[PICS] C8 Mid-Engine Corvette ZORA Rendered With Front License Plate

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[PICS] C8 Mid-Engine Corvette ZORA Rendered With Front License Plate


In talking with some of the enthusiasts at the Mid Engine Corvette Forum, it came up that the C8 renders never show a front license plate despite the majority of US States requiring the use of the front plate. Not only did resident artist FVS whip up such a photo before you could say “Nurburgring”, but our friend John also put together a great post about it as well which I have copied below. If he keeps writing great Corvette content like this, we’ll have to make him a regular over here!

Front Plate C8 Appearance
Via MidEngineCorvetteForum.com

[PICS] C8 Mid-Engine Corvette ZORA Rendered With Front License Plate

GM was soundly criticized by many of its C6 customers when they showed up at the dealership after the PDI, seeing the front license plate protruding outward from the upper part of the front fascia. To say it looked like hell, would be a compliment.

However, GM totally listened to its customers’ input, and in the C7 came up with an elegant solution for mounting the front plate, both looking nice for the 19 states that do not require one, yet for the 31 states that do so, creating an easily-installable and/or later “removable without visual consequence,” front mounting plate option.

How the C7 accomplished this was via a front plate license plate mounting system, an “aero cover,” here explained to Keith Cornett of CorvetteBlogger at NAIAS, literally right during 1.13.13 Reveal event, by C7 Chief Exterior Designer Kirk Bennion. Of particular importance in this 2:00 video, is Kirk’s noting first, that the front aero cover for the license plate mounting system is, except for track usage, more efficient than without it, and second, his noting it attaches/detaches very readily without drilling any holes in the fascia. Good job GM!


How might the 2020 mid engine Corvette deal with both the 19 states that do not require a front plate and separately, the 31 states which do — having a functional and reasonably aesthetic solution for both?

The ME’s front fascia looks like this, with its very noticeable wide open grill (as shown in the following picture taken within BGA by a temporary worker during last fall’s 13 week Plant gut-n-rebuild).

Mid Engine C8 Corvette's Front Body Panel Spotted in Corvette Factory's Paint Shop


Yet, all the ME mules pictures we have been seeing, including what appears to be a massive front center grille insert, probably or partially to accommodate a license plate holder.

C8 Corvettes at the Nurburgring


Which first led fvs to render this as how the ME would look like without a front license plate.

C8 Corvette Rendering by FVS @ MidEngineCorvetteForum.com

Without going out on a limb, especially since the four ME’s at the ‘Ring all had the center grille insert, is that for most, and maybe all, 2020 Corvette track applications, the front plate insert mounting system is designed to not impede airflow, to not interfere with necessary vehicle cooling.

Predicting further, consistent with the 2014 Stingray’s and later CD7’s, the front aero plate mounting system will not be factory installed, but shipped in the trunk for PDI or later customer chosen usage (or not).

And consequently, for those in the 31 states, fvs created the following rendering to help us conceptualize how this would look. Thank you very much fvs!

C8 Corvette Rendering by FVS @ MidEngineCorvetteForum.com


So there you have it. A slightly more realistic look for those of you that live in the 31 states that require the plate. We hear some of you continue to run without a plate despite living in a state that requires one, so perhaps an elegant solution like John described above will at least make a front plate look like it belongs there.

Want to join in the conversation? Leave your comments below or head over to the Mid-Engine Corvette Forum and join in the fun!


Source:
FVS @ MidEngineCorvetteForum.com

Related:
[SPIED] Mid Engine C8 Corvette’s Front and Rear Body Panels Spotted in Corvette Factory’s Paint Shop
[SPIED] The C8 Mid-Engine Corvette Hits the Nurburgring!
[PIC] This C8 Mid-Engine Corvette Render Has People Wanting to Write Checks For It Today

 



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2 COMMENTS

  1. Just for what it is worth, In Nebraska one can pay an extra $100.00 for the privilege of not having a front plate.

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