This is just one source (from autoguide.com) for the story that the debut of the C8 Corvette will be delayed at least six months to correct electrical issues that have revealed themselves during testing. “Sources” have indicated that the C8 development team found that the vehicle’s electrical system can’t carry enough load to support all of its components. Of course, the engineers are doing what they can to fix the problem, but that requires not only finding a solution but working with suppliers to find parts that can be provided at scale.
Better the problem is found now rather than after the car is released to the public—GM has a horrible history of using customers as beta testers, especially in the 1980s—but this is a blow to Chevrolet and to GM. If the C8 introduction had been “scheduled” for New York in April, then six months pushes it back to at least October. Oh well…
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My wonderful wife and I have both been the victim of a bug recently, almost certainly a virus. She seems to be further along in recovery; I still don’t feel well. It is possible, although not probable, the answer for me lies in the results of blood work with the sample having been taken last week. Of course, I still don’t have any results. My previous doctor, of the concierge variety, kicked me out of the practice SIX years after I stopped paying the retainer and after assuring me he would continue to see me as a patient. My current doctor’s practice is based in a large hospital and his staff seems incapable of doing anything well.
In my opinion the US public sector/private sector hybrid model of delivering health care gives us the worst of both. It is also my opinion that the US “lag” in life expectancy has nothing to do with delivery of healthcare, but has to do with opioids and other drugs, guns, lack of exercise and awful diet. I have read that if one starts at age 65—which eliminates many/most of those who engage in careless, dangerous, and unhealthy behavior—people in the US have the same life expectancy as people living in other developed countries.
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From the Barrett-Jackson website (I hope this picture and those of the 1965 Corvette restomod don’t disappear in a month or two) a picture of a 2006 Pontiac GTO offered for sale.
The revival of the GTO, sold for the 2004-2006 model years, was a fine performer. For 2005-06 it was powered by a Corvette LS2 motor producing 400 HP/400 LB-FT of torque. (That’s the engine that was in my 2007 Corvette.) The 2005-06 GTO could accelerate from 0-60 MPH in less than 5 seconds.
This generation of GTO was actually an Australian car, the Holden Monaro, re-badged and tweaked for the US market. Holden was a subsidiary of General Motors. The car was a commercial failure and most have put the blame on the styling, which was considered as “blah” and uninspiring. It might seem shallow, but good looks can sell a car and bad looks can sink a car.
#somanycarsjustonelife
#disaffectedmusings
Disaffected Musings 
I believe that the terrible styling of the last Pontiac’s was a major factor in the demise of that marque. The last really exciting Pontiac that I recall was the Solstice. My son-in-law owns a 2004 rendition of that model. I keep trying to talk him into building it into a copy of the Hot Rod Magazine, Hot Rod Solstice using an LS3 instead of the LS7 used by the magazine. As per usual, budget constraints prevent such a project.
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Thanks, Philip. Don’t forget that Buick’s popularity in China played a large role in the demise of Pontiac.
I am also a big fan of the Solstice/Sky.
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I had a 2004 GTO. It was a fun car that they improved upon in 2005. Had they used some styling cues from the 1970 GTO I believe that it would have been a big hit. Oh well.
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Thanks for the comment. Yes, I think it’s almost universally accepted that the styling for the 2004-06 GTO left a lot to be desired.
I am fond of the first generation, 1964-67; my first car was a ‘67 GTO.
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Leave it to GM to screw up the introduction of an important halo car like the C8 Corvette.
Ditto the way they ran Holden into the ground in Australia. That Holden-built GTO should have sold well – it had good “bones” – but as everyone here seems to agree the blah styling killed it. Bob Lutz was at GM when the Holden GTO was introduced. He tried mightily to save Pontiac but there was only so much he could do alone at hide-bound GM. Holdens are still sold in Australia but are no longer produced there. They are produced in southeast Asia and shipped to OZ.
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Thanks again, 56packardman. I think Bob Lutz is one of the most intriguing people in the history of the auto industry.
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It was blasphemy to call that iteration a GTO….it was nothing more than an Australian made Holden platform….just it fit the LS at the time so they brought it across the ocean for our use. But like any F-body one can find millions of mods to make the Holden a screamer! And it laid the foundation for rebadging and morphing into the SS. All of which are bye bye now. Gm should have learned years ago not to make so many models they outsell themselves back into financial straights! Who knows, maybe not…..
PS, hope you and the Wife feel better!
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I agree with your comments about the GTO. Either make it right or don’t make it. I think Bob Lutz had good intentions, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
By the way, your first comment on C8, Wait! is the 500th published comment on this blog. That is why I initially refrained from commenting on 56packardman’s comment about the same post; I wanted comment #500 to be from someone other than me. Thanks to all of the readers who post regular comments. I cannot express my gratitude because this blog is MUCH better with your contributions.
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and by the way, the 12 Volt DC electrical system has been essentially strained for several years now. There were thoughts of going with 24V but it was soon outmanned by all the electronics. Strain electricals and watch cars erupt into flames! Automakers and suppliers are behind the ballgame in playing catch up to overcome this issue of adding all this crap people “expect” for their cars to be extensions of cell phones-don’t get me started on this! But electrical systems need to go to 42 VDC and quickly or more and more Recalls over electrical failures and/or fires will be on the horizon. Don’t believe me? Google vehicle electrical fires and see how many responses appear…..mind you, many occur from prior collision, other damage, faulty repairs, just seriously bad owner or shop aftermarket installations….but you get the gist.
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Yes, the conversion from 6-volt to 12-volt happened in the 1950s; it does seem that a more robust electrical infrastructure is needed for all of the “stuff” in today’s cars, some of which actually has to do with the operation of the vehicle.
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