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The C8 Corvette is less than 7 days away at this point but there have been many leaks that have Corvette fans everywhere scared. The latest leak shows a rear end that looks strikingly similar to the back end of a 6th generation Camaro.
I don't personally have anything against the Camaro, it's a great car in it's own right, but the look of a Camaro doesn't belong on a Corvette. As we all know the C8 Corvette is going mid-engine this time around and while this is a welcome change for most, some don't agree. The Corvette purists want that engine to stay in the front but I've said it once and I'll say it again, GM has to evolve to stay relevant so mid-engine it is!
Why The C7 ZR1 Is Going To Increase In Value
The C7 Corvette ZR1 has some pretty fantastic specs and is the highest horsepower Corvette built to date. With 755 horsepower and 715 torque it has more "get up and go" than you'd likely ever need. Even though that by itself is quite amazing, that's just one of the reasons this car is going up in value.
The C8 Corvette is rumored to have 530 horsepower as well as a 7 speed dual clutch automatic transmission in its base form. On paper that sounds great, but in reality that's a considerable amount less than the C7 ZR1. Yes, we're comparing the base C7 to the "top dog" C7 but nevertheless, it makes the previous generation more appetizing than the brand new base model C8's.
Ultimately the C7 ZR1 has 4 major selling points that the base C8 won't have. 1. 755 horsepower. 2. Manual transmission offering. 3. Front engine layout. 4. It's available now! Like I said the front engine layout isn't something that I personally would go to battle over, but there is a hardcore group of Corvette lovers out there that hate to see this car lose it's front engine setup.
The C7 ZR1 has more than proved itself on the track and has fixed every issue that the C7 Z06 had (overheating, etc.) The C7 Corvette in general is a fantastic machine and the new C8 isn't likely to directly compete with any of them aside from maybe the Stingray and Grand Sport. Odds are very good the C7 Z06 and the C7 ZR1 will still outperform the base C8 all while having the option for a manual transmission for those hardcore manual guys out there!
What Does This Mean For The C8 Corvette?
Well.. Nothing really. The C8 Corvette will sell pretty well just as all new Corvettes do but with dealer markup and allocation issues it may be hard to get a C8 right away.
A lot of people are going to decide against waiting for this reason and the ones listed above and just get the C7 ZR1 instead. Baring some huge surprise from GM on the 18th this is what is going to happen. A very similar thing happened when the C7 Stingray came out. The value of the C6 ZR1 went up because that car was more available and had better performance than the newest generation at the time. I forsee the same thing happening with the C8 Corvette and it's pending launch.
Also watch What's it like to drive a C7 Corvette ZR1. Insane speed and unreal acceleration, as well as Click To Subscribe Torque News Youtube Channel for Daily News on Automotive Industry.
See you in my next story where I talk about the recent official reveal of the steering wheel from GM.
Justin Nohe can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube.
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Comments
This C7 Corvette looks like a
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This C7 Corvette looks like a fighter jet.
It is quite a menacing look!
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In reply to This C7 Corvette looks like a by James (not verified)
It is quite a menacing look!
I like the new ZR-1 a lot,
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I like the new ZR-1 a lot, and I am glad that they built it with the options of a manual transmission and convertible versions. But I think that it might be a bit premature to designate it as a collector's car just yet. Sure, it's iconic and the image of the last front/mid-engined Corvette, signalling the end of an era. But Chevy has had a great many special Corvettes in the past that were the last of their kind, from the twin turbo Callaway Corvettes, to the earlier ZR-1s, and the 427 Corvette, even though they are always special to Corvette fans, the fact that they were replaced with relatively affordable newer models that offered even better performance, took away from their longer term value for buyers and collectors. It is rumored that the C8 Corvette will be offered in a base model, and a more powerful Z06 model, and perhaps a "Zora" model with around 1000HP! And while you are correct that many traditional Corvette loyalists will not like the change to a rear mid-engined Corvette, and prefer the more classic ZR-1, there may not be enough of them to drive up the prices of current models once the C8 Corvette is released.
Time will tell for sure but
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In reply to I like the new ZR-1 a lot, by DeanMcManis (not verified)
Time will tell for sure but early impressions are there are likely to be more people upset with the C8 looks/functionality than you might think...
