Corvette Production Pauses Spark Intense Speculation
Read the full story on The Auto Wire
Production pauses are nothing unusual in the automotive industry, even at Bowling Green Assembly, but several planned pauses for Corvette production are still sparking all kinds of speculation. In fact, some of the theories being thrown around are a little out there, maybe even borderline tinfoil hat type stuff.We don't know if this is a product of boredom or what. But this all started with a post on Mid Engine Corvette Forum by co-founder/admin John. He claims to have confirmed Bowling Green Assembly will close the weeks of February 24, March 17, March 24, and May 19.
One member on the forum immediately conjectured the four pauses are for 'inventory control.' It's no secret automakers have been struggling to move new cars as dealers can't find buyers. Blame a slowing economy, inflation biting into people's budgets, or whatever else, this has caused some downscaling, which a production pause would achieve.
But John claims that's only partially the reason. He says with many UAW workers retiring from the plant, GM doesn't plan on replacing them. Instead, it will have line workers performing more tasks at their stations, requiring training, which will take place during the production pauses.
John also says physical changes to the production facility as well as components for 2026 C8 Corvettes have also made the pauses necessary.
Naturally, people are theorizing all kinds of different things are coming down the pipeline. Among them is a much-anticipated C8 Corvette Grand Sport or the introduction of GM's Gen VI Small Block to the C8 lineup. Some are even saying this has to be thanks to a tariff war they see brewing internationally.
During the covid pandemic, Bowling Green shut down repeatedly thanks to what GM said was supply shortages. The automaker never disclosed what component(s) triggered the production pauses. Some believe that might be what's happening again, although there's zero evidence to back up that speculation. Which is true of pretty much all the other theories.
Whatever the reasons for the production pauses in Bowling Green, the C8 Corvette still remains popular enough, for now. Undoubtedly, GM has some surprises planned to keep the mid-engine sports car interesting, including the range-topping Zora, before introducing the C9 generation.
Image via Chevrolet
Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Drag racer survives frightening airborne crash at World Wide Technology Raceway
MADISON, Ill. – A Corvette goes airborne. Nearly flips mid-air. Slams down and tumbles over a guardrail. And somehow, the driver walks away unscathed. It all happened at World Wide Technology Raceway last weekend – all captured in a shocking video that's quickly gone viral. Advertisement According to a WWT Raceway spokesperson, drag racer Jason Hoard survived the frightening crash during a high-speed test run on May 31 in preparation for the VP Racing Fuels Heads-Up Shootout Series. Extreme 660 Drag Racing, a media outlet that specializes in US drag racing coverage, captured the video and described it simply as 'the worst wreck we've ever filmed.' In the video, as Hoard's white Corvette near tops speed alongside another driver, it suddenly launches off the ground, takes flight and nearly flips mid-air before slamming down hard on its rear end. The impact sent the Corvette tumbling over a guardrail into a grassy area with smoke billowing from the car and debris flying across the racetrack. 'Everything was fine absolutely until the second that it wasn't,' recalled Hoard in a YouTube interview on The Wes Buck Show via Drag Illustrated on June 4. 'I was fine, then it literally felt like the car was going backwards.' Advertisement Hoard narrowly missed crashing on top of another drag-racing test-run vehicle to his left. 'I very could have easily landed on his car,' he added. Fortunately, Hoard said he only ended up with some bruising and minor symptoms of post-concussive syndrome, ultimately avoiding life-threatening injuries. Since the crash, WWT Raceway staff and the the National Hot Rod Association have launched a thorough investigation of the car and safety equipment before what remains of the car is returned to Hoard. The investigation aims to provide the NHRA with additional information for the continued development of racecar safety. A WWT Raceway spokesperson tells FOX 2 that temperature and air conditions were optimal for racing and that, based on initial findings, no other environmental circumstances or raceway conditions played a factor. Advertisement As for protocols when responding to such crashes, WWT Raceway released this statement: 'As an NHRA sanctioned racetrack, WWT Raceway and our participants follow the guidelines established by the NHRA rulebook and Operational Guidelines. Each WWT Raceway event features fully equipped safety response trucks operated by Emergency Staff who have been trained by NHRA, NASCAR, INDYCAR and SCCA and the trucks feature the latest in life saving emergency response equipment. 