Corvette Boss Tony Roma Doesn’t Plan to Force an All-Electric Vette
In a recent interview with CBS News, GM boss Mary Barra rode with correspondent Kris Van Cleave in the new Escalade IQ, the all-electric SUV that will launch with 700 horsepower and 460-plus miles of range. When Van Cleave asked Barra if GM was still looking to be all-electric by 2035, Barra answered in the affirmative, hedging that the company will do so with its light-duty vehicles, an initiative kicked off in 2021. “The plans we have in place will get us there,” said Barra.
This doesn’t mean that Corvette will be ditching its gasoline engines in a hurry. Van Cleave also got a ride in the new 1064-hp ZR1 with Tony Roma, the new executive chief engineer of the Corvette, who just took the reins from a retiring Tadge Jeuchter. “You still need to stress the components to correlate the model,” said Roma as he helmed the hypercar Corvette on the Milford Proving Ground track. Sounds like as good an excuse as any to do some donuts in a car with four-digit horsepower.
Smokey burnouts aside, the most interesting point for enthusiasts came when Van Cleave asked Roma if Corvette always needs to be a gas-powered vehicle. “We talk about this a lot. I talk about this with enthusiasts, my friends, other engineers,” explained Roma. “We’re not going to apply electrification just for the sake of it. We don’t put technology on for technology’s sake, so it kind of has to earn its way in. It has to make the car better in some way that our customers are gonna respond to.”
Corvettes have changed a lot in the last decade, as the move to mid-engine for the C8 enabled a whole different level of performance. The current Z06 and ZR1 models wouldn’t have been possible with a front-engine car, and the hybrid, AWD E-Ray would not have worked out, either, with the packaging of a front-mid-engine layout like the C7 had.
As we’ve noted before, we feel the Corvette is in great hands, and the expanding portfolio and performance envelope of “America’s sports car” seems to be proof that Chevrolet is not giving up on enthusiasts. Mary Barra said it well: “One of the strengths of General Motors is that we’re giving people choice.”
Most sports car companies don’t want EV even Chevy.
People mistake automakers move to EV as a move they want. But the truth is it is government driven globally. Regulations are forcing it.
The small pull crack is a bit of rebellion to try to get more time or to compromise and let EV develop more at its own rate.
The Corvette and heavy trucks will be the last to make that change.
The only reason the have the EV front drive is it was much cheaper and easier to drive the front wheels.
A full electric Corvette is how GM will top the phenomenal performance of the coming ZR1. As a daily BEV driver, I’m convinced such a beast is inevitable.
Well that is not what they need to do. The car has more power and performance than most can use on or off the track.
How much faster than 2 sec to 60 do you need?
I expect they will continue to improve lap times and street drivability also the over all quality for the price.
The All EV car will happen if they have no other choice.
Just listen to Red Barchetta and listen.
I strip away the old debris
That hides a shining car
A brilliant red Barchetta
From a better vanished time
I fire up the willing engine
Responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel
I commit my weekly crime
Wind
In my hair
Shifting and drifting
Mechanical music
Adrenaline surge
Well-weathered leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware
You don’t get that with an EV.
Do you actually define you life direction by a song from nearly 44 years ago? That’s an odd guiding light.
And moreso, literally everything in the lyrics you are things that an EV does. You can literally do all of those things with an EV.
Randy read those words.
With sports cars it is all about the sense.
The smell of oil, exhaust and leather. the vibration and shake of the engine, the howl of the engine and different sounds each one makes is like a signature.
For many the ability to control the revs and changing gears with and without a clutch. The feel of direct steering without power assist.
This is not about the fastest 0-60, this is not about the highest top speed, this is not about a song. The words here describe clearly the experience in a mechanical machine that reaches all the senses with the top down.
I am sure there is a place for EV sports cars at some place but they will never replace the feel, smell and sound of a true mechanical machine.
If you don’t believe that then why are so many EV performance car trying to fake engine sounds?
We can make test tube babies today but the old fashion way is a lot more fun.
Right on…hyperv6!!!
You are preaching to tree huggers with an agenda, they obviously are not car guys.
What does the EV do for the sense. The sound is a whir, There is no vibration. and if it smells it is on fire. Not much feed back there.
What you just listed is a sound, there is vibration even if you don’t perceive it, and that is a smell. Not desirable by you, but they are there and could be sought out by someone. Just because you don’t like it or seek it out does not make it bad.
