COULD THE MID-ENGINED CORVETTE ZORA ZR1 SELL ALONGSIDE THE C7?

With its bankruptcy days behind it and, hopefully, the ignition switch debacle, General Motors is anxious to move on. And perhaps what better way to do so than to radically alter the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette.Already reported to be in development, sources have also claimed that the switch from front- to mid-engine is finally going to happen. The reason? Because Chevy engineers believe they’ve gone as far as they can with the current layout, as evidenced by the new Z06.Moving the engine’s mass closer to the rear wheels is the best way to further improve acceleration, handling, and overall performance. That being said, we’ve also heard rumors claiming that a stand-alone C8 flagship, possibly to be called the Zora ZR1, will arrive in 2017. Only 1,500 units are planned per year and pricing will be around $150,000. Now, does this mean the current C7 Corvette’s life is going to be cut short? Not exactly. According to Car and Driver, both the C8 Zora ZR1 and C7 Stingray will be sold alongside each other for a few years. By 2020, the new mid-engined platform will take full effect when the rest of the C8 lineup is launched. And yes, the small-block V8 will live on in the C8. A hybrid Corvette isn’t happening (yet).