As it turned out, the C4 is the only Corvette generation to have become commonplace in junkyards since I came of driving age. I started seeing not-so-mangled early C4s at the Ewe Pullet-type yards as early as the middle 1990s, and they're all over the place now. I find the occasional C3 or C5 during my junkyard travels these days, but they've been so crashed and/or burned as to be unrecognizable and I don't bother photographing them.

The Malaise Era ended after 1983, according to the world's foremost authority on the subject, but the 1984 Corvette had what amounted to a 1983 engine: a 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) small-block rated at 205 horsepower and 290 pound-feet. That was just five apiece more horsies and torquies than the 350 in the extremely Malaisey 1982 Corvette.

The C4 was planned all along to benefit from a thoroughly modern sports-car suspension (which it had from the beginning) and electronic fuel injection that would deliver serious power while meeting strict emissions requirements and getting decent fuel economy. That second part happened as well… but not for the 1984 model year. The first-year C4s got a kludgy dual-throttle-body system known as Cross-Fire Injection.

Cross-Fire Injection was sort of a mashup of the 1980 Computer Command Control Quadrajet system and the more modern TBI rigs used on GM cars later in the decade. The two throttle bodies look mean, but they're only here because Rochester took too long to design and deliver a single throttle body big enough for a 350 in time.

Watch the video.

Source: Murilee Martin - The Truth About Cars

Posted 1/19/24



C8 Z06 Production Creeping Along Slowly



We religiously follow Roger Kiel's Facebook posts where he charts the daily production of America's Favorite Sports Car, and it looks like Tuesday, December 21st was the last day of "regular" production counts with 61 Z06s completed that day.

On December 20th, just 10 Z06s were completed. The following day (December 21st), there were zero Z06s completed, but workers still assembled 176 Stingrays that day. And finally on the last production day of the year (December 22nd), just two Corvette Z06s and 191 Stingrays came off the line.



Since production restarted in 2024, there have been just three more cars completed (January 3rd) for a total of 2,741 for the model year.

We haven't heard of any specific issues affecting only the Z06, and many that we have turned to don't have any answers either, so we'll keep our eyes out on this.

With the absence of the Z06 on the line, we've seen some big numbers for Stingray production over the last couple of weeks. Should these production counts continue, we are expecting to see the 10,000th Corvette Stingray for the 2024 model year completed on either Thursday or Friday. Chevy only built 119 on Monday so there is quite a bit of movement in these daily numbers.

As for the 2024 Corvette E-Ray, the first three retail units were completed in mid-December. The new performance hybrids were supposed to restart production in earnest on Monday, January 8th according to many of the TPWs that buyers have been sharing, and we'll probably see those unit counts either on Wednesday or Thursday. We learned on Tuesday morning that the Assembly Plant was without power for an undetermined amount of time due to the powerful winter storm crossing the Southeast, so workers have to contend with that as well as any parts shortages.

Watch the video.

Source: Keith Cornett - Corvette Blogger

Posted 1/12/24



C8 Stingray Quarter Mile World Record



The mid-engine C8 Corvette Stingray is several years old at this point, first launching for the 2020 model year. In that time, tuners have been busying eking out every last ounce of performance from the C8 Stingray's 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine (not to mention cracking the sports car's Global B-based ECU). Now, the folks at Extreme Turbo Systems are claiming a new drag racing world record for the C8 platform with a quarter mile time of 8.64 seconds at 170 mph.



Based in Vancouver, Washington, Extreme Turbo Systems has been hammering on the C8 Corvette since launch, boosting the mid-mounted V8 engine to produce 736 horsepower and 669 pound-feet of torque in June of 2020, and 1,021 horsepower in October of 2020. That latter output figure was enough to propel the C8 down the 1320 in 9.95 seconds at 144 mph.

