Corvette Blog

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I am listening to a program or song on the radio that I'm really enjoying and either get a phone call, stop for gas, or the like and have to miss a portion or all of what I'm listening to.  For a few years, satellite radio providers have given customers that option with their devices they sell, but the option has yet to be introduced, built in to GM radios.

We don't have to wait any longer.  Certain GM vehicles offer a Pause and Play Radio feature, which saves up to 20-minutes of audio from a radio (including XM radio) on a vehicle’s hard drive. The best part – this radio save feature can even be activated when the vehicle is turned off!

Now in addition to the certain handful of GM vehicles that offer Pause and Play Radio, GM recently announced this radio feature would also become available on lower-end vehicles as well.  This announcement we find interesting, considering they have higher-end vehicles such as the Corvette lacking the latest, greatest options.

After first debuting on the Cadillac CTS, the feature has been available on the Buick LaCrosse, Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX. And now, the Chevrolet Cruze and Buick Regal will begin to offer it too. Others suggest GM will continue to expand this feature onto other vehicles eventually.

Maybe next year’s Corvette will make the cut! If not then, maybe with the release of the Corvette C7 – that is if it doesn’t already come with better radio features!

Stay tuned as we update you on the next batch of GM vehicles that will offer Pause and Play Radio.

[ Orbitcast ]

Posted By Ryan In C7 Corvette , Corvette Equipment , Corvette News , Corvette Parts , Corvettes of the Future | 0 Comments Permalink

According to well-placed sources, a Corvette with a mid-engined layout was well into development in 2008, until the global financial meltdown cut off funding sources.  Then, General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson proclaimed in May that the Corvette was paying it's own way, and that the C7 was alive.

Now, as AutoWeek Magazine's print version declared this week (11.16.09 issue), there may no longer be a C7 in development!  Say it ain't so!  We love the 6th Generation, without a doubt, but we want -- we need -- a future, too!

[ Previous postings on the C7 ]

Posted By Bill Connell In C7 Corvette , Corvette News , Corvette Production , Corvettes of the Future | 2 Comments Permalink

Speculations have amassed that the Stingray, which was just recently revealed at the Chicago Auto Show, may lead to the creation of the C7 Corvette.

BadBoyVettes.com is a Corvette enthusiast company that solely concentrates on the tweaking of Corvettes for racing, whether it’s on a track or hitting the streets. These Bad Boys have been known for their ‘Vette schemes, as they were the ones responsible for creating the C6.R. Together again, they have come up with the racing edition to the ‘Vette Stingray, which they have deemed to call the Corvette C7.R.

What are your feelings about the looks of this mascot skull-headed Stingray dubbed C7.R? We want to hear from you!

[ Whipnotic ]

Posted By Ryan In C7 Corvette , Corvette Concept & Show Cars , Corvette Enthusiasts | 2 Comments Permalink

"Between dialing for dollars on Capitol Hill, dealing with PR flaps over corporate jets, getting the Volt to market, picking up the tab for decades of mistakes, the world financial crises, and just trying to keep the lights on, I doubt Rick Wagoner and Company have had much time to worry about a little deal like the Corvette.  But I have my concerns."

So wrote Matt Stone about the company that builds this beautiful 2009 Corvette ZR1 in a recent (11/27) Motor Trend Magazine editorial.

While we await the decisions to be made by those in Washington, D.C. next week (?), who have had an excessively large part in creating the troubles of the American automobile industry in the first place, you may enjoy reading Stone's concerns.  Before you jump to the rest of his editorial, though, I just have to say: Why do I not hear anyone saying that the federal government is to blame because of its ridiculous mandates to create high gas mileage out of thin air?  For years and years, they have raised the CAFE level, requiring financial investment for technological development that profits did not allow.  Shame on that swamp on the Potomac!

Posted By Bill Connell In C7 Corvette , Corvette News , Corvettes of the Future | 2 Comments Permalink

Perhaps GM is not as bullish on Corvette as we thought!

Keith Cornett (see his CorvetteBlogger posting on the subject yesterday) has queried why there is no communication from GM about management changes at Corvette, and it is a fair question.  Other bloggers (see The AutoExtremist yesterday, as an example) are wisely pointing out that GM is at the precipice of ruin.

With so many huge issues to deal with -- federal government bailouts or loan guarantees, political changes, even survival -- frankly it is not a surprise that the some of the standard niceties like press releases may get neglected.  However, we would still like to have them.

We need to hope, even pray, that GM survives to build the Corvette we love so much well into the future!  I think we'll take a leaner, maybe even a meaner, General Motors and Chevrolet, but let us have more gorgeous and capable vehicles like the ZR1 and Z06!

Posted By Bill Connell In C7 Corvette , Corvettes of the Future | 2 Comments Permalink

There has been quite a lot of wonderful hype on the newest, latest and greatest ZR1!! By no means do I think the beautifully designed car does not deserve it. However, with all this vehicle’s publicity about being the best Corvette to date, how can anything possibly surpass it in the coming years?