Not bad but not what sports cars are all about.
It becomes more just an androgynous over weight vehicle lacking character and personality.
Sports cars should also be light. Even today’s Corvette is heavier than it should be.
Yeah, but that’s just like, your opinion. Not a fact.
The fact is EVs have all the things you desire. Your opinion is that you do not like how is does those things. That’s okay.
You’re missing the point Randy.
The majority don’t want BEVs, but manufacturers are forced to produce them.
Let the market decide. If enough people demand BEVs, they will sell without tax rebates and incentives.
As far as BEVs and their capabilities-multiple independent reviews and testing confirm that ranges are vastly over stated. If you want one, good for you. Just don’t tell us we MUST have them.
As far as the song and whether or not a 44 year old song is applicable – the word is prescient. And yes, it is applicable.
Thanks, you get it!
The EV has all that we need. But to most of us not all that we desire.
If you like a EV that is fine but having driven cars built over the last 100 years of a number of types many of us in the collector car markets prize the old mechanical ways of things. An ev for me would be fine to drive to work and back but for enjoyment on a back road I have a Red Barchetta the delivers exactly what the song states and the EV models I have drive only have fast. It is like driving as clean room. I find little satisfaction in that. I expect most sports car owners are the same. If not then why are companies like Porsche working so hard to keep ICE? Even Ferrari and others along with Chevy want to keep ICE. They know their customers.
Have to agree with hyperv6 again- but the reality is that the new cars are heavy in large part due to the need for greater safety. That has the inevitable result of meaning more robust structures, heaver suspensions, bigger brakes, more powerful engines, and on and on. Colin Chapman of Lotus fame was famous for his quote of “build in lightness” but having recently seen the aftermath of a Ferrari 296GTS hit the wall at Road America at about 140mph- all I can think is that the occupants of the car- both of whom walked away from a crash that in a lesser car would have been fatal- can appreciate the engineering and don’t mind the added weight. Give me a 150 HP 1500 pound car any day over a 4500 pound 500 HP monster- but it comes with risks as well as rewards.
Secondary issue really is how fast is “fast enough”. Yes 1000 HP sounds great (I had a 1000 HP Supra so I know from personal experience) but how often and where to use all that power? It becomes more bragging rights than anything else to some degree. Too much is just much- especially on the street.
I pick on hyperv6 but when he’s right he’s right. And this time he is right.
No offense!
Just appreciate you get this.
Except fire up the engine
You just don’t get it do you? If you were a true car guy you would.
Have you ever heard of the “No True Scotsman” fallacy? You should look it up.
I care about and enjoy cars. That makes me a car “guy.” Whether or not I am a guy is up for debate, but since everyone wants to assume things…
Guys Randy does not have to agree but Randy you also can’t say we are wrong.
We all can give our opinion and challenge the other but please everyone don’t take this too personal.
Keep this fun.
That Rush song sums it all up-“before the motor laws”- as we get more and more technology we are getting further and further from the real connection between the cars we drive and the experience. The cars are in many ways driving themselves. Lane keep assist, accident avoidance and cameras galore- its all part of the continuous push to make driving “safer”, but the real victim of all of this is the “driving experience” part of the equation. Reflects back on the puzzled looks on the Porsche engineers faces when we Americans asked for cup holders- the response was you should only be driving so why do you need a cup holder. As a society we have lost our way as far as driving, it is now, for many nothing to do with freedom or the pleasure of a nice twisty road but just a way to get from point A to point B while surfing the Net. Sad, but it won’t stop me from having my sort of fun (legally of course- wink-wink) whenever that twisty open road stretches out in front of me.
Love the Rush reference!
Perhaps you don’t know this, but the song Red Barchetta was written based on a short story about how safety laws made it so that cars could survive high speed crashes and drive away. This turned drivers of those cars into hunter killers that hunted “unsafe” cars for sport. At the end of the story the protagonist finally had to give-up the car because the safety law went to 100MPH crash safety. At this point there are fueled car drivers that do antagonize EV drivers, rolling coal is a perfect example, so maybe lets not point to examples based in that type of agression.
Better to leave the vet as it’s always been, Ford should have done the same with the Mustang, none of this
Mach E, crap( or E Tang) as I call it!
