Mazda's Premium Ambitions for the U.S.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/lasalle-police-illegal-border-crossing-us-kayak-rcmp-windsor-1.7602298   https://www.ctvnews.ca/windsor/article/lasalle-officer-thwarts-attempted-illegal-entry-into-canada/   A routine property check turned into a surprising discovery early Wednesday morning, according to police. Shortly before 1:00 a.m., a LaSalle police officer checking a commercial property on the 1800 block of Front Road spotted a man at the water’s edge of the Detroit River with two backpacks and a kayak. Investigators say the 51-year-old U.S. citizen was attempting to illegally enter Canada. He was detained and handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for further investigation. Police Chief Michael Pearce praised the officer, saying, “This is an outstanding example of how proactive policing can yield positive results. While conducting a simple property check, our officer helped prevent an illegal entry into Canada.”   A defector... Reminiscent of former Eastern block folk from  the 1980s...

I said the Z06, ZR1 twins will sell out.  GM will build as many as the demand needs GM to build.  And it will probably be a higher number than any Porsche 911 variant in that category.  Firstly, Porsche limits production of those track focused upper trimmed variants.  Secondly, like Ferrari, Porsche obliges the owners of would be GT3 RS owners to buy Cayennes and Macans and have a history of past 911 purchases. Only Ferrari gets shat on for that business practice... I dont think Chevrolet and Corvette as a manufacturing team and entity and GM ultimately, are ready to introduce a Corvette SUV as it once was presented a couple of years ago.  The Corvette engineering team is too focused on giving us mental performance from the C8 platform.  And more to come is rumored.  And then there is the 9nth generation.  The C8 is already on its 6th year.  Its close to the time where Chevrolet is thinking on the next gen Corvette.  Whether this next platform will come at year 8 or year 14 of C8 production, the 6th year of any Corvette generation is when Chevrolet starts thinking if another generation of Corvette is going to happen and is talking to General Motors corporate on what budgets are needed to follow. And then the engineering team starts to form to start thinking about what is the the next Corvette going to be like. And no...lifestyle vehicles have NOT replaced anything. The sportscar is still alive and well. For those that have the money to spend on secondary vehicles as toys, these people buy Hummer EVs just as much as Corvette and Porsches.  But those that do not have monies to spend, well, they cant afford groceries in this current political climate.   But sportscars are still being bought.  Lifestyle vehicles...too I guess.  I heard that Jeep is also tanking in sales.  I dunno if its only the Wagoneer or the regular Jeep, but regular Jeeps have gone insane expensive too.  And I do not see Rivians nor Broncos all that much on the roads nor do I see US peoples rave about Rivian and Broncos the way they once did 2 years ago...

I dont think its that.  The base Stingray is exactly that Corvette. The Z06, ZR1 and ZR1x are just engineering flexing on what Corvette engineering and racing has to offer at a price point lower than the Corvette's competition. Hence why they went to Nurburgring with their test drivers and engineers driver the cars to show case ANYBODY could drive these cars, relatively safely, relatively aggressive but not so aggressive as to lose control and crash and STILL come out with impressive times at the Nurburgring.  Its the every man's sports car persona that they hold on dearly to.  I could respect that.  And yes, the ZR1 and ZR1x are expensive. But 1969 Corvette ZL1s with aluminium block 427s were higher priced than the highest priced Cadillac of the time.  Speed and ultimate engineering comes at a cost.  Its not for the average joe.  But...American speed is the most democratized in the world.  Even at 200 000 plus dollars, The ZR1 twins  are still half as expensive as its Porsche and Ferrari competitors.     The Corvette has sold all it could. Remember, its a Corvette and not an SUV. Its a car that is 5 going on 6 years old.  The Z06, ZR1 twins remain coveted and will sell out.  The Stingray now can be bought pennies on the dollar in the used car market like all base Corvettes in the past.  That is why it was stupid for all the idiots that bought the Stingray with dealership mark-ups the first 3 years of C8 production...   The Corvette is not a dying breed. It still sells more units than its competitors.  

Cool car. All C8 variants are cool.  I like all variants of the C8 Corvette.  But...I am not super enthused by the C8 all that much with the latest variants.  Yeah yeah...the Z06 is a mid engine flat plane V8, Ferrari emulating experience.  Sure it is a bargain price for what it is.  And yeah, the ZR1 and ZR1x are ridiculous in their horsepower and torque numbers and the chassis handles all that power well and puts the performance numbers to prove it while all three variants offer a very luxury GT experience.  Great.  But Im tired of seeing the GT part of the Corvette always being front and center.  The E-Ray to me is where the luxury GT part of the C8 Corvette should be at.  The best of both worlds of supercar/hyper car performance and luxury. (Because of the battery weight and the battery performance part).   The C8 Stingray is the Stingray. The base Corvette. Where the midlife crisis geezers buy it and pretend that they own the most special breed of cars ever created.  And to others that want exotic speed without the exotic price tags of Porsches, Ferraris and the like.  Just as it is now.   The Z06 should exist as a GT car as it is now, but a more track focused beast that is stripped out and more hardcore version should also exist.   The ZR1 should also exist as a GT as it is now. The ZR1x should be called something else as it really is a different car than the ZR1.  BUT... I think the C8 Corvette needs ZR1 and Z06 GT luxury delete variations where SIGNIFICANT weight reduction (with or without full on carbon fibre bodies) , ACTIVE aero,  and all the GT creature comfort options are all gone from the options list.  Sound deadening included. Crappy trunks big enough for golf bags be gone.  The Corvette NEEDS to shed off some of the late C3 1970s GT persona and return to being a pure sports car again.   The C3 Vette didnt even have a trunk for phoque's sake.  Neither the C2.  The only reason why the C3 gained a GT persona was because emissions regs and the oil shortage made the Vette's engine choices anemic so it had to sell itself on luxury features.   But Im happy as a Corvette fan with the results of the C8 Corvette.  And I hear rumours there might be another mad variant of the C8 to come before the platform changes for a 9nth generation.  

I honestly think GM has forgotten the golden space that the Corvette was all about and they have gone after the final years of Boomers who have trillions and are trying to hold onto power, life, and an attempt at youth. End result is they CANNOT take it with them into the ground. Chevrolet really should be focused on the fun to drive Z06 Corvette that more people can afford, but are being shadowed by the 6 figure versions. Course most people have moved onto life style vehicles and so an extra sports car like Corvette is a Dying breed.  If Corvette brought out a Gas / EV version of a Vette SUV, it would take off and surpass Corvette car sales. Then the Corvette car would just be a decent Halo car, able to survive due to the Vette SUV sales.