The NSX designer also designed the Enzo? and Mid Engined C8 Vette

[robr]

Ken Okuyama visualizes the forthcoming mid-engined C8 Corvette

In this month's C&D there was an article about the C8 corvette and that it will FINALLY be mid-engined (as in, behind the driver). Seems like this is a sure thing! That's pretty exciting. So C&D asked 3 famous car designers to come up with a drawing/rendering of what the C8 might look like. One of the designers that was asked was Ken Okuyama (and his C8 design was radical to say the least). According to the C&D article, he also designed the Enzo. I guess this is probably common knowledge around here but I hadn't run into that tidbit yet.

I was going to post pics of his C8 design but I can't find any online yet surprisingly.

 

[TURBO2GO]

Yes Okuyama designed the Enzo. No the C8 won't be mid-engined and frankly I don't want to see it.

They've talked mid-engine since the C3

 

[robr]

From what I read in C&D, it sounded like mid-engine was almost certain for the C8. I know we've heard speculation before and seen prototypes like the CERV III, but this sounded pretty definitive.

 

[TURBO2GO]

From what I read in C&D, it sounded like mid-engine was almost certain for the C8. I know we've heard speculation before and seen prototypes like the CERV III, but this sounded pretty definitive.

God dammit.... LOL

 

[robr]

It's a pretty good read. I don't usually get around to reading C&D unless my son grabs me to show me something, but he had brought it with him to the doctor's office and I started reading it while he was in with the doc. I didn't want to give it back . And the Okuyama design........ WAAAYYYY over the top. Looked like an LMP1 and a Tuatara had a love child.

Seems the vette engineers felt that more power with the current design would just end up spinning the tires and felt like they'd pretty much maxed out what they could do with a front engine design. In order to continue to innovate and improve performance, they felt they had to move to a mid engine design.

I think like most of us, my perception of the vette has changed a lot over the past two iterations. Now... mid engine.......... that's a huge OMG!!!

- - - Updated - - -

 

[RPM217]

I liked Camillo's design best. Then again, I'm a little partial, as I love his design of the GT, so much that I have one next to the NSX!!!

 

[TURBO2GO]

I liked Camillo's design best. Then again, I'm a little partial, as I love his design of the GT, so much that I have one next to the NSX!!!

Must you always remind me...

 

[jond]

IMO, the only thing cooler than a mid-engine Corvette is a 'cheap' Corvette.
The bang for the buck they accomplish is amazing.

 

[RPM217]

Must you always remind me...

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, yes!

 

[robr]

IMO, the only thing cooler than a mid-engine Corvette is a 'cheap' Corvette.
The bang for the buck they accomplish is amazing.

Now imagine that bang for the buck only with the engine where it belongs!

 

[TURBO2GO]

Now imagine that bang for the buck only with the engine where it belongs!

Yes.... now every gold chain wearing 60 year old and his wife can feel they are in an exotic

 

[Osiris_x11]

A Corvette “family” of sportscars would make sense:

- a high(er) volume front-engine 2+2 coupe/roadster known as Corvette-GT with $65k+ price-point with a Z06 version

- a low(er) volume mid-engine 2-seat coupe/targa-type known as Corvette-SS with $130k+ price-point with a GT3/Cup/Challenge analog along with a ZR1 version

Definitely would need a ‘champion’ in GM to have such a vision & initiative. May be if Ford (or even Chrysler) rolled-out plans for a mid-engine offering, it would get Chevy into the game...

 

[jond]

May be if Ford (or even Chrysler) rolled-out plans for a mid-engine offering, it would get Chevy into the game...

I don't know why Ford doesn't keep making the GT.
That thing is sick.

Not sure I would put Fiat/Chrysler in the same bucket as Ford/GM.
Ford and GM are at least kind of American car companies(even though Honda makes more cars in America than they do I'm pretty sure).

 

[robr]

Yes.... now every gold chain wearing 60 year old and his wife can feel they are in an exotic

IMO Chevy has managed to do away with that stereotype, at least in my mind.

 

[TURBO2GO]

IMO Chevy has managed to do away with that stereotype, at least in my mind.

Go to the New England car show this winter, and stand by the corvette a few minutes...

 

[robr]

Ha, I may just do that! Been several years since I've been.