Let me help. I will get more to the point. As for the song you can tell Mr Lee understands what a sports car feels like. Even new cars like the Corvette you have the noise and sound right behind you and as they get older the smell of oil as it gets older since they are sealed up more today,
I fire up the willing engine
Responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel
I commit my weekly crime
Wind
In my hair
Shifting and drifting
Mechanical music
Adrenaline surge
Well-weathered leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
This reminds me of a family friends Austin Healy roadster that used to come to visit. It was not a show car but it had all these elements. It brought the feeling to those old black and while photos of the old racers in the 50’s and 30’s.
Red Barchetta is a great song and possibly a prediction of a future that could happen. I’ll gladly commit my weekly crime in my car as long as I can.
I have no interest in a 4500-5000 pound EV Corvette.
I am with you Hyperv6. I used to be in the car business, seeling for 36 years. I talk to a lot people. THEY do not want EV. Most would settle for a hybrid.
I never much cared for Rush.
The song was written by the late Neil Peart, while Geddy Lee sang it, Neil wrote those words, Lee and Lifeson wrote the music.
I don’t believe any EV will ever replace my big displacement naturally aspirated rear drive 6 speed Vette no matter how hard the gov’t tries.
Outstanding comment. 👍
First God bless and prayers for those that are dealing with the pain of the hurricane. That said nothing like a car that when flooded with saltwater burst into flames. Then you have 1st responders told to let the cars burn because of the danger, equipment needed, and training to extinguish an EV. Not exactly what I want in my stable full of other vehicles. Very bleak IMHO.
Revive the Quad-4 and make the corvette a hot 4 cylinder hybrid like a hopped up Prius, heck maybe even give a plug in hybrid option. That would be kind of cool.
Too bad the entire gas vs electric issue has been politicized.
As others above have noted, it seems to be more regulation-centered than market centered.
In short, governments are social engineering us towards electrics without acknowledging the big picture (costs, electric availability, life cycle “green-ness” etc.).
GM says they are giving customers choice, only after taking a couple of billion recently offered suspiciously close to an election.
Too bad EVERYTHING has been politicized in this crazy Red vs. Blue country we live in.
This is green vs the rest of us.
I totally understand the emotions expressed here. I suspect the same feelings came forward as the gas automobile replaced the horse. And we know how that went.
The government did not come out and say, by 1910 no new horses will be sold. This is the problem with the EV. The government is forcing it, if they were taking market share because they were better, that would be different…
I’m sure the management at GM and Ford have been watching how Charo Taveres’ decisions have destroyed DOdge and chased off it’s loyal customer base.
The Corvette has always been an old mans car. That’s why it has to stay gas. But,when Tesla releases their new Roadster, you won’t hear about the Vette anymore.
“Mary Barra said it well: “One of the strengths of General Motors is that we’re giving people choice.””
That is why William C Durant bought up a bunch of companies to form GM. Henry wasn’t giving them much choice and the urility of his car wasn’t enough anymore
I wonder if steam powered car enthusiasts felt the same way. “Water vapor in your hair…the smell of tufted velvet..the thud of wheels on zero suspension…” Isn’t there a song in there somewhere? lol
Im kidding of course, I understand Hyper’s point and I love Rush. But lets face it, someday we’ll all be dust and the next version of propulsion will be what whatever future generation longs for, be it ions or something else.
Love it! How about the horse and buggy fans? “The smell of hundreds of tons of manure wafting through the air” “The dead horses along side the road”, The thrill of the runaway carriages trampling pedestrians” “Ah, the good old days!”
Is “Espo70” a Bruins reference?
The difference is that the government did not force us to abandon horses and buggies in favor of ICE cars.
And for the people who lament the loss of the horse and buggy transportation, if they do a little research they will find that horses were very dangerous transportation and “left behind” a lot of unpleasant emissions.
LOL Good Point
Any car company that plans to sell 100 percent EVs will be out of business soon thereafter. The inherent limitations are too great to overcome for the foreseeable future (which happens to include 2035, incidentally.)
Really? The world’s best selling vehicle is an EV. The Tesla Model Y.
If anyone sees electric vehicles as the future, please take a closer look at those affected by Hurricane Helene. No electricity still a week later. Gasoline and Diesel are still available. Let that sink in…
Very good point Scott
The fuel pumps are electric, so you can’t pump fuel either. Lots of people there are charging their cars from solar though. Let that sink in.
“Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be”
-Yogi Berra
Yogi would also remind us that “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded”.
Electric Corvettes? If that is the future, OK by me. You can’t stop progress whether you like it or not. Put on the big boy pants and keep moving forward. It only took me 71.5 years to learn that.