The C8 Corvette will finally appear next month. Hallelujah, we’ve only been seeing spy photos of the mid-engined Corvette for…years now, I think? Reports say that this will be a stomper of a machine, with some rumormills saying that one engine had enough grunt to compromise the main structure of the chassis (read: pretzel twists!) and that engineers were scrambling to fix that. So it’ll have grunt…good. It should. But according to an Autoblog report, it might also have one very nasty surprise in store for the first tuner who thinks that they will crack codes in a hurry. In short, if the computer detects any kind of funny business, it’ll brick itself into silence and the only way that you will revive the Chevy’s heartbeat is a trip to the dealer and, we’re sure, some very carefully worded phrases from the service advisor about how the car is already perfect and that what you did was unnecessary and dangerous.
The ability to tweak, adjust and customize a vehicle is pretty much a root fundamental of the hot rodding hobby. Even cars that play in the Corvette’s circle of peers aren’t immune to the allure of “more power”…Nissan GT-Rs, high-end Ford Mustangs, Hellcats, BMWs and Mercedes can all wicked up with the right aftermarket help as far as the computer is concerned. But if GM is really putting the lock on the C8 Corvette, what does that mean for the rest of the lines?
We know that late-models aren’t everybody’s jam, but there’s plenty of cars from the mid-1990s up that, with some key tweaking, are beyond insanity and keep the spirit alive. What does it mean for you when the OEM finally builds the perfect mousetrap and says, “no more?
Valid Concern, but I am sure they also know that it is not good for them from a marketing stand point. There is lots and lots of people that buy new corvettes, mustangs, challengers, etc and take them right to a builder. They might spend at best a few hundred miles bone stock before they turn into some caged machine with 1000hp.
I think there is a large piece of the market that would pass on a car and go to another knowing that one could be tweaked and one couldn’t,
Truthfully that sounds like the first piece of code that someone will find and eliminate. Remember how people wailed about not being able to tune late model Mopars a few years ago? No one had “cracked the code” yet. Doesn’t really seem to be an issue these days tho’. Someone will always game the system. Also don’t forget the buyers of these cars aren’t exactly living paycheck to paycheck so someone will make a huge pile of money being the first to be able to tune the next plastic fantastic if GM goes all in on voiding warranties it might stop a few people but certainly not everyone. Lastly these car will be going into competition in many different series/classes and GM won’t want to limit its competitive potential. I probably wouldn’t mod the new super cars . If I had the new GT500 in the driveway it probably has all the power and adjustability I need from the factory. Little things like cold air or exhaust maybe but I can live with 700+ HP.
They will end up just hurting themselves. Like what is said above. Why would they want to limit their aftermarket potential seeing what has come from the LS powered movement. They knew when they developed the LS motor what they were doing. I’m sure they know with this new deal.
Someone will develop an aftermarket computer and all bets are off. Once someone deciphers the pinout for the plugs and the basic software, they will offer a replacement ECU.
OEM’s have been making it tougher to get into he systems the last few years. But somebody with the know how will no doubt figure out how to get in just like they have lately.
The humor of all if this is the theory that they can make it uncrackable. While it may be true that they can dewarranty a car, the Magnuson-Ferguson Act pretty much guarantees that the horror story is good for scaring children but in reality not really any different then what today’s diesels have for controllers. For those who don’t want to look it up – the MF Act says that manufacturers can’t have proprietary or locked systems – so that your local mechanic can work on a car no matter how new. All by itself, that should be powerful deterrent… that said, it’s a game between the players and we’ll see…. I’ll never say a manufacturer is too smart to run afoul of that act….
So just junk the LS hunka shit and slot in a coyote Motor!
Tosser
Too bad we can’t just auto-junk all your useless comments. Glad you’re on the losing end of engine choices.
Usually the key to an encrypted ECU doesn’t get cracked – it gets leaked. Either somebody in management decides they want to see more of the cars on track and winning, or somebody in software developing gets offered a big enough bribe.
I think there is a time coming ware the penalty to the tuner from the government is big enough it becomes a underground thing. Betting the reboot comes with a visit from “The Man”.