Of course, the effort required to go down the quarter mile gets exponentially harder when dipping into single-digit ETs, which makes this latest run of 8.64 at 170 mph that much more impressive. Making it all possible is a long list of engine mods, including an ETS C8 PT6870 turbo kit, a water-to-air intercooler, new headers, a new intake manifold with port injection, new pistons and rods, a built head, a Ferrea valvetrain, and an upgraded clutch, not to mention an HPTuners upgrade and ETS tuning package. There's also a set of 15-inch wheels to help put the power down.

The video actually gives us a look at two runs, the first of which shows the ETS C8 Corvette Stingray pull a wheelie for about a third of the track. The second run is much more controlled, and the result is that world record run of 8.64 at 170 mph.

Watch the video.

Source: Jonathan Lopez - GM Authority

Posted 1/5/24



Corvette Plant Tours To End



The National Corvette Museum announced Wednesday that it will be suspending tours at GM's Bowling Green Assembly Plant starting February 5th, 2024.

In a statement released by the NCM today, it was explained that "Due to manufacturing advancements, tours offered by the National Corvette Museum of GM's Bowling Green Assembly Plant will be suspended beginning Monday, February 5, 2024. At this time, there is no confirmed date for plant tour resumption."



Tours of the Corvette Assembly Plant have become a popular "add-on" for visitors to the Museum. The Plant Tours have also been offered as part of the Museum's R8C Delivery Program, a program that allows new Corvette owners to receive delivery of their car at the National Corvette Museum and to take a private tour the plant as part of the experience.

The statement released by the museum also stated that there has been no date offered as to when the plant will resume tours.

For anyone planning a trip to Bowling Green in 2024 to visit the Museum, the NCM will remain open to the public and continue operating as usual. For anyone hoping to tour the Corvette Assembly Plant before tours are cancelled, you can still reserve a spot on one of the tours through Friday, February 2, 2024. You can schedule your tour reservation by visiting the NCM online at corvettemuseum.org.

See more.

Source: Joe Kucinski - Road & Track

Posted 12/29/23



Corvette Z06 0-150-0 MPH Test



Be sure to watch the video. The Corvette test begins 14:30 into the video.

The C8 Corvette Z06 has the goods to challenge the top-shelf sports cars of the world, laying it down thick thanks to a high-revving, naturally aspirated V8 engine, mid-engine layout, and competition-inspired handling. Although the new Z06 was designed to clip off lap times on the road course, it can accelerate and brake with the best of them as well. Now, we're seeing that fact laid out in the following performance test video.



Coming to us from the folks at Car and Driver, the video puts the new Corvette Z06 up against 11 performance-oriented competitors, testing each vehicle's straight-line speed and braking capabilities in a run from 0 to 150 mph and back to 0. Vehicles were ranked by their overall time.

The C8 Corvette Z06 placed second in the test, bested only by the mighty Porsche 911 Turbo S. The C8 Corvette Z06 managed a run in 22.5 seconds, while the 911 Turbo S completed a run in 19.3 seconds. The Porsche 911 GT3 RS was third with a run in 24.4 seconds, while the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing was fourth with a run in 24.7 seconds.

According to Car and Driver, the Corvette Z06 completed the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds, and was launched with the launch control system in "auto mode," which allowed the onboard computer to self-adjust to the surface.

The model used in testing was also equipped with the optional cross-drilled carbon ceramic brakes, sized at 15.7 inches in front and 15.4 inches in the rear, while in the corners, the mid-engine sports car was riding on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ZP rubber, sized at 275/30ZR20 in front and 345/25ZR21 in the rear. Vehicle weight was estimated at 3,672 pounds, which puts the power-to-weight at 5.5 pounds per horsepower, assuming 670 horsepower from the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine.

Watch the exciting video

Source: Jonathan Lopez - GM Authority

Posted 12/15/23



Update: Why Are C8's In A Michigan Parking Lot

This is an update from last week's post.