'In addition, each WWT Raceway drag racing event features an ALS (Advance Life Support) Ambulance Unit staffed by paramedics specially trained in responding to racing crashes. The WWT Raceway Safety teams were rolling to the crash site while Jason was still rolling and were at the scene of the crash less than 30 seconds after it occurred.' The spokesperson added that Hoard's car was 'extremely well-built' and all of its safety functions performed properly during the crash. Advertisement As the car went airborne, Hoard said he tucked into his seat. He remembered the impact of the left rear hitting the ground, but not much else from the collision. Crews estimated he was unconscious for about five minutes after the car rolled over. Hoard credits his team for their fast response to the crash and prior evaluations of the car. Hoard added om the experience, 'I have had the front-end come up before on other cars. I pride myself on my reaction times and ability to get out of things if they feel like they are getting too far. This one didn't show any signs of that.' 'I don't think there's anything I would have done differently, unfortunately.' Hoard's expected return date to drag racing remains to be determined. He is from St. Charles, Missouri and has been involved in auto racing for at least 10 years, according to professional profile pages. Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Motor Trend
2 days ago
- Motor Trend
2026 Chevrolet Tahoe Review: Expert Insights, Pricing, and Trims
The Tahoe may be the Chevrolet Suburban's little sibling, but it remains one of the most recognizable American three-row SUVs available today. Carrying on a legacy of size and spaciousness, the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe is expected to return with few changes after a major refresh for 2025. Rivals to the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe include the Ford Expedition, Jeep Wagoneer, and Toyota Sequoia. What's New Fresh from last year's major update, we're expecting the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe to carry over with only slight changes. For 2025, Chevy overhauled its full-size SUV with new front and rear fascia with available animated lighting. A 24-inch wheel option became available for those who want a flashy look straight from the factory. Cypress Gray and Lakeshore Blue Metallic paint colors were added as optional shades. Inside the cabin, Chevy improved the interior with larger screens and nicer materials. Along with the new tech, Chevy adds its Connected Camera feature for remote vehicle monitoring. This page will be updated with more insights and photos as information becomes available. What We Think GM offers the last non-luxury SUV with V-8 engines, making the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe an outlier in its segment. Eight-cylinder power has its advantages—the Tahoe sounds awesome, has plenty of low-end grunt, and its towing performance is strong. Still, there are good reasons Chevy's competitors have moved on to twin-turbo V-6 engines. The Tahoe is inefficient and doesn't gain a competitive edge in terms of acceleration or capability with a V-8 under the hood. Things improve with the diesel engine, which is smooth, efficient, and torque-rich. Though the post-refresh Tahoe rides better than before, some models still err on the firm side, especially those with the standard coil springs and passive dampers. Models with adaptive dampers or air suspension are your best bet, especially if you avoid the available 24-inch wheels. The new interior, introduced for 2025, is dramatically improved over the pre-refresh model's cabin. New screens and better materials make the inside of the Tahoe a far better place to spend time. Super Cruise hands-free driving eases the burden of cross-country driving. Getting the right Tahoe is tricky. If you opt for the diesel engine and air suspension, and stay away from the 24-inch wheels, you'll find yourself in a solid full-size SUV. Top-Ranked Competitors: Jeep Wagoneer Chevrolet Suburban GMC Yukon Ford Expedition MotorTrend Tested The 2026 Tahoe carries over with a 10-speed automatic transmission for all models, with standard rear-wheel drive and available four-wheel drive. The entry-level engine should continue to be a 5.3-liter V-8 developing 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration from 0–60 mph should take just over 7.0 seconds, which is in the same ballpark as a 2023 Tahoe Z71 we previously tested that managed a time of 7.3 seconds. Chevy offers a 6.2-liter V-8 engine as an upgrade, with output totaling 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. When we tested a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country with this engine, we managed the 0–60 mph dash in 6.3 seconds. A Duramax diesel 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six is also expected to return with 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. Diesel models accelerate from 0–60 mph in just over 8.0 seconds. MPGs and Range We're expecting the 2026 Tahoe to have similar fuel economy as that of the 2025 model. The EPA rates the 2025 Tahoe with the base 5.3-liter V-8 engine at 14–15/18–20 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive and 15/19-20 mpg with four-wheel drive. Range is 384–408 miles. The available 6.2-liter V-8 nearly matches the efficiency of the 5.3-liter engine. With rear-wheel drive, the 6.2-liter Tahoe returns 15/20 mpg. Four-wheel drive variants are rated at 14/18 mpg. Like the 5.3-liter Tahoe, models with the 6.2-liter engine are rated at 384–408 miles of range. Diesel power is the most efficient way to go when configuring the Tahoe. The straight-six is good for 20/26 mpg city/highway and 528 miles of combined city/highway range. Safety Features Every 2026 Tahoe gets Chevy Safety Assist on all trims. Additionally, General Motors' Super Cruise hands-free driving will likely return for the LT, RST, Premier, and