Some people say this is the
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Some people say this is the last real Corvette. But I fully disagree. Just because it's mid-engine won't prevent it from being a Corvette. Especially in 10-15 years when there are 250,000 on the roads. But don't get me wrong, I'm not excited about this new C8. I think the C6 and C7 look so much better.
I agree. The mid-engine
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In reply to Some people say this is the by Jason (not verified)
I agree. The mid-engine layout doesn't stop it from being a Corvette but so far the C7 looks way better to me. We'll see what happens on the 18th!
At the end of 1962, there
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At the end of 1962, there were groups that said they would never drive a Corvette that didn't have a straight axle. Some of those folks are still around and if you don't think they were right, check the price on a fuel injected '62 Corvette. There were people that couldn't wait to get their hands on the 68 when it came out, and now the 67 is considered a classic. When the 84 came out, it was car of the year, and I doubt that anyone would pay over 12k for the best one out there. When the 97 came out, it was goodbye to the small block and the end of an era. Whoa, the good ole days for the Corvette were at a close. Anyone not like the new LS and LT series? The C7 was touted to be the best Corvette ever (I wonder, which one was really best for it's time), but at the end people believed that they were equipped with park benches and handled slightly better than a Corvair. Times change. Some of the new models are super fantastic. Some are not. Enjoy the change. Make your own decisions. I won't let go of my 69, but I'm interested in MY comparison between the C7 and C8. If you on the East Coast, I will see you at Carlisle and possibly Kerbeck.
If the new C8 goes as they
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If the new C8 goes as they plan then the C7 will drop fast BUT if the C8 fails then the C7 will go up in value.
Exactly! Regardless of which
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In reply to If the new C8 goes as they by Paul (not verified)
Exactly! Regardless of which direction it goes the ZR1 will likely not go down due to it still having performance that exceeds the base C8.
You are off on your opinions
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You are off on your opinions about these cars. The Zr1s are yesterday's news. Higher horsepower or not in the ZR1, here are reasons why
1). People will go for new Body/ style than horsepower.
2). Price Cost of a new gen car even though base model only option.
If history has told us
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In reply to You are off on your opinions by Kevin Maguire (not verified)
If history has told us anything it's that the ZR1 will increase in value after the next gen base model comes out. Same thing happened with the C6 ZR1 which will still fetch a pretty penny used.
The C6 ZR1 is an excellent
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The C6 ZR1 is an excellent example of what I think will happen to the prices of the C7 ZR1, and what has already happened to the C7 Z06 prices. In 2009 the C6 ZR1 cost $105K, and it was an amazing high performance car. But a quick look at current prices shows that I can get a low mileage one now for between $50K and $55K, which is about half the price when new. And for me the reason was the release of the C7 Z06, which were themselves $80K-$100K when new, and now (because of the C8 Corvette) they can also be found for $50K-$55K used if you shop around. So even though you are definitely going to have some Corvette purists and fans than prefer the C7 ZR1 to the C8 Corvette, the better that the C8 Corvette turns out to be (both in performance and value) the harder the hit will be on used Corvette prices, except of course for the earlier classic 50s-60s Corvettes.
Its 8 10 21 and this article
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In reply to The C6 ZR1 is an excellent by DeanMcManis (not verified)
Its 8 10 21 and this article is now outdated.
The c6 zr1 corvette with low mileage is now showing 80 thousand to 90 thousand dollar prices on the internet.
I have said a long time ago the C6 ZR1 corvette
would appreciate. You can't comment unless
you actually drive one.The car is a blast to drive.
In any gear it keeps pulling forward effortlessly
The car actually roars when the turbo kicks in.
Driving from red light to red light is stimulating.
You dont get this exilerating feeling from any other vehicles. Everytime i drive it never fails to deliver
ultimate performance.The driving is spectacular
in all city streets.The tall gears really enhances
the driving experience.
I did not buy the C7 ZR1 DUE TO THE FACT THAT A LITTLE MORE THAN A 100 HORSES WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MOVE ME OUT OF MY C6 ZR1.
If it had been bumped up to1000 horses i would have jumped in.
Does anyone think the 2019
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Does anyone think the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 3LZ package with a manual transmission will appreciate in value?
Thank you