Tag Archives: Chevrolet

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Next-Gen Corvette Will Keep V8 Power, Says Chief Engineer

As the Chevrolet Corvette C8 cruises past the midpoint of its production run, all eyes are beginning to turn toward its successor. The mid-engined revolution that shook the Corvette faithful is now familiar territory—but what lies ahead could be even more radical. With the next-generation C9 expected to debut around 2029, speculation has swirled about a potential all-electric future for America’s most iconic sports car.

But fans of Detroit’s symphonic V8 can breathe easy—for now.

Speaking recently with Autocar, Tony Roma, Executive Chief Engineer for Global Corvette and Performance Cars at GM, made it clear that the Corvette will not abandon its heritage lightly. While acknowledging the inevitable rise of electric vehicles, Roma dismissed the idea of a fully electric Corvette as “science fiction” at this stage. His message was firm: the Corvette name won’t be slapped onto a vehicle just to appease regulatory pressures or chase industry trends.

“It Has to Earn It”

Roma’s comments came amid increasing chatter about GM’s long-term EV strategy. With the European Union aiming to ban internal combustion engines by 2035, many automakers have begun electrifying their flagship performance models. Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren have already embraced plug-in hybrid powertrains, and GM itself showcased a Corvette-inspired electric concept at its UK design center in April 2025.

That sleek, hypercar-shaped concept sparked talk of an electric Corvette, but GM’s design chief Michael Simcoe was quick to clarify that the model was a design tribute—not a production preview. Roma has now confirmed it: there are no immediate plans to take that EV into showrooms.

“The Corvette name means something,” Roma emphasized. “Nobody wants it on a car that doesn’t live up to its legacy.”

More Than Just Speed

While electric powertrains can offer blistering acceleration and staggering performance figures, Roma argues that those metrics alone don’t make a Corvette. For him, the real essence of the car lies in the emotional connection between driver and machine—the “visceral” experience of starting up a V8 and feeling every pulse through the steering wheel.

“It has to be engaging,” Roma said. “The art of driving is still central to what we do.”

He acknowledged that many EVs are excellent from a technical standpoint, but believes they often lack the soul that defines a true sports car. “The computer does so much of the work,” he explained. What he craves on a weekend drive isn’t just speed—it’s sensation.

Hybrid, But Not Plug-In

That’s why the C9 is likely to adopt a hybrid powertrain, but with a twist. GM has no interest in adding a plug-in system to the Corvette lineup, according to Roma. The drawbacks—added weight, higher cost, and operational complexity—don’t align with the Corvette’s mission of raw, intuitive performance.

Instead, GM is following the path laid out by the current E-Ray model. A self-charging hybrid that blends performance and practicality, the E-Ray offers seamless operation. “You just fire it up and drive it,” Roma said. “It charges the battery for you. It does everything. Keep it simple, keep it usable.”

This philosophy stands in contrast to some plug-in hybrid supercars, which require owners to navigate layers of drive modes, battery settings, and complex controls just to extract full performance. With the E-Ray—and by extension, the future C9—GM aims to provide performance that feels natural, not engineered.

The Road Ahead: C9 and Beyond

While the Corvette C9 is still several years away, the current generation isn’t done just yet. Roma hinted that the upcoming 1,250-horsepower ZR1X will not be the final act for the C8. “It’s just the latest chapter,” he teased, suggesting more high-performance developments are on the horizon.

But when the C9 does arrive, expect it to retain the V8 soundtrack that has defined the Corvette for over seven decades. Paired with a lightweight, self-charging hybrid system, the next-generation Corvette will aim to evolve without abandoning its DNA.

“Our cars will be all-electric when an all-electric car is better than what we have right now,” Roma concluded. “Until then, we’ll continue to do what we’re doing… Everybody should just take a deep breath and relax. We’ll get there when it’s time.”

Source: Autocar

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Chevy’s Muscle Car Gamble: Can Camaro Survive the EV Era?

It’s been nearly two years since Chevrolet assembled the final sixth-generation Camaro—a ZL1 1LE with a manual gearbox—at its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan. That historic moment in December 2023 marked the end of an era, leaving enthusiasts nostalgic and anxiously awaiting a successor. Yet, fast-forward to mid-2025, and the seventh-generation Camaro remains nothing more than a whisper on the wind.

When GM’s Global Vice President Scott Bell announced the model’s discontinuation, he left a sliver of hope by promising, “This is not the end of Camaro’s story.” But hope has a shelf life—and the shelf is looking dusty.

Now, GM President Mark Reuss has reignited speculation, albeit cautiously. Speaking with The Detroit News, Reuss hinted at a possible Camaro revival—if the stars align. “That formula of beauty—and a little bit of functionality and fun—that’s really important,” Reuss said. “If we were getting back into Camaro, that piece of it is really important.” Still, he tempered expectations, noting the undeniable truth: “The segment is declining.”