High Country trims. Front automatic emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians Lane departure warning Lane keeping assist Automatic high beams Cargo Space and Interior Room The 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe carries over with the same interior dimensions as the prior model year. That means the Chevy compares favorably against the Ford Expedition. The Suburban, essentially an extra-long Tahoe, has much more cargo volume. Technology Infotainment The 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe has an 11.0-inch driver display and a 17.7-inch touchscreen with Google built-in functionality. Google Maps, the Google Play store, and Google Assistant voice commands are included, as are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Chevy includes other desirable features as standard, like a 360-degree camera and USB ports in every row. Available tech includes a wireless charger, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. Sound System A six-speaker sound system is standard on lower trims. Those desiring improved audio quality should upgrade to a higher trim to get the Bose 10-speaker arrangement. Chevy's Connected Camera System Remote monitoring is likely to return for the 2026 Tahoe with Chevy's Connected Camera System. You can use the MyChevrolet app to access the Tahoe's interior and exterior cameras to check on your car and its surroundings. Value Standard Features Should the 2026 Tahoe arrive as a carryover model, the list of standard equipment will continue to be very appealing. A V-8 engine sets the full-size SUV apart from rivals. Other default mechanical features include independent multilink rear suspension and a 10-speed automatic. 18-inch wheels are standard. Inside the cabin, the 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe is expected to come equipped with an 11.0-inch driver display and a 17.7-inch infotainment display with Google built-in software. Other standard tech includes the Chevy Safety Assist suite, a 360-degree camera, and Chevy's Teen Driver monitoring program. Recommended Trim We expect the 2026 Chevy Tahoe to return with six trim levels: LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country. Pricing begins in the low-$60,000 range for the entry-level LS trim with rear-wheel drive and climbs to about $80,000 for the top-end High Country model. Our pick is the Z71 trim, which looks good and is well-equipped with standard four-wheel drive, skidplates, red recovery hooks, and 20-inch wheels. Pricing for this trim begins in the low-$70,000 range. Though off-road-oriented, the Z71 model is a solid all-rounder, especially when equipped with the available Adaptive Air Ride suspension.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
Ford Stock (NYSE:F) Gains with Better Access to Rare Earths
One of the biggest supply chain problems for companies like legacy automaker Ford (F) is the access to rare earth minerals of the kind commonly used in electric vehicles. But a new report says that getting those rare earths out of one of their biggest sources, China, will actually be a little easier now. That news made investors breathe a little easier themselves, and shares were up nearly 2% in Friday afternoon's trading. Confident Investing Starts Here: China has brought out a set of temporary export licenses, reports note, which will offer up access to rare earths for each of the Big Three automakers, which include General Motors (GM) and Stellantis (STLA) as well. Reports note that at least some of the licenses are valid for the next six months, which should keep the lot of them in rare earths for some time to come. But it was hard not to notice that this change came just after a recent phone call between President Trump and President Xi Jinping, suggesting that that was part of some larger deal between the two. The move to restrict the supply of rare earth minerals has left many companies scrambling to fill in the supply gaps, and left many considering China a major bottleneck in the supply chain. With China producing about 90% of the world's supply, it is clear that they have the whip hand when it comes to these elements. We're All Getting Concerned About These Recalls You have likely noticed by now that the news around here, when it comes to Ford, seems to reference 'recall' a lot lately. Granted, some of these recalls have been minor to say the least; recalls that impact a handful of cars, or that are fixed with a software update. But not all of them have been so trivial, and some are starting to wonder if Ford's quality issues are starting to flare back up again. Daniel Ives, analyst with Wedbush Securities—who has a four-and-a-half star rating on TipRanks—recently noted that Ford was in a 'code-red situation…after a disaster quarter.' Rising warranty costs connected to all these recalls were hurting Ford, much as they did last year at this time. And with more recalls seeming to crop up, that could indeed prove a problem. However, bear in mind that the recalls are not all problems, especially when software is involved. So while Ford's recall count is on the rise, many of these recalls are much more simply addressed than they once were. Is Ford Stock a Good Buy Right Now? Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on F stock based on two Buys, 12 Holds and three Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 16.87% loss in its share price over the past year, the average F price target of $9.71 per share implies 5.18% downside risk.
