Former GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz may not be privy to the day-to-day happenings with the Corvette team, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of the loop either. And every time he weighs in on the C8 Corvette, you should listen turn off all distractions and listen to what he has to say.
Bob was at GM prior to bankruptcy and was a supporter of the Corvette team’s mid-engine plans. But you know the sad story, GM’s bankruptcy forced the Corvette team to put those plans on the shelf and instead the front-engine C7 was designed in its place (still a happy ending!).
This time, “Maximum” Bob is talking about the C8’s pricing structure and our colleague John Elegant over at the MidEngineCorvetteForum.com put together a great write-up on those comments which we are sharing below:
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We heard Bob Lutz on Autoline three months ago say that he thought that the C8 would cost about $5,000 more than a C7. Bob quickly added that he was out of the loop (a self-effacing, but not accurate comment as it turns out as per below).
Thanks to Fasttoys for sharing with us that in this Dec ’18/Jan ’19 issue of Road and Track (thanks R&T), we learned that Bob Lutz said, in its “Ask Bob” segment (page 112), that “the goal is to sell the C8, version for version, at a little more than the C7.”
Coupled with a comment from Don Sherman of Car and Driver, that Don felt it would cost around $65,000 for an entry 2020 ME, and Automobile Magazine printing earlier this year that it would price “around $56,000” to start, many concluded a few months ago that somewhere in the $60,000-$70,000 range would be the entry MSRP for a 2020 ME.
However, in reaction to those estimates, many disagreed, expressing strong feelings that such pricing was wildly optimistic, that instead, it would start at least $85,000, some believing over $100,000, and criticized the validly of that $60K-$70K range noting such things as, just as Bob Lutz himself self during his AutoLine interview, that he was out of the loop, and the other two were well-meaning true outsiders.
Corroboration that the entry 2020 ME Corvette would start much higher than that $60K-$70K price range, came around six weeks ago, from past Chief Corvette Engineers Dave Hill, Dave McLellan, and Bob Wallace, with their unanimously indicating their belief that it would be in a significantly higher price range than $60,000-$70,000 to start.
However, a recently verified, impeccable source, confirmed that Bob Lutz is currently very much in the GM loop about the ME. While of course he is not involved in engineering, design, nor similar, Bob is far from in the dark about the ME. He knows a ton of intimate C8 details at this time. Thus, IMO, the fact that Bob is again now re-stating his belief that GM’s goal is to “C8 is going to be a little more than the C7” (version for version), suggests even more confirmation that, along with other reputable and informed sources mentioned above, that the starting price of a 2020 mid-engine Corvette, again sticker with no options, would be less than $70,000.
Here is “Maximum” Bob’s exact statement in this month’s Road And Track:
We have always maintained that the C8 would still be an affordable Corvette in the tradition of the C7 and those that came before. We can imagine that once the car is revealed, but before pricing is announced (because pricing is never revealed when the car is) that a Corvette team member will be heard saying “If you can afford a C7 Grand Sport, you can afford a C8”.
What’s your take on the Bob Lutz and his comments on C8 pricing? Let us know below or head over to the MidEngineCorvetteForum.com and jump into the conversation with like-minded Corvette enthusiasts.
Related:
Source:
MidEngineCorvetteForum.com
Bob Lutz Recounts Early Work on the Mid Engine Zora ZR1 Corvette Program
Bob Lutz: C7 Corvette is a “Much Bolder and More Dramatic Design”
Bob Lutz: C7 Corvette is a “Much Bolder and More Dramatic Design”
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![[SPIED] Corvette ZR1 Mules Testing in Ohio Ahead of the NCM Bash](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/uploads/2024/04/042224_8-218x150.jpg "[SPIED] Corvette ZR1 Mules Testing in Ohio Ahead of the NCM Bash")
Lutz’s comments are consistent with what I’ve heard in private conversations going back 2 years. And the recent increase announced on the C7 maybe to move the C7 closer to where the target for the C8 is planned. One further note, last 3 Chief engineers of Corvette are Dave McLellan, Dave Hill and TOM Wallace if in fact you are referring to Chief Engineers.
This is consistent with what I have been told in private conversations going back 2 years. BTW Corvette Chief engineers were Dave McLellan, Dave Hill and TOM Wallace.
So like I’ve been saying all along. There is no way in hell GM is going to out price themselves. I loved how people were saying it was going to be over $150,000 for the base C8.
