CoastieWS6

iTrader: (1)

http://media.gm.com/content/media/us.../0712_corvette

For enthusiasts who want to be personally involved in creating their Corvette, Chevrolet’s new Corvette Engine Build Experience allows them to literally build the engine for their new car.


In what is believed to be the world’s most hands-on super car program, customers who order a 2011 Corvette Z06 or ZR1 can choose an option to help assemble their cars’ LS7 or LS9 engines at General Motors’ Performance Build Center (PBC) in Wixom, Mich.


“Corvette owners are some of the most passionate – and most involved – enthusiasts in the industry,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “The Corvette Engine Build Experience offers customers an unprecedented opportunity to participate, hands on, in creating the car.”


In addition to building their own engines, Corvette buyers can attend driving school in Arizona or Nevada, take delivery of their vehicles at the National Corvette Museum or watch their vehicles being built at the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky.


“In a way, this is a dream program for a Corvette customer. I would have jumped at the chance to build the 427 in my ’67 ’Vette, and that didn’t have half of what goes into one of these modern precision engines,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations. “Today's LS7 and LS9 Corvette engines are pinnacle achievements in engineering, and to personally involve our customers in their final creation shows the depth of Chevrolet’s commitment to make lasting connections with the customer.”


The Engine Build Experience is an option with a suggested retail price of $5,800. When a customer selects the PBC option for a 2011 Corvette Z06 or ZR1 and the dealer submits the order to Chevrolet, a special concierge contacts the customer to verify participation and help coordinate arrangements. While travel arrangements to and from Metro Detroit are the customer’s responsibility, the Chevrolet concierge helps schedule the engine build; coordinates the customer’s activities at the Performance Build Center; assists with booking local lodging and meals, and arranges local transportation.


At the PBC, the customer doesn’t merely view the engine’s assembly; he or she builds it under the supervision of and support from skilled technicians. When the engine is assembled, a personalized nameplate is added to the engine next to the builder’s name. It is then sent to the Corvette assembly plant for installation in the customer’s car.


The Corvette Engine Build Experience is possible because of the hand-assembly processes used at the 100,000-square-foot PBC. Technicians hand-build the Corvette Z06’s LS7 7.0L engine, the Corvette ZR1’s 6.2L supercharged LS9 engine and a variation of the Corvette Grand Sport’s LS3 6.2L engine. The PBC incorporates the best practices of low-volume niche manufacturers and the established quality and manufacturing standards at GM to ensure the highest-quality specialized engines.


Like all engines assembled at the PBC, Engine Build Experience engines are covered by Chevrolet’s five year / 100,000-mile transferable powertrain warranty.


The Engine Build experience is the latest program Chevrolet offers for Corvette owners. Other programs include:


Corvette plant tour, where customers can follow their vehicle down the Bowling Green assembly line
Corvette Museum delivery, where customers take delivery of their new Corvette at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green
Corvette ZR1 Driving School, which offers complimentary attendance at either Bob Bondurant’s Corvette Driving School in Arizona, or Ron Fellows’ Corvette Performance Driving School near Las Vegas.


“Simply put, no other sports car manufacturer can match the level of personal customer involvement that Corvette offers,” Campbell said. “The Corvette Engine Build Experience takes this personal involvement to an unprecedented level.”

ThisBlood147

Sounds pretty awesome in theory. But I'll bet all the engine assembly guys are positively groaning at the thought.

Darksol

While for the group of guys who post on here that might be cool, think about the average Corvette owner. A senior citizen who used to tune his car with a screwdriver in his driveway and remembers points. At least general assembly of a pushrod engine is the same. Those engine assemblers deserve a raise.

justin455

Maybe, but I bet the type of guy they imagine having to treat like an ignorant preschooler wouldn't be throwing 6k at them to do their job.

I imagine only real gearheads will check this option, and at that point I don't see it being too bad for the assembly guys.

I for one would do it...you know if I was ever in that situation, of course.

GPG 02

So let me get this straight, you’re going to charge me $70,000 plus to purchase the car, and then I’m going to get charged an additional fee for helping you build said car… Talk about a hustle, I wish I could pull something like that off. I say bravo GM… Bravo.

I think I’m going to open up a speed shop and have customers pay me extra to help me build their motors.

2002_Z28_Six_Speed

iTrader: (19)

For 10.000, can we have Tom G Stephens help us put the motor together?

triche

iTrader: (4)

I agree. It should be a "free" option. After all its a $70k plus car.

Tainted

iTrader: (9)

for 70k+ and then a fee to watch/help? good gonig gm, another stupid ******* idea

99 z

There is no way I would pay to help do their job. That price doesnt even include airfare to get there. Only a 1 night stay at some hotel.

Its a cool idea, but charging 5800? Come on. I think we've given them enough money.

KCS

iTrader: (20)

I think it's a pretty cool idea. It lets these Corvette "purists" get to be personally involved in the creation of their car, even with a personalized nameplate.

Initially, you think it's outrageous to have to pay to build your own engine, but you have to realize that the majority of people who buy a $70K Corvette are not professional engine builders, and they will need to have someone hold their hand through the entire build. That's where the fee comes in. If it were free, GM would lose money because output would suffer. The $5800 pays for your concierge service (which is never cheap) and to have a professional builder guide you through the build.

The typical demographic that they are trying to appeal to are always trying to one up another; always trying to have something more exclusive that the others can't get. I bet for a lot of people, the $5800 would be well worth the experience, and to be able to say, "I built this".

Big_Bird_WS6

iTrader: (7)

how mush is it to do it. is the question.

KCS

iTrader: (20)

English must be your second language.

1CAMWNDR

iTrader: (21)

Right, so how much do you get to put your hands on your motor during assembly when you spend $130,00-$250,00+ for a Ferrari or Lamborghini? Do you think they'd EVER offer the same program? Do you really think those companies would offer it for free?

99 z

Ya know for 5800 bucks, thats probably around what the tech makes a month. Lol. Thats a pretty good idea. It only takes the techs a few hours to put just 1 engine together anyway.

Irunelevens

I think it's awesome, but stupid at the same time. $5800 is a joke.

Buckwheat

iTrader: (13)

That cost is ridiclous. Maybe if they included letting you spec your own camshaft and heads as well as a dyno tune once it was in the car.

triche

iTrader: (4)

$5800!

I say you build my car and I take $5800 to further mod it

BAD ASS TA WS6

iTrader: (5)

LOL. Wow, there must be a lot of high class ballers in Metro Detroit.

justin455

I'm willing to bet that most who are complaining about this program are neither owners of a corvette or in the position to spend 70-100k on a new one anyways.

For the record I'm neither one as well. I just think it's a cool idea worth the money in the given situation.

Big_Bird_WS6

iTrader: (7)

no. just thought i would get the yoda talking going. lol