Indeed, the muscle car market has been on a slow and painful retreat. Ford’s Mustang—a perennial benchmark—was outsold by its electric crossover cousin, the Mach-E, in 2024. That flipped in the first half of 2025, with the gas-powered Mustang leading sales (23,551 units) over the EV (21,785 units). But context matters: the Mustang’s own sales are down 14.2% year-to-date, continuing a downward trend after a 9.5% decline in 2024.

Pricing is a key culprit. A base Mustang starts at $33,610, more affordable than the $48,799 average for new vehicles, yet still a luxury for most Americans grappling with inflation. The Camaro’s outgoing base price of $32,495 was competitive—but with rising costs and tighter wallets, second cars meant for weekend joyrides are becoming harder to justify.

Insiders claim a Camaro revival proposal was recently “blown apart” by GM leadership due to an underwhelming business case. And while enthusiasts rally for a comeback, the numbers—and the market—don’t lie.

What, then, would it take to resurrect the Camaro?

For one, combustion power is non-negotiable. GM has reportedly learned from lukewarm reactions to electrifying the Corvette. “Nobody wants that,” said Tony Roma, Executive Chief Engineer of Corvette, in blunt terms. It stands to reason that a Camaro EV would meet a similar fate. Passion buyers want noise, vibration, and visceral feel—not silence and range anxiety.

Rivals at Stellantis seem to have drawn the same conclusion. Dodge’s all-electric Charger has struggled despite early incentives. That’s why all eyes are now on the new Sixpack—a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six—and persistent rumors of a Hemi V-8 return in 2026. If true, that would signal a powerful rebuttal to the EV-only narrative in Detroit’s performance playbook.

So, is the Camaro dead? Not quite. But it’s certainly sleeping.

Reviving it will require more than nostalgia—it’ll need a razor-sharp business case, a clear identity, and, most crucially, the engine that gives the nameplate its soul. Until then, fans will have to settle for memories, track-day reruns, and one last glance at the taillights as the final ZL1 fades into history.

Source: Detroit News

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2026 Corvette Models Get Interior Refresh and Up to $7,000 Price Increases

As Chevrolet prepares to roll out a refreshed interior across its entire C8 Corvette lineup for the 2026 model year, price increases were expected—but the full scope of the hikes may surprise even seasoned Corvette fans.

Newly released pricing details confirm that every variant of the C8 family—ranging from the base Stingray to the electrified E-Ray, the high-revving Z06, and the upcoming ZR1—will be more expensive than before. In some cases, buyers will be paying upwards of $7,000 more than they would have for a comparable 2025 model.

Stingray: Entry-Level No More

The 2026 Stingray Coupe 1LT now starts at $71,995, reflecting a $1,800 increase over the previous year. Of that, $1,700 comes from the MSRP bump, with the remaining $100 due to a higher destination fee, which now sits at $1,995. The price creep continues up the trim ladder:

  • 2LT Coupe: from $77,100
  • 3LT Coupe: from $81,750

Convertible variants of the Stingray have similarly risen:

  • 1LT Convertible: $77,000
  • 2LT Convertible: $84,100
  • 3LT Convertible: $88,750

E-Ray: Electrified Performance, Electrified Pricing

The Corvette E-Ray, Chevrolet’s first all-wheel-drive hybrid Corvette, also sees an increase of $1,700 across the board. The Coupe 1LZ now starts at $108,600, while the range-topping Convertible 3LZ commands $126,550.

Z06: More Money for More Muscle

For those craving naturally aspirated V8 fury, the Z06 continues to deliver—but at a steeper price. Every 2026 Z06 model is $5,600 more expensive than in 2025. That means the base Z06 Coupe 1LZ now starts at $117,700, with trims scaling up quickly from there.

ZR1: Supercar Price Tag, Supercar Numbers

Then there’s the new 2026 Corvette ZR1—a machine that promises even more performance, now with a starting price of $180,400. That’s a $7,100 increase over the outgoing 2025 model. And if you’re eyeing the top-spec Convertible 3LZ, be prepared to shell out $201,400.

While the ZR1 largely carries over from the limited-production 2025 model, it benefits from the refreshed cabin and some significant performance options. Among them: newly available 10-piston front brake calipers, part of an optional performance suite that requires both the $4,395 ZTK Package and the $8,495 Carbon Fiber Aero Package.

One More to Come

Interestingly, Chevrolet is still holding back pricing details for one highly anticipated variant: the rumored ZR1X. Positioned to push the C8 envelope even further, the ZR1X is expected to be a track-oriented beast—but what it will cost remains anyone’s guess.

Source: Chevrolet