GM to invest $131 million at Kentucky Corvette plant

[Blue_Tires]

(Reuters) - General Motors Co (GM.N) will revamp a Kentucky factory to produce a new version of the iconic Chevrolet Corvette sports car that will look "completely different" from the current version, the automaker said on Wednesday.

"It has a completely different look. Don't ask me how or what, but people will be really surprised, in a good way," said Mark Reuss, GM's North American president.

The current, sixth-generation -- or C6 line -- of Corvettes are sleek, low-to-the-ground, wide-body models. Reuss declined to say how the next generation, which will debut within a few years, will differ.

GM would not say when the new Corvette would be introduced, but automotive blogs have speculated that it will make its debut in 2013.

Reuss in a telephone interview said he was riding in a Corvette ZR1 after announcing at the Bowling Green, Kentucky plant that GM will invest $131 million to retool for the new, seventh generation of the Corvette. The ZR-1 is the high-end performance Corvette model with 638-horsepower.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/04/us-gm-corvette-idUSTRE7437MD20110504

[flvegan]

1. Good news. And that ZR1 makes me sweat petrol.

$100k and some change to do anything a $500k Italian supercar can try to do. Yet you can get it serviced at any Chevy dealer.