Six weeks ago we learned that Chevrolet had started shipping Corvettes to Michigan for unknown update/repairs. More recently, photos of the parking lot where those Corvettes are stored showed at least 100 new vehicles parked in a fenced lot in Pontiac, Michigan.



There's been a lot of speculation as to why those cars were sent to Michigan, and every time one of those owners was able to talk to GM about the issue, the representative would refuse to confirm. Now there's been a change as at least two of those owners with cars parked in "Pontiac Purgatory" are now saying the issue all along has been the Dual Clutch Transmissions for the Stingray.

Those two owners confirmed that important news today in that gigantic thread on the subject at the MidEngineCorvetteForum.com. The owners are both saying that representatives from GM's "Executive Resolution Board" have confirmed that their Corvettes were sent to Michigan due to a transmission problem. One of those owners writes that his car has finally moved inside the Penske Service Center for the repair just today.

We still don't know if they are repairing or replacing the DCTs, but the reason for sending the cars to Michigan is that there was simply no room at the Corvette Assembly plant for that many cars to be fixed.

The fact that it is a DCT issue also explains why the cars up in Michigan were all Stingrays, which have their own unique transmission. Those transmissions for the Stingrays were updated for the 2024 model year and they feature a redesign with one of the benefits being that that it no longer necessitates the adding of two quarts of transmission fluid for those taking their cars to the track.

We also learned today that another two of the Pontiac Purgatory Corvettes have been released from the Penske shop and are now on the way back to the National Corvette Museum where they will finally be delivered to their new owners nearly three months after they rolled off the assembly line.

Read the entire story

Source: Keith Cornett - Corvette Blogger

Posted 12/8/23



Why Are So Many C8's In A Michigan Parking Lot

A fleet of roughly 100 brand-new 2024 Corvette units were recently seen stored at a parking lot in Pontiac, Michigan. The exact reason why all these new mid-engine sports cars were stored there is unclear at this time. That said, this isn't the first time GM has amassed a fleet of brand-new vehicles waiting to be shipped.



Looking over pictures of the parked cars, the vast majority are wrapped up in white covers, although at least one unit appears to be uncovered. These C8 Corvette units appear to be brand-new and ready for delivery, with a somewhat even mix between C8 Corvette Coupes and C8 Corvette Convertibles. The first row of vehicles appear to be the base-model C8 Stingray, as indicated by the 5-split-spoke wheels.

The exact reason why all these C8 Corvette units are stored in Michigan remains unclear. GM Authority reached out to General Motors for a comment, but has yet to receive a response.

Notably, this is definitely not the first time we've seen or heard about General Motors storing a fleet of brand-new vehicles ready for delivery. Back in May, GM Authority covered the story of the thousands of 2023 Chevy Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon units that were damaged by a massive hail storm while parked outside the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri, the facility where both pickups are produced. In addition to being parked around the GM Wentzville plant, some of the units were parked at nearby storage areas, including a quarry.

Some of the vehicles were waiting on retrofits and / or quality control, per previous GM Authority coverage. In a statement emailed to GM Authority, the Director of Chevy Truck Communications, Shad Balch, said that "during launch, it is a common practice for us to temporarily build and hold vehicles to ensure quality before shipping to dealers."

Some sort of logistical snag may also explain what's going on, with commercial trucking and rail transport shortages being a common issue all year long.

Of course, neither of these possibilities explain why the 2024 Corvette units are in Michigan, rather than in Kentucky near the GM Bowling Green facility, the exclusive producer of the Chevy Corvette since 1981.

Read the entire story

Source: Jonathan Lopez - GM Authority

Posted 12/1/23



C8 ZR-1 Has Additional Side Air Intakes

The 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 will up the ante for the mid-engine C8 Corvette lineup with yet more go-faster goodies, including a new forced induction engine matched and a wealth of aerodynamic enhancements. Per previous GM Authority coverage, a prototype variant of the 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1 was recently spotted at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany, giving us an early look at some of the features in store, including a massive rear wing, and a new front hood air extraction vent. Now, we're taking a closer look at the ZR1's new side air intakes.



