Recently, a group of engineers, race car drivers, and other folks closely associated with the Corvette namesake were interviewed and asked about the next generation Corvette, the C7, set to debut in 2011.  With so much talk of a mid-engined car, some sound advice and information was passed on in this interview, and the consensus is that the mid-engine setup wouldn't be the best approach for Chevy to take.

The old adage states, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  A more fitting statement couldn't be used in this situation.  The most discussed topic in these interviews was the fact that the new Corvette may be made into a mid-engined car.  However, each person interviewed seemed strongly opposed to the setup, and made some great points.  Mainly, the fact that Chevy has been building the Corvette for over 50 years now, and is year after year, building one of the best selling sports cars ever made.  It is user friendly, daily drivable, somewhat easy to work on, and relatively cheap to maintain.

Next, the Corvette's front engine, rear drive setup makes it a great platform for racing, and also much more forgivable on a racetrack in the hands of an inexperienced driver.  Most of the people interviewed, including Reeves Callaway of Callaway Cars, who builds special edition Corvettes and also races the cars, mentioned the fact that a mid-engined car is a great car on a racetrack, but usually only so in the hands of a capable driver.  It is not as forgivable as the front engine setup, and is much easier to lose control of and not be able to gain back. 

From the sales aspect, David Welch of BusinessWeek said that it wouldn't be in GM's best interest to take the Corvette to a higher level than the Corvette Z06 as it is already at basically its highest point now.  He mentioned putting the money into a bigger car, such as a Cadillac, or going after Honda and Toyota in the family car class instead. 

One of the more interesting things mentioned, came from one of the lead Corvette engineers.  He said that the 2011 would most probably remain front-engined, but that Chevy was considering all options, and that we may in the future see another model all together that was a mid engined setup.  So, for those of you that were looking forward to a mid engined Corvette, we suggest not holding your breath, but don't lose all hope, as GM may take care of you yet. 

Stay tuned to RPM Planets for more information on the upcoming C7 Corvette.

Pictures by www.windingroad.com