BADBOYVETTES.COM

Item #1 - Chevrolet needs to stay with Corvette heritage and evolve, yet new design is always good, but should stay in line with the Corvette line. I don't believe that a radical change would be good for Corvette. The present Concept Car (Transformer) seems a little too radical but atoned down version maybe in the works and could be the new C7.

Item # 2 - Although the traditional Corvette buyer needs to be listened to and reached out to, they also need to look at new buyers be it young or old. I truly believe that a lot of C6 owners as well as the ZR1 were first time Corvette owners.

Item #3 - The Corvette marketing needs to be bolder and more in your face, especially if they want to bring in new first time buyers. They also need to remember that most of the first time buyer will be a (shall we say) more mature group while there will be some younger buyers the price will hold that group down. So even though the marketing needs to be bold it needs to also address the core group.

Item #4 - Chevrolet needs to emphasize the serious sports car performance and how it competes against the best of the European sports cars. Use the success of Corvette Racing as a base and build on that. They also need to show that even though the Corvette is a world class sports car, it is also a great street car for running around town in.

Item #5 - GM/Chevrolet needs to use the position that shows Corvette is a standalone sports car, yet it is the performance bearer for all of GM, not just Chevrolet.

--- TR6speed from Florida on 06.29.10 at 10:24am

Evolve, no big changes needed.

Marketing needs to be bolder. Take advantage of the success from ALMS and Le Mans more.

The message should apply to both the traditional and younger buyers.

The tone should be serious sports car. Aggressive is too "American" and most people get turned off imo.

The positioning should be the performance tech standard bearer for all of GM.

--- Chris Draper from unknown on 06.29.10 at 12:45am

A, B, B, A, C

--- Logan from Ohio on 06.29.10 at 6:45pm

Evolution of design is key - from the success of Corvette Racing both in the USA and worldwide with privateer sales. The image of a Corvette is now established worldwide and any drastic changes would be a step backward for recognition. A new design a la Stingray Concept (toned down a bit) is a good direction since it maintains the 'look' that the world now associates with Corvette.
Marketing has to stay with who buys them primarily, but even those traditional buyers want something cutting edge not blah and bland. Market it like a world-class sports car with racing heritage, roots, and tech transfer. I personally think we are seeing them headed in that direction now with the AW site and the videos.
Hate to say it, but there needs to be an even balance of tire spinning and race-inspired images to go along with the 'ultimate cruiser' images. Show what it is (especially Z06/ZR1) - a race car they let you put a license plate on!
Continue with the GCA theme in that the models are easily customizable with factory options. I think we are already seeing this with Grand Sport and this direction will continue. If you want the look+extra performance it will cost this, if you just want the look it will cost you less. Grand Sports are FLYING off the line at BG because it's the look everyone wants with the Z06 but without the price/added performance.
Cut some costs because you know the bean counters are watching - 1 muscular, aggressive body style and different front fascia/front fender brake cooling design for each model along with engine, suspension, brake & wheel differences.
Lastly, it has to remain the premier brand and flagship for GM. The CR program must continue as long as new Corvettes are being built, bottom line it helps sell cars . Heard godug talk about that at Petit last year and the numbers speak for themselves.

--- DarkKnightC6 from Aiken, SC on 06.29.10 at 8:08pm

-B (but you better keep the standard V8 or forget about it.)

-B, younger PERFORMANCE minded buyers.

-B, ads are almost no where to be seen, and need to be much more bolder. We kick *** in ALMS and Le Mans, and no body knows about it.

-A, the car needs to be serious performance, the aggressive fun will come with that.

-C (except add "and America" to the end)

And of course, there should always be Corvette Racing. If you look at the corvette's past, nearly everything that has led to its success has come from racing/performance, from the Duntov days to the Jake days.

