REPORT: GM considering hybrid Corvette, other mileage tweaks
by Frank Filipponio on Sep 21st 2009 at 2:57PM 
Is GM really considering a hybrid Corvette? Tom Stephens says it's a possibility. Who is Tom Stephens? He's GM's vice chairman of global product development, so he should know. To be fair, he says that a hybrid would only be considered if the Corvette's very livelihood depended on it. Now that CAFE standards are ratcheting up to a corporate average 35.5 mpg by 2016 though, it might be the 'Vette's only hope.
With Porsche, Audi, Mercedes and others showing electrics and other alternatively-powered sports cars, and some companies doing nothing but plug-in hybrids or electrics (like Fisker and Tesla), it's not that hard to imagine an electrically-boosted fiberglass flyer. The question is whether or not Corvette buyers would even consider a hybrid. We think the idea will grow on them.
For now, GM thinks they have a good enough plan to keep the Corvette electron-free. Until a hybrid is the only option, expect future 'Vettes to be made lighter, and equipped with low rolling resistance tires, direct injection, variable valve timing, and cylinder deactivation to make them more fuel frugal. Even electric power steering can boost mileage by half a gallon. So, although a hybrid Corvette hasn't been ruled out, Stephens does say that we shouldn't expect a six-cylinder engine in that engine bay anytime soon.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
wincros 3:04PM (9/21/2009)
Obviously drag coefficient is not a consideration in the concept. I expect other economy considerations are just as serious as the consideration given to efficient body design.
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alex 3:20PM (9/21/2009)
You do realize that the concept pictured is something like 5 years old right? It is confirmed to not be headed to production as the c7
Dave 4:23PM (9/21/2009)
Serious high performance cars have awful drag coefficients.
Thats what happens when you design a body to create downforce.
(Also, Alex is correct)
Chris M 8:56PM (9/21/2009)
I'd have to agree that the concept shown above is too over-the-top to go into production. I predict that the production version won't have so many odd protrusions and vent openings, and will be sleeker for better aerodynamics.
Boyprodigy1 4:32PM (9/21/2009)
Thats a shame. As Lexus and BMW have proven, hybrid systems can actually be used to up the horsepower and improve performance. I would love to see a hybrid Corvette, but I bet you can all guess who's not getting my money when I graduate and pay off my loans and am ready to buy a weekend toy car...
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GoodCheer 4:36PM (9/21/2009)
I find it hard to believe that the Corvette sells enough to have any significant impact on GM's corporate average. Especially in bigger thirstier ones must be built in very limited quantities, no?
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Nixon 7:42PM (9/21/2009)
GoodCheer: Here are some links to GM's sales numbers in order to judge the impact of the Corvette:
GM's official sales number page -
http://www.gm.com/corporate/investor_information/sales_prod/
Following the link on that page to their Sales Deliveries PDF:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MTQyNTh8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=&t=1
This PDF says GM's 2008 sales were a total of just over 2 million cars across their company (2,148,943), with Corvettes being just over 20 thousand units (21,066).
That is less than 1% of their total fleet sales (.0098).
And it's just getting worse. Total YTD sales for 2009 are short of one and a half million through August (1,390,278), with Corvette sales down to less than ten thousand (9,210).
That is closer to HALF a percent of their total fleet sales (.0066)
The Corvette would need to get a 150+ mpg hybrid for it to even make a single mpg difference across their entire fleet. (yeah, I know that isn't exactly how the Gov't calculates fleet mileage, but I think the numbers prove your point right, without having to be pedantically correct... =)
Carney 3:09PM (9/22/2009)
Or they could spend a lot less and make it flex-fuel, taking advantage of the CAFE break that would give them. Performance drivers like Corvette enthusiasts don't care much about mileage, but would appreciate the higher octane that E85 provides.
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