Build Your Own Engine Option Offered to Corvette Enthusiasts
#1
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lake Charles La / Mobile, AL
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Build Your Own Engine Option Offered to Corvette Enthusiasts
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.”
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.”
#3
TECH Enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On a car lot, shopping...
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
#4
Douchebag On The Tree
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.
#5
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.
I think I’m going to open up a speed shop and have customers pay me extra to help me build their motors.
#7
11 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
I think I’m going to open up a speed shop and have customers pay me extra to help me build their motors.
Trending Topics
#9
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.
Its a cool idea, but charging 5800? Come on. I think we've given them enough money.
#10
Moderator
iTrader: (20)
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".
#13
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.
I think I’m going to open up a speed shop and have customers pay me extra to help me build their motors.
#14
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.
#19
Douchebag On The Tree
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.
For the record I'm neither one as well. I just think it's a cool idea worth the money in the given situation.