--- R Morris from Kettering University on 06.29.10 at 8:13pm

Corvette should evolve. Evolution could however mean mid engine!...That being said, if it is always a FRD car that would be fine. Marketing should concentrate on its race bread heritage...just like you are doing now. I would like to see more Corvette marketing on T.V. and in print. Corvette should be the ultimate standard-bearer for Chevrolet, and if that means putting nicer seats and interior in the Vette, than do it! Corvette in the end, is what GM and Chevy are capable of...it should be on the cutting edge of everything that GM can throw at a car...and Chevy should tell and show people what they can do. Let Doug Fehan have free reign with the engineers and technology and you will have everything that you need to make world beating, desirable cars. Period.

--- Anonymous from unknown on 06.29.10 at 8:24pm

Well I'm a younger guy, owning an older corvette so my opinions might be different from the more serious buyers and current C6 owners.

The Car- Evolve it. Small changes and refinement each year makes a better product.

The Marketing- what marketing? I havent seen a vette commercial in 5 years. I guess they decided the name sells itself. They could make a commercial or something to get more interest in the car. Let people KNOW that we've got these LeMans titles. Ferrari never lets you forget their F1 championships.

Message - there is no current message as I just stated. I prefer boldness. Be sure to let people know the car does get good gas mileage unlike former models.

The Tone - you can do both, but if its for younger buyers go for the fun factor.

Positioning- halo car, give it all the new tech first unless Caddy builds some supercar.

--- CK from Spartanburg SC on 06.30.10 at 11:58am

I am sick and tired of these biased opinions against American Cars and the Corvette. These pencil neck geeks who work for Car and Driver, Automobile, Motor Trend, etc.also known as Foreign car magazine, who own Japanese appliances, or are part of the yuppie crowd w/ their bmw/audi/whatever have done more to destroy confidence in American Iron than the dumb, non-driving Americans w/ their diaper vans and hybrids. To me, your not a car enthuasist if you have a diaper van and Prius in your garage. Your a "POSER!"

--- John Engelman from Mount Vernon, Va. on 07.01.10 at 4:03pm

First people need to remember that corvette is just about the only part of GM outside of their banking arm that has and is profitable. So lesson number one is to listen to those guys down in Bowling Green. Second, performance is key, we all remember the mistakes of the late 70’s and early 80’s, come on a 350ci with 180hp? That’s a little pathetic. Marking it tricky, first we want the corvette to be “true blue” total American car, but it needs the world beater reputation and foreign sales, so pushing events where head to head campaign with Europe’s best (and winning) in production line corvettes, should win some respect and some overseas sales. Also GM needs to call noted corvette fans for an international ad campaign talking about the quality and performance (Jay Leno and Mario Andredi are both huge Vetteheads). Now the big question, design. I don’t think anybody will argue that the cars have the power, so I would say just keep a steady track on that end and we will do fine. Handling could still use a bit of improvement if we want to keep up with top cars in the world. Handling is an easy answer, keep going to lighter materials, work reducing on un-sprung weight and work on a little better weight distribution. Options- This is an area where corvette has a lot of ground to make up. I would like to see something like SLP or AMG but instead of working on power, they need to work on the options. Things like more supportive seats, interior parts that are of higher build quality (Most of us with Z06s don’t like looking at the same steering wheel in a Malibu) and high end electronics.
As for the looks of the car, some of the most notable vettes in history have been radical departures from the previous generations, so I am all for the possible mid engine design and the new sting ray concept, we don’t want to end up like Porsche where it is the same basic design for 60 years. Change is good as long as the price point of the base model does not become out of reach for a hard working American.
Anyway that’s my 2 cents and maybe a few more.

--- Chad Jefferis from Turlock CA on 07.01.10 at 6:21pm

throw some coil overs instead of the transverse springs... I dont have a problem with them but It'll give people less to b***h about when they try to rip on a vette and will cost what, $500 more?

