Photo: GM
After searching through the United States Patent and Trademark Office database, we've found out that General Motors LLC has filed the 'Zora' trademark on June 2nd, 2014. This finding made us ponder if Chevrolet is prepping a special edition of the 2015 Corvette Stingray which will bear the first name of the Belgian-born American engineer nicknamed "Father of the Corvette."
In case you didn't know, Zora Arkus-Duntov joined General Motors back in 1953, staring his career here as an assistant staff engineer for Chevrolet. He's the man responsible for replacing the first-gen Corvette's six-cylinder mill for a small-block Chevy V8 in the 1963 - 1967 Corvette Stingray. Other major technological pushes from Zora were the introduction of Rochester fuel injection, development of the revered Duntov high-lift camshaft design, as well as adding independent rear suspension to the 1963 Vette Sting Ray. History lesson over. Now let's go back to the 'Zora' trademark.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has given the 'Zora' trademark serial number 86297324. As of Thursday, June 5th 2014, status of the trademark changed to "New Application - Record Initialized Not Assigned To Examiner." Filed under the category of "Vehicles and Products for locomotion by land, air or water", the correspondent listed for 'Zora' is Timothy G. Gorbatoff, a GM Legal Staff employee.
Whatever way you look at it, these hard facts suggest that Chevy is making preparations to rollout a performance-oriented Corvette variant which will honor the iconic engineer. Unfortunately, General Motors hasn't revealed anything about the recent trademark filing, and continues to keep its lips tightly shut.
With information on this matter pretty scarce at this moment, we imagine that this 'Zora'-branded Vette might be an ultralight, track-focused machine, that'll pay tribute to the engineer's pet project - the Grand Sport program.
If memory serves you well, you might remember that the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport special edition was a sub-four second 0 to 60 mph machine. Basically, it used the 436 hp LS3-based powertrain with the bodywork and suspension of the Z06, with the addition of go-faster stripes and unique alloy wheels.
Fingers crossed the upcoming 'Zora' Corvette will prove to be one of the best sorted American sports cars ever.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has given the 'Zora' trademark serial number 86297324. As of Thursday, June 5th 2014, status of the trademark changed to "New Application - Record Initialized Not Assigned To Examiner." Filed under the category of "Vehicles and Products for locomotion by land, air or water", the correspondent listed for 'Zora' is Timothy G. Gorbatoff, a GM Legal Staff employee.
Whatever way you look at it, these hard facts suggest that Chevy is making preparations to rollout a performance-oriented Corvette variant which will honor the iconic engineer. Unfortunately, General Motors hasn't revealed anything about the recent trademark filing, and continues to keep its lips tightly shut.
With information on this matter pretty scarce at this moment, we imagine that this 'Zora'-branded Vette might be an ultralight, track-focused machine, that'll pay tribute to the engineer's pet project - the Grand Sport program.
If memory serves you well, you might remember that the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport special edition was a sub-four second 0 to 60 mph machine. Basically, it used the 436 hp LS3-based powertrain with the bodywork and suspension of the Z06, with the addition of go-faster stripes and unique alloy wheels.
Fingers crossed the upcoming 'Zora' Corvette will prove to be one of the best sorted American sports cars ever.
Google News