General Motors is offering Corvette buyers the ultimate in hands-on experiences: The ability to build the engine for their new car.
Customers who order a 2011 Corvette Z06 or ZR1 can choose an otion to help assemble the LS7 or LS9 engines at GM's high-performance engine plant in Wixom, Mich. The option comes with a hefty price tag, though: $5,800.
"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 of global product operations, who probably has enough cash to blow nearly $6,000 on a one-time trip to an auto plant, not that he has to.
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.
There's more:
The experience includes the help of a concierge, who contacts the customer to help coordinate travel arrangements (which is not included in the option price.)
But GM promises the experience won't just mean you hang around watching while someone else builds the engine. The customer will build it under supervision and support from skilled technicians. A personalized nameplate is added to the engine. It is then sent to the Corvette assembly plant to be installed in the customer's car.
Don't worry if you mess up: All engines built will be covered by Chevrolet's five year/ 100,000 -mile powertrain warranty.
For a long time, German automakers have allowed customers to come pick up their vehicles at the plant, going for a factory tour before shipping their car home. This takes that experience to a whole different level.
Corvette hosts some similar plant tours, allowing customers to take delivery of their car at the Bowling Green, Ken., assembly plant or at the Corvette Museum delivery, also in Bowling Green. Customers can also attend ZR1 driving school in Arizona, or 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," says Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet marketing.. "The Corvette Engine Build Experience takes this personal involvement to an unprecedented level."
-- Sharon Silke Carty/Drive On