--- Anonymous from unknown on 07.03.10 at 8:47am

The Car => A : The next Corvette should keep its heritage and stay with the standard of what makes a Corvette a Corvette

The Marketing => A & B : To keep the customer but to try to reach new ones (which should not be difficult with this awesome car)

The Messages => B : No marketing in France so I can't say to keep the current message even if I know that the french market is not a priority for Corvette

The Tome => A : To add the link with Corvette Racing and all the great success they have

The positionning => It depends on the marketing strategy. All answers can be right according to the choice of the messages

--- Hughes from Paris on 07.04.10 at 3:43pm

Well this is not about the next C7 but it could help in a way...

I want to see a Limited Edition Corvette to honor its racing heritage and the Le Mans Legacy.
Just like the old Mclaren F1 LM or today´s Ferrari´s FXX's.

So, how would this Corvette be???

Just imagine....

A Katech tunned 7.0 L naturallly aspirated V8 making some 666 HP (evil right?).

A sequential short ratio gearbox (0-60 in 3 secs, top speed of 205 MPH).

Very light weight (racing interior: no radio, no AC, no girly stuff)

An all carbon fiber body panels.

Flat bottom, rear (race style) air diffuser.

Rear carbon fiber GT wing.

Side exaust.

C6R Hood and side fender openings.

Black Magnesium LM wheels

Carbon ceramic brakes.

Black front head lights and side mirrors. Black front splitter and side skirts, black rear wing and rear facia like the old C5R.

2 Racing seats, full roll cage, carbon interior panels and racing switches and telemetry.

just make 50 units in only one color (magma red)

...and make it street legal!
a GT race car for the street.

Take it to the nurburgring and make a HD DVD with onboards and track videos, air maybe.

make the ultimate Corvette

--- Waldo Poblete from Viña del Mar, Chile on 07.04.10 at 8:02pm

I think Chevy must build the ultimate Corvette before moving into C7 territory.
This corvette must be all performance for the racer and premium Corvette owner, honoring the race heritage.

This corvette must special, very special.
Just like Mclaren once did with the F1 LM Edition, just like Ferrari is doing with the FXX's, or the Audi R8 LMS and the Porshe 911 GT3.

Make a limited edition ultra high performance corvette for the race fan.

Make it lighter by removing all worthless interior just carbon panels, no radio, no AC etc.
Full roll cage, two race seats and telemetry.

All carbon fiber body panels, and more aero with a flat bottom, front and racing style rear diffuser and a carbon GT wing.

Magbesium LM wheel and carbon ceramic brakes.

A 7.0 L V8 making some 666 evil HP with a sequential gearbox.
0-60 in 3 sec, 1/4 mile in 10.5 and top speed of 200 plus.

With the black headlights, black mirrors, black wheel, black front and side splitters, black rear wing, and an all black rear facia like the old C5R.

Make only 50, in only one color, Magma red!

All make it street legal.

Take it to the nurburgring and break the records with the fastest street legal production Corvette.

...and make a HD DVD with the whole process and what´s comming.

--- Waldo Poblete from Vina del Mar, CHILE on 07.04.10 at 8:23pm

--- Waldo Poblete from Viña del Mar. Chile on 07.04.10 at 8:26pm

Corvette is the performance standard for all american cars.

--- Mike Wilson from Pgh.Pa. on 07.09.10 at 10:05pm

One thing you forgot. It is a very important factor, that Corvette continues the connection between racing and roadgoing cars... And using the race tech. in streetgoing cars for the goal of kicking European/Jap ass and be the King of the World.

--- BBVFan from Denmark on 07.19.10 at 5:45pm

Corvette should do a C6 GT1/GT2 limited edition, paint it yellow and black and have a full carbon body made from the same molds as the racer, use a tuned 7.0l (GT1 LE) or 5.5l (GT2 LE) V8 putting out similar figures to the racers.
Strip the interior, fit carbon bucket seats with a full roll cage, have A/C and radio (the GT1 and GT2 cars have A/C FYI) and make it feel like a proper race car. In fact, just make the GT2 car street legal and sell off 50-100 of them before the C7 comes along.

--- MitchZ06 from Australia on 08.12.10 at 8:25am