Well, word on the street says that the 2012 or 2013 Corvette may come equipped with a twin turbo V6!! Think about this: the amount of power in this engine could EASILY put out 400 horsepower! Though no one really knows what the future will bring, many engine companies are already looking down the road into new future powertrains.

But with the way the economy and gas prices are right now, no one really knows. However, keep your eyes and ears open. Though this may be just a rumor; we want to hear from you! What do you think GM will have to display in the future?

[ FQuick.com ]

Posted By Ryan In C7 Corvette | 2 Comments Permalink

Corvette vehicle-line executive, Tom Wallace, says, "We're still working on future Corvettes, but the scope of change is not yet decided. There are changes, some neat stuff, coming for 2010 that I can't talk about yet."  When pushed for details on Corvette in light of new MPG mandates from the Federal government, Wallace replied that these concerns haven't "inhibited Corvettes. No one is saying we're not doing Corvettes. We're still bullish on Corvettes."

In the same interview with AutoWeek magazine, Tom also indicated that plans are NOT tied down for the next C7.  In fact, it is not even known when the C7 will appear, a great disappointment to those eagerly awaiting its reveal!  Thanks to an article from our partner in Corvette promotion, Keith Cornett at CorvetteBlogger.com, we were alerted to these ground-breaking insights on the next-generation Corvette.

So, hang on tight, while GM determines how to survive further into its second century.  Corvette is perceived to be an important part of GM.  Let us hope they continue to impress us!

Posted By Bill Connell In 2010 Corvette , C7 Corvette , Corvette News , Corvettes of the Future | 1 Comments Permalink

Winding Road posted their January issue today, and there is a real treat for us Corvette enthusiasts!

In an article entitled "Meet the New Boss," contest winners have their say in determining the direction for the new C7 Corvette.  It's a must read!

In addition, there is a great video of Corvette's new boss meeting the Corvette Racing Team at Laguna Seca this past October.

Here's a link to the video, unfortunately they won't let you embed it:  Corvette Video

Posted By Bill Connell In C7 Corvette , Corvettes of the Future | 2 Comments Permalink

Tucked away in a little corner of page 14, the latest Motor Trend snail mail version (December 2007) claims that the next generation Corvette will arrive in 2012 as a 2013 model!

This constitutes a whole year's loss in time since last month's eye-opening report on Corvettes in the works.  As a result, CorvetteBlog is changing the blog tab to the right to read 2013 Corvette C7.

Frankly, this isn't good news.  Who wants to wait?

[ Previous Blog on MT ]

[ Other Blogs on the C7 ]

Posted By Bill Connell In C7 Corvette , Corvette News | 4 Comments Permalink

Groundbreaking insights on the 2012 C7 Corvette have just been published in the November issue of Motor Trend.  Sneak peeks of the article are not available on-line at MT's website, but all the information is right here at CorvetteBlog!

Read the article past the jump, but by all means, buy a copy of this magazine for full enjoyment.

[ Related Blogs ]

Posted By Bill Connell In C7 Corvette , Corvette News | 10 Comments Permalink

In the process of hammering out the new GM - UAW agreement, finalized last week, GM revealed production expectations for its many assembly plants, including Corvette's Bowling Green.  I first noticed this in Scott Burgess' column Saturday in the Detroit News. 

Contrary to previous leaks that the first year of the C7 Corvette would be 2011, documents released during negotiations show it as a 2012.  As a result, we are altering our CorvetteBlog Topic Category to reflect this understanding.

As a reminder, the next blow-them-away, over-the-top Corvette revelation should occur at the North American International Auto Show, AKA Detroit Auto Show, when the wraps come off the 2009 Corvette ZR1! 

[ Corvette ZR1 ]

Posted By Bill Connell In C7 Corvette | 3 Comments Permalink

The AutoExtremist Blog describes itself as "the bare-knuckled, unvarnished, high-octane truth" about the automotive business.  Its author, Peter De Lorenzo, spent twenty two years in automotive advertising before leaving to found his blog and really tell everyone what he thinks.

Last Wednesday, De Lorenzo turned the assumptions and presumptions about the next generation Corvette on their ear with a prediction that the C7 will be mid-engined!  Corvette engineers have considered the mid-engine approach time and time again.  Just visit the National Corvette Museum for evidence, as mid-engined prototypes from the past smile at passersby (see example I photographed there last winter).

Posted By Bill Connell In C7 Corvette , Corvettes of the Future | 11 Comments Permalink

The cover story of the August 2007 issue of Winding Road's on-line magazine is "Chevrolet C7 Corvette".  They report that GM's internal code for the next Vette is GMX711.

Check out the excellent artistic proposals on pages 46-52!  The question has been asked years ago, but could the next Corvette be mid-engine?  Don't miss this free read at Winding Road!

Posted By Bill Connell In C7 Corvette , Corvettes of the Future | 1 Comments Permalink