 

[RPM217]

Ha, I may just do that! Been several years since I've been.

Don't forget your gold chain.................................just in case!!!!!

 

[robr]

If I had owned any gold chains, I would have sold them at $1800/oz

 

[Osiris_x11]

Not sure I would put Fiat/Chrysler in the same bucket as Ford/GM.

Ford and GM are at least kind of American car companies(even though Honda makes more cars in America than they do I'm pretty sure).

Interestingly enough, I think Chrysler-Fiat is more likely to throw'out a mid-engine sportscar than GM and Ford, due to shared platforms/tech between the two manufacturers.

With that said, Ford succeeded and failed with their GT. They succeeded in the sense they created a 360 Modena beater, which is what their project had benchmarked. And they failed in that they didn't recognize the downstream marketability and demand of their offering. However, hindsight is 20/20 in that Ford was discounting their GTs languishing on dealer lots when 360s, Gallardos, and others were selling in a "good" economy. Once production ceased, fast-forward 5+ years and the GT is very sought-after. Go figure!

FWIW, I noted that a brand-new ~$80k as-equipped Lotus Evora can be had for low ~$60k'ish... reminds me of a 458 and 12C mashed-up in a blender and then left in the dryer too long!

 

[davidf]

Lol.

if i had owned any gold chains, i would have sold them at $1800/oz :d

 

[Nero Tenebre]

I liked Camillo's design best. Then again, I'm a little partial, as I love his design of the GT, so much that I have one next to the NSX!!!

Not to bash the GT but design wise it's almost literally a reincarnation and nothing really more besides being adjusted ever so slightly. Of all the retro styles that came out when retro was hot, maybe the only lazier one was the mustang. Sweet car, sweet design (the first time around) but I don't know about giving that much credit to it's designer...!

 

[RPM217]

Not to bash the GT but design wise it's almost literally a reincarnation and nothing really more besides being adjusted ever so slightly. Of all the retro styles that came out when retro was hot, maybe the only lazier one was the mustang. Sweet car, sweet design (the first time around) but I don't know about giving that much credit to it's designer...!

Everyone's entitled to their opinion...............IMHO taking the "original design" and getting a car that could make it into production, is truly fantastic. Any where you take the car, you're swamped by admirers. It is "iconic". Sorry you're not impressed.

 

[Nero Tenebre]

Well yeah it's iconic, but because it's the same icon they made decades ago. THAT car made history. This one perhaps celebrates that history I suppose. I understand it had to be engineered from scratch and the dimensions were different but again the appearance of the car certainly wasn't designed from scratch. I don't mean any offense to you or the car AT ALL, I think it's a cool car and a good looking car with awesome performance to match and even a great purchase considering the climbing values. I just don't see how one could say such a literal redesign was one of their favorite designs is all. From a design professionals point of view, lazy is just the most honest word to describe it and that's not the designers fault, that's the marketing driven ideology of the same company which pulled the same gag with their volume Mustang.

 

[dmscrx]

Any of you guys remember the Mosler MT900? If Chevy made any kind of MR Vette with an LS engine, then this would have swayed me more toward their direction a long time ago
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200905/mosler-mt900-gtr-xx--11_1280x0w.jpg

Why they would wait til now to produce this platform in their new version, I don't know. I only hope they finally put overhead cams in the damn thing (production model of course) and join the 20th century

 

[sca037]

Well yeah it's iconic, but because it's the same icon they made decades ago. THAT car made history. This one perhaps celebrates that history I suppose.

Just a friendly reminder that in 2011 the modern Ford GT actually continued that history at Le Mans;

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/robertson-racing-le-mans-24h-race-report/

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NpYlfEEhPfUaKRz7U2RiCjwXIaCHE6m9CFXBr7zshaU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XjzGx1dqqQo/VDU-JtxC8lI/AAAAAAAAAOE/ZqdWD6E-BbU/s800/Robertson%2520Racing%25202011%2520Doran-Ford%2520GT.jpg" height="350" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/52QAElnK0z3wtE5U6CivUgvmIPvLjjW_lNPqEOv2u-0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AWGeAfyB-RM/VDU-M3KqwBI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/iIzlMsyIfcQ/s800/Robertson%2520Racing%25202011%2520LeMans%2520Podium.jpg" height="785" width="688" /></a>

Brian