Mustang Mach-E Hype Leads General Motors To Follow Suit With Corvette SUV

Whenever I write about the Mustang Mach-E I anticipate the same generic, and tiresome responses. “It’s not a Mustang” blah blah blah. I have heard it all. Heck, I’ve been that voice. I still am that voice in some regard in that I still do not think Ford should have put the Mustang name on a crossover.

But they did. And in the end, it might pay off and that can only be a good thing for Ford and for the beloved and iconic Mustang. So, on behalf of all the #NotAMustang folks out there, I hear you, but it’s time to move on.

Especially when I hear the argument that General Motors would never do something like that to the iconic Corvette. Welllll . . . .

According to several news agencies including Bloomberg, General Motors is, in fact, considering several variants of the Corvette. Turning the iconic sports car into a sub-brand, similar to what Ford appears to be doing with Mustang.

That will likely cause as much angst and complaints from the Corvette enthusiasts as it did the Mustang community. GM, you’ve been warned. Tread carefully.

And really, this is a reaction from GM to the hype that the Mustang Mach-E has churned. I wrote about how the Mustang Mach-E could help value to Ford’s stock. And perhaps a reaction to the Corvette SUV rumor, GM’s stock jumped in price.

A savvy enthusiast spotted what appeared some Corvette-looking front end on an SUV in a video GM released during the Consumer Electronics Show (pictured below). This is always one of the most cutting-edge shows that the auto industry has embraced.

Ford did not participate this year at CES, which was held virtually. But if in fact, GM does plan a Corvette SUV, what affect will this have on the Mustang Mach-E dissenters? Does it give the pro-Mach-E people more in their arsenal?

I truly don’t think the #NotAMustang crowd will change nor do I think the Corvette enthusiasts will be thrilled about a Corvette SUV, let alone an electrified Corvette.

I took the C8 Corvette this summer to a Mustang show at the Halderman Barn Museum and there was nothing but appreciation and respect for this gorgeous sports car. I even took a blasphemous photo of the C8 against the giant Mustang logo on the side of the Halderman Barn (pictured at the top).

So it seems these two iconic American cars make strange bedfellows in these changing times we live in. First the Mustang name goes on an all-electric crossover, and now the Corvette emblem could be on an SUV.

It’s already been reported by TheDrive.com that the entire team that worked on the Corvette has been switched over to GM’s EV side of things. Read into that what you will, but an electrified Corvette is for sure in the works, just as an electrified, separate from the Mach-E, will likely be part of the next-generation Mustang.

Count me in for an electrified Mustang and an electrified version of the C8 Corvette too. Other than missing that visceral purr of the engine, the torque and performance should be exhilarating.

Just as likely the torque in the Mach-E, especially the GT version, will be impressive. Ford has to get as many of the Mach-Es out to dealers and customers. And unfortunately, they just recently announced some minor delays.

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Delayed
As photos circulated of Mach-Es loaded onto trains leaving the Kansas City Plant heading toward dealerships, excitement spread amongst those who placed early orders. The moment they waited for was finally here.

Then Ford sent out a mass mailing to many stating that their Mach-E would be delayed. The letter read: “To ensure your complete satisfaction, we will require additional time . . . “

So what exactly is going on? Nobody is quite sure. Is there a quality control issue? Or is Ford just being extra cautious and giving the Mach-E one last quality check to make sure early deliveries go off without issues.

It’s incredibly important for the Mach-E to be right and without quality issues. So it’s best to play it safe. However, an ambiguous letter like this, makes many Mach-E enthusiasts leery and uncertain about what exactly is going on.

Ford released this statement to me regarding the delay: "As part of our commitment to delivering high-quality vehicles, we are conducting additional quality checks on several hundred Mustang Mach-E models built before dealer shipments started last month. We want to ensure they meet the quality our customers expect and deserve."

It’s been an exciting week when it comes to the controversial Mustang Mach-E. The week started by the Mach-E winning the prestigious North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. That gave a lot of credibility to the electric crossover.

As deliveries (hopefully) start arriving to customers and dealerships, more and more buzz should be generated including more first-drive impressions. I will be getting seat time in the Mach-E in March myself and you can guarantee I’ll cover a lot about the Mustang Mach-E at that time here at Torque News.

As always leave me your thoughts on either the Corvette SUV or the delays in the Mach-E delivery. Does it have you concerned?

Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter, at his special Ford F-150 coverage on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can read the most of Jimmy's stories by searching Torque News Ford for daily Ford vehicle report.