[VIDEO] Did Joe Biden Just Out GM’s Secret Plans for an All-Electric Corvette?

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Did Joe Biden Just Out GM's Secret Plans for an All-Electric Corvette?

Photo Credit: Biden Campaign


Did Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden just spilled the beans on GM’s plans to electrify the new C8 Corvette?

Yesterday, the candidate released a campaign video via social media that featured Joe in his Goodwood Green 1967 Corvette. Titled “Joe Biden Gets Vetted”, the video is playing on the candidate supposedly picking his running mate, and instead, it shows him talking about and driving his midyear Corvette down his driveway.

Biden was gifted the Sting Ray by his father as a wedding present for his first marriage, and we’ve seen it a few times over the years. Most recently, it was featured on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage back when Biden was still Vice President.

[VIDEO] Did Joe Biden Just Out GM's Secret Plans on a Electric Corvette?


In the campaign video, Biden mostly talks about the Corvette Sting Ray and what it means to him personally, as well as the feeling he gets when driving it. However, at one point he looks to the future and says “and by the way, they tell me, and I’m looking forward, if it’s true, to driving one – that they’re making an electric Corvette that can go 200 mph.”

The comment prompted GM spokesperson Jeannine Ginivan to issue their standard future product statement as shared with the Detroit Free Press:

“I don’t know who ‘they’ are who told him that, but we don’t have any news about any new electric Corvette,” Ginivan said, reiterating that GM does not discuss future product. “We are excited about the line of vehicles we have coming. We have the GMC Hummer electric pickup and tonight the Lyriq (SUV) reveal.”

“We were surprised to see the video and that he is as excited about electrification as we are,” Ginivan said, adding they were pleased he promoted American-made cars.

Here is the version of the campaign video that was posted to YouTube:


The Detroit Free Press does say that “someone familiar with Corvette production” at the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green has confirmed plans for an all-electric version of the Corvette” but qualifies that by saying timing and it’s top speed are not known at this time. They also say that an all-electric version of the car is at least two years out and that it follows GM’s plans to release electric cars across their line-up.

Biden is known to be a Corvette fanboy and once famously proclaimed during a speech to the United Auto Workers that “Corvettes are better than Porsches.” During his visit to the 2017 North American International Auto Show, he made a beeline to the new Corvettes on display and even had a personal tour of the new C7 Grand Sport with Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter.

Vice President Joe Biden Checks Out the Corvettes at NAIAS 2017

Photo Credit: Steve Fecht (GM)


So while it’s possible that Joe might have some inside info on the Corvette’s future products, it’s most likely that he caught that news from the magazines and blogs that have been talking about the possibility of a hybrid version of the C8 Corvette known as the Zora, which would utilize electric motors on the front wheels for additional horsepower and performance.

During the video, Biden shows off his driving skills, although he is unable to get the car out of first gear due to the additional cars parked along the driveway, “I didn’t get a chance to flat-shift into second, I was afraid I’d go through those guys,” Biden laughs and then adds, “I love this car, nothing but incredible memories. Every time I get in it, I think of my dad and Beau. God, could my dad drive a car. Oof.”

Editor’s note: We posted this not to be for or against any candidate, but because it’s news that a presidential candidate drives a classic Corvette in a campaign video. Because politics ruins everything it touches, we have elected to turn off the comments on this particular post. If you want to comment on the article, take those discussions to Facebook or Twitter.


Source:
Detroit Free Presss

Related:
[PICS] Vice President Joe Biden Checks Out the Corvettes at NAIAS 2017
[VIDEO] VP Joe Biden Drives his 1967 Corvette on Jay Leno’s Garage
Joe Biden: Corvettes are Better than Porsches

 



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