If you’ve been following the scuttlebutt on the C8 for the past few years, Lutz previously revealed that an early internal presentation by Tadge Jucter to GM execs on why a ME was the next necessary step, Tadge estimated that they could produce it for about $5k more than the C7. So $65k is close to the mark for a base model. Let’s see what happens…
Absolutely Lutz is spot on with his pricing estimate. Any higher and Corvette as a volume sports car would cease to exist. I can see a fully loaded C8 Z06 or whatever it might be called at $125K and a ZR1 at $150K, but those prices are for fully loaded top trim cars. Base Z06 at $86K – $90K.
You folks are enthusiastic but probably should look at history. GM have never really priced things well in the market and currently typical Gen 6 Camaro well equipped dance in the 60 k range. Pickups well equipped are similarly priced. Coupled with GMs failed approach to marketing , its preoccupation with evolving into an electric vehicle company and closing plants and chopping car production it’s hardcto believe GM China centric management won’t screw up Corvette pricing . And even if they don’t you can be 100% sure the dealers will do their usual classy job and price availability into the stratosphere.
I’m sitting here on the computer thinking “I own two C7’s, a 2016 Z06 and a 2017 GS” and can,t see, with all the technology being put into the ME, that it will fall under $100K …. I’m just bench racing here, but, can’t fathom that low of a price! HOPE I’M WRONG?
waited till the C6 “Z06” was out before I bought one, and, same with the C7 GS….although didn’t know the Grand Sport was it the works when I bought the Z, or, would have waited for it, LOVE the wide-body, but the Z06 is “just” over the top for street only driving….IMO ( not taking into account of the Fiero used all “IN HOUSE” parts to keep cost down)
I LOVE the “mule ME” idea so far, let it bug out for the first year, THEN….”BAM”
I rarely weigh in on these forums but after JUST coming back from Spring Mountain Motorsport High Performance Driving School for my Z06 I can say without a doubt the Z06 is a phenomenal Street and Track Supercar.
Out of 19 participants I was one of 4 Manual cars. The auto is faster down the straightaway buy a heartbeat but I love the enjoyment and engagement of shifting.
My concern with the C8 is it’s not as usable for a cross country GT car
the C7 has room for two overnight bags, a gym bag, a day backpack and a laptop bag. (Mine is custom from Tulle from my 2014 launch edition)
I’ll be keeping my 2018 Z06 till
April 2023 and then sell it with one year left on the extended warranty
I have bought corvettes for many years and still have several of the older ones. My last purchase was a 17 model Z51 fully loaded and paid just over $70,000. I will be glad to pay $100.000 or over for a loaded C8. The thing that concerns me is that I want one as soon as they come out, but I will not buy a small horsepower one as I have heard rumblings about. Something like 500 horses doesn’t interest me. Not knowing how long I would have to wait to get the ZR or what ever it will be called, really concerns me. Someone please make me feel better about this.
As all corvette lovers and to ansear some hp questions, we all know the new c8 will be a standard hp offering which will be slightly more then our c7 models (stingrays) as we already get 455hp plus and the new c8’s will carry just under 500, about 495 or so and for the new 2021 models then the troubles begin to arise to much more power,
Starting from the c4 model it was a 84 beautiful car (for the 80’s) was only 250 hp or so then the next year was more with the tpi and it got up to the zr1, for a wopping 425hp for the end of 1996, then was the new c5 with 350hp and fast for the day, then in 2000’s it then again became the z06, doing 12 seconds in the 1/4 mile, and blown away most cars on the road, for the c6, it was 400hp at first then again later on next year was again the 7.0 z06 bringing back power to a whole new level,
For the c7, it was the 455hp for the 2014 ans then next year it was again the new z06 600 plus hp making it just way to fast for most guys on the road,
And now the last of the beasts will be the 1k hp factory 2019 zr1 limited to only 100 or so made and sold out by General Motors for there grand finally, so the new 2020 will once again play a role for the stock motor and again have to wait to see how the sales will do will finally be the (zora) the z06, zr1’s and so forth with turbos and rear motors in them all,
So the first year as shown we all know that gm will only make the stock motors for it and again just under 500hp not exceeding that hp range, but fast as heck, as it will do hi 11’s to mid 11’s in the 1/4 mile , they will definitely need to, as the new mustangs gt’s Are leading the already c7 stock vette in the 0-60, ans for the first time in General Motors and fords history the 1/4 mile, ford is in the lead all the way with a automatic transmission, as the gt’s now do 11.9 to 11.7 in the 1/4 mile stock
So has to not only compete with ford but take the lead on that, as a c7 owner I will not and don’t want to embarrass myself by racing a new 2018 gt, because with it all stock I will be beatened by one,
Over all, I so hope gm wont let us down with ford
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