(Pictured: the 1,500,000th Corvette, a 2009 Corvette Convertible)
GM today announced that they were investing $131 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant (where they build the Corvette) to support production of the next generation Chevrolet Corvette. The move will add 250 jobs to the Kentucky facility currently employing nearly 400 people.
"Corvette has no domestic peer for performance and pedigree and stands alongside the world's best supercars with almost 60 years of continuous heritage." said GM North America President Mark Reuss. GM says nearly 50,000 tourists visit Bowling Green annually.
But, really, this isn't very interesting or shocking news. GM is making money again and making investments in plants that need them.
It got interesting when they said that the Corvette would continue production for "at least the next two model years, including the 2012 model year that begins this summer." That means the C6 will be 10 years old when it is replaced in 2013 as a 2014 model.
This also means we have at least two more years of wild Corvette rumors to speculate on with titles like, "RUMOR: AWD Mid-engine Corvette Confirmed," "2014 Chevy Corvette: Godzilla Killer Gets AWD, Twin-Turbo V8," and "2015 Chevy Corvette Ditches Leaf Springs!" Solid bets would go to "2014 Chevy Corvette Gets Smaller, More Powerful DI V8, Dual-Clutch automatic."
firstwagon says:
11:13 AM, 05/ 4/11
LOL The design of the headlights really look like eyes at first glance. Looks like something out of the movie Cars.
altimadude05 says:
11:22 AM, 05/ 4/11
I don't see much to complain about with the current model. Ford kept the Mustang around basically unchanged for what...12 centuries?
1487 says:
12:23 PM, 05/ 4/11
if the news is so boring why even report it on straightline?
The C6 didnt come out in 2003, if you write for an auto web site you should know that. It was a 2005 model which means it will be 8 years old when its replaced in 2013. Other mags have been speculating that a new vette wouldnt show up until late 2012 or 2013 for a while now, nothing new there.
1487 says:
12:37 PM, 05/ 4/11
make that 9 years, 2004-2013.
cutestangchick says:
01:05 PM, 05/ 4/11
The Corvette has had six generations since 1953, about one for every ten years. That's a pretty normal lifespan for a given chassis.
stovt001 says:
11:07 PM, 05/ 4/11
"2014 Chevy Corvette Gets Smaller, More Powerful DI V8, Dual-Clutch automatic."
I sure hope that's true, and it actually sounds like the most possible rumor. The C6-R is already running a 5.5L V8 so I wouldn't be surprised to see something that could be tied into that as the new powerplant. 5.5L DI would seem pretty contemporary with the rest of this market. And as much as I like true manuals, I will admit for pure performance automated manuals are the real solution.
sohcammer says:
09:14 AM, 05/ 5/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITg-ooHMG0M
The List: 5 Great Picks with Strong Resale Value
By Warren Clarke | April 10, 2011
Edmunds recently rolled out its first annual Best Retained Value Awards, which spotlight those vehicles that offer the best projected resale value across a host of segments. The winners were picked based on the average five-year retained value of 2011 models that launched prior to the end of 2010.
2: Ford Mustang
Strong resale value is just one more reason to love the Mustang. Wanna hear the others? Well, you could start with those ferocious V6 and V8 engines, which offer 305 and 412 horsepower respectively -- you'll never come up short with these beauties on your side. There's that classic sheet metal, which exudes cool without ever looking like it's trying too hard. And there's Ford's impressive Sync system, which keeps you entertained with the latest and greatest in well-executed tech features. The cabin's not too bad-looking either, and stands as a definite step up from that of the last generation.
Consumer Reports Names 2011 Ford Mustang as Top Sporty Car
by shnack on Friday, March 4, 2011
Consumer Reports has released its annual “Best and Worst” cars of 2011, and the Ford Mustang has won the title of the best sporty car beating out a touch lineup of European competitors as well as other American cars like the Corvette, Camaro and Challenger. Consumer Reports praised Ford’s pony car for its “scorching acceleration, a great exhaust sound, and good fuel economy for this class” and ranked it highest overall after considering a detailed road test, reliability and safety.
Here are the qualifications for being named a Consumer Reports Top Pick:
•The vehicle must rank near the top of its category in our ratings.
•It must have average or better reliability, according to our latest subscriber Annual Auto Survey.
•It must have performed well, if included in government or insurance-industry crash or rollover testing.
•It must have electronic stability control as standard equipment. (This is in advance of the 2012 deadline for it becoming standard across-the-board.)
greenpony says:
01:28 PM, 05/ 5/11
sohcammer, I thought this article was about the Corvette. The title, and the body, certainly lead one to that conclusion. So why are you posting reviews of the Mustang, which is not even a direct competitor of the Vette?