One of the C8 Corvette ZR1's most notable features is its widebody stance, with the extra width provided by extended body panels that are similar to those of the C8 Corvette Z06. However, unlike the C8 Z06, the C8 Corvette ZR1 incorporates an additional air intake placed just behind the primary side air intake.

For the moment, the purpose of these additional side air intakes remains unclear, but there are a few possibilities to consider. For those readers who may be unaware, the new Corvette ZR1 will feature a forced-induction variant of the 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine cradled by the C8 Corvette Z06, labeled as the LT7, and it's possible the new side intakes could be related. For example, the new intakes may provide fresh air to side-mounted intercoolers.

Another possibility is that the intakes feed air to additional radiators, which may be required by the forced-induction LT7. After all, the main side intakes already feed air to large side-mounted radiators, so perhaps the ZR1 is running yet further radiators in the flanks.

Finally, it's possible the new side air intakes are only there for show, and don't actually provide any sort of performance benefit, but rather help the widebody C8 Corvette ZR1 stand apart from the C8 Corvette Z06. That said, the new ZR1's clear focus on aero leads us to believe this is unlikely, as the new intakes likely create additional drag that wouldn't justify simple visual differentiation within the C8 lineup.

Read the entire story

Source: Jonathan Lopez - GM Authority

Posted 11/24/23



2024 E-Ray Production Pushed Back

The 2024 Corvette E-Ray got its big debut early this year, with GM unveiling the first all-wheel-drive, hybrid-powered production car to wear the Chevy Corvette nameplate. Series production of the 2024 Corvette E-Ray was originally expected to begin last month, as GM Authority covered previously. Now, however, GM Authority has learned that the E-Ray production has been pushed back.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the new tentative date for the start of regular production (SORP) for the Corvette E-Ray is set for Monday, November 27th, 2023. The SORP date was previously slated for Monday, October 23rd, but has since been pushed back.



Production of the 2024 Corvette Stingray got under way on September 5th, 2023, as was originally anticipated. Production of the 2024 Corvette Z06 got under way on October 2nd. All C8 Corvette variants are produced at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky, which has served as the exclusive producer of the C8 Corvette since 1981.

As for the specs, the 2024 E-Ray features the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine, the same powerplant that motivates the C8 Corvette Stingray. However, in the Corvette E-Ray, the LT2 is paired with a single front-mounted electric motor juiced by a 1.9 kWh battery pack mounted between the seats. With output from the ICE V8 sent to the rear wheels and electric power sent to the front wheels, the new E-Ray boasts all-wheel-drive grip, as well as a combined 655 horsepower. Put into effect, it's enough to slingshot the E-Ray from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, with the quarter mile dispatched in an estimated 10.5 seconds. The E-Ray rides on the GM Y2 platform, just like the rest of the C8 Corvette lineup.

Notably, the 2024 Corvette E-Ray includes a six-month ownership requirement intended to reduce incidences of owners quickly reselling their vehicle at hugely inflated prices, a practice commonly known as flipping.

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Source: Jonathan Lopez GM Authority

Posted 11/17/23



C8 Rides On Air Suspension

This Chevrolet Corvette C8 Convertible receives global attention. America's sports car gets a body kit from the Japanese company Pandem and additional attention from the German tuner Bader. The result is an eye-catching, open-roof sports car.

The revised body parts noticeably widen the Corvette's fenders, including using exposed fasteners. It also adds a more prominent front lip spoiler and aggressive side skirts with vertical fins near the nose. The tail boasts a fixed rear wing and a more aggressive rear diffuser than a stock C8 'Vette. The orange paint with gloss black accents makes the bright body pop when looking at the car.



This Chevrolet Corvette C8 Convertible receives global attention. America's sports car gets a body kit from the Japanese company Pandem and additional attention from the German tuner Bader. The result is an eye-catching, open-roof sports car.

