Corvette Muscle: GM Invests $131 Million in Bowling Green

Wed, May 4 2011

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – General Motors said Wednesday it will invest $131 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to support production of the next generation Chevrolet Corvette, adding about 250 jobs.

“This is a significant day for anyone who believes that America should build world-class, high-performance products,” said Mark Reuss, GM North America president. “Corvette has no domestic peer for performance and pedigree and stands alongside the world’s best supercars with almost 60 years of continuous heritage.

“This investment in Kentucky is among $3.4 billion made in the United States since mid-2009 to keep or create more than 9,000 jobs for American workers,” Reuss said. Read more!

DETROIT – Chevrolet announced today that it will once again elevate Corvette’s performance capabilities with a series of improvements for the 2012 model year that improve on-track performance and on-road comfort. They include enhancements to the high-performance Z06 and ZR1 models as well as interior upgrades across the Corvette lineup.

Sports car fans will get their first look at the 2012 models – including the racing-inspired appearance of the Chevrolet Centennial Edition – at a special event this weekend at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky. Production begins in July.

“We constantly strive to make the Corvette a better car on the road and the track,” says Tadge Juechter, Corvette vehicle line director and chief engineer. “For 2012, the Corvette lineup achieves its highest performance level ever, while at the same time being easier to drive and enjoy thanks to several changes and new features inside the car.” Read more!

Chevrolet Corvette. Let’s start with the fact that last year, Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president of global design, invited GM’s 10 styling studios to submit design proposals and some of the results were “absolutely phenomenal”. He also added – “There is a lot to pick from. The direction that we take is very important, and the decision has not been made.”

Obviously this move from GM are aimed to attract buyers in Europe, where the car has little appeal, and young U.S. buyers. According to The Power Information Network, the current average age of a Corvette buyer is 54. Critics says it looks big with a cheap-looking interior. Welburn agrees with the interior “problem” – “The execution, materials selection–it’s got to be a much better interior. Our customers desire that.” And we’ll add what industry says – a redesign is due in two to three years.

Welburn compares today’s Corvette with Porsche 911 – they are about the same size, but the styling makes it look larger. Let’s cite Welburn again – “We have to develop a design that feels trimmer, meaner, to go along with the incredible performance that the car has.” He also intended it’s about time for development of the Corvette, but the new Corvette can’t be so far away in concept than today’s Corvette.