The revised body parts noticeably widen the Corvette's fenders, including using exposed fasteners. It also adds a more prominent front lip spoiler and aggressive side skirts with vertical fins near the nose. The tail boasts a fixed rear wing and a more aggressive rear diffuser than a stock C8 'Vette. The orange paint with gloss black accents makes the bright body pop when looking at the car.

Bader doesn't make significant alterations to the interior. This Corvette has black upholstery with white stitching. There's also carbon fiber around the instrument panel and on the door sills. An upgraded suspension uses an Air Lift Performance system. It lets the driver lower the ride to hunker down over the bigger wheels.

A carbon-fiber air intake and an exhaust with adjustable valves are the only revisions to the 6.2-liter V8 powertrain. As a reminder, the C8's engine generally makes 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet or 495 hp and 470 lb-ft with the optional Z51 package.

As of September 2023, Chevrolet has delivered 25,438 Corvettes for the year so far. That's up 0.2 percent over the same period in 2022.

Chevy is far from finished iterating on the C8 Corvette. Spy shots and videos show us that the ZR1 variant is coming. The details available so far are that it uses a twin-turbo version of the 5.5-liter V8 from the Z06. The powerplant's rumored output is 800 hp, but there are no official details yet. For comparison, the naturally aspirated version of this engine in the Z06 has 670 hp. We are expecting the ZR1 to debut either in late 2023 or early 2024.

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Source: Chris Bruce - Motor 1

Posted 11/10/23



Jay Leno Checks Out 2024 E-Ray

Use the link at the bottom of this story to see the "Jay Leno's Garage" show featuring the 2024 Corvette E-Ray - inside and out.

The Chevy Corvette E-Ray is a new introduction to the popular Bow Tie sports car lineup, showcasing the nameplate's versatility by ushering in the very first Vette hybrid, complete with an electric motor on the front axle, giving it an all-wheel drivetrain.

Now, car enthusiast Jay Leno has put the Corvette E-Ray through its paces, sharing his thoughts and impressions on a recent episode of Jay Leno's Garage.

During the lengthy video, which has a runtime of more than 47 minutes, Leno discusses the E-Ray with Corvette Executive Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter. The pair start out discussing the E-Ray's engineering and features with the aid of a Corvette cutaway.



Juechter points out that with the hybrid setup, those drivers who are nervous about the electrification of sports cars will find nothing but positives in the E-Ray's setup. He observes that they "still have the beautiful sound of the V8" and a front trunk, while gaining the advantages of all-wheel drive, even better handling, more power, and improved fuel economy without needing to give anything up in exchange.

Leno then takes the Corvette E-Ray for a drive along the road, while Juechter discusses both the performance characteristics of the new hybrid Vette and its positioning in the lineup.

As for product positioning, Juechter notes the E-Ray is toward the upper end of the Corvette lineup, but has significantly different use and performance than the range-topping Z06.

The Corvette Z06, he says, is pure performance, while for the E-Ray, "we're going to keep this car the great all-round car, and let the Z06 be that track scalpel purpose-built for the person who is really going to drive it on the track." The E-Ray's standard all-season tires spotlight its different purpose from "track monster" variants of the Corvette, marking it as the "Swiss army knife" Corvette for all situations.

As the pair roar along the road, Juechter reveals that the Corvette E-Ray has nothing to do with GM's electrification push and "pre-dates GM's Ultium system." The use of an electric motor was simply a way to gain additional power and create an efficient, powerful all-wheel-drive configuration in a mid-engine sports car.

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Source: Rhian Hunt - GM Authority

Posted 11/3/23



Airport Valet Caught Joyriding In Brand-New Corvette

A valet at the Birmingham Airport in Alabama was caught taking a brand-new 2023 Chevy Corvette Stingray on a joyride shortly after its owner hopped on a flight out of the facility, WVTM 13 News reports.

The camera system of the 2023 Chevy Corvette recorded the entire sequence, including audio, enabling owner Tim Scherer to piece together what happened to his Vette during his absence.



Scherer smelled a rat when he noticed his 2023 Chevy Corvette Stingray - which appears to be decked out in an exterior paint color of Rapid Blue (color code GMO) - had about four additional miles on its odometer than the slightly less than 300 it had when he left. Reviewing the vehicle's camera system recordings quickly revealed the culprit.

Timestamps showed the valet driver who accepted the Corvette from Scherer took the car out for a joyride almost immediately. The audio system captured the man "yukking it up" as he steered onto the highway to circle the airport. Pushing the vehicle up to 60 mph, the valet also accelerated strongly enough to reach 6,000 rpm on several occasions.

Besides laughing over the current joyride, the audio also included the valet bragging about a previous foray he took at the wheel of a McLaren sports car belonging to Birmingham's leading surgeon.

Scherer pointed out that his Corvette came with a 500-mile break-in period, and that surpassing 6,000 rpm before reaching that threshold would give Chevy reason to deny future warranty claims. The valet company, Lanier Parking, told him it would provide written confirmation that it would cover any problems with the car, but failed to follow up on the promise according to Scherer.

Later, Scherer was contacted again and the company said that since the vehicle wasn't damaged during the joyride, it would not cover any future problems. The Birmingham airport itself says it is looking into possible damage to vehicles parked on-site and planned to compensate owners if any had occurred.

Though no further comments are forthcoming from the valet company so far, the joyriding valet was fired from his job.

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Source: Rhian Hunt - GM Authority

Posted 10/27/23



Is The World's Best Sports Car Assembled In Kentucky?

It's difficult to overstate how good the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray is, or what an important step it constitutes for America's great sports car. Now, maybe the world's great sports car. Performance, design, technology, value: It's hard to think of an area where the E-Ray isn't at least among the leaders.

All-wheel drive and hybrid-powered, the E-Ray is the biggest leap of imagination and engineering in the Corvette's 70-year history. Ferrari 296 GTB, Audi R8, Porsche 911, McLaren Artura, Acura NSX, Nissan GT-R, Corvette. Take your pick. You'll never get a consensus, but that's the point: Each car is as good as it gets. The fun is in the debate, specifications, lap times and unforgettable road trips.



What makes the E-Ray so special?

Building an electrified - not electric, there's a difference; the E-Ray is a hybrid that combines a classic small-block V8 driving the rear wheels with an electrically powered front axle - 'Vette with all-wheel drive was a choice dictated by physics and advances in engineering. Locating the engine's weight over the rear wheels improves traction. Powering the front axle with a small, efficient electric motor provides instant torque and precise control.

The 'Vette's last evolution, from front engine/rear-wheel drive to mid-engine for the 2020 model year, was child's play by comparison. Chevy engineers had been kicking around proposals for mid- and rear-engine models for decades. That was a question of when, not if.

The program began before and was separate from the Ultium electric motors and batteries GM developed for 100% electric vehicles like the Cadillac Lyriq, and Chevy Silverado EV pickup. It's also unrelated to the inexpensive Chevy Bolt.

The E-Ray was part of the plan for the eighth generation C8 model from the start. That's why its lithium-ion battery fits tidily in the center tunnel, and why the front electric motor and reworked steering and suspension don't reduce space in the car's front trunk.

The E-Ray is faster 0-60 mph - if the difference between its 2.5 seconds and the Z06's 2.6, as measured by Chevrolet, is a deal breaker for you. The track-ready Z06 covers a standing quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds and hits 130 mph, while the E-Ray slouches through it in 10.5 and 129 mph. Of such distinctions are buying decisions made, particularly when you're dealing with some of the most passionate and informed car buyers on Earth.

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Source: Mark Phelan - Carrier Journal

Posted 10/20/23

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