25/02/2019
The was a concept car created by Chevrolet, beginning life as Experimental Project 882 in the late 1960s. It had a Mid engine configuration using a transverse mounting of its engine. Zora Arkus Duntov's engineers originally built two prototypes during 1969, but John , Chevrolet's general manager, canceled the program believing it to be impractical and costly. However, when Ford announced plans to sell the through -Mercury dealers, DeLorean ordered that one XP-882 prototype be cleaned up for display at the 1970 New York Auto Show.
In 1972, DeLorean authorized further work on the XP-882 chassis and gave it a new project code, XP-895. A near-identical body in aluminum alloy that resembled the XP-895 was constructed, and became the "Reynolds Aluminum Car." Two of the Chevrolet Vega 2-rotor engines were joined together as a , 420 hp (313 kW) engine, which was used to power XP-895. The XP-895 was first shown in late 1973. Another Corvette concept, -897GT, also appeared in 1973, which used a 2-rotor engine. However, with the energy crisis of the time, GM scrapped its rotary development work and all plans for a -powered car. The -897GT 2-rotor Concept was sold to Falconer and fitted with a rotary engine in 1997.
In 1976, the 4-rotor engine was replaced by a 400 cu in (6,600 cc) Chevrolet , and the concept car was named Aerovette and approved for production for 1980. The Aerovette featured double folding doors. The production car would use a 350 cu in (5,700 cc) V8, and be priced between $15000-$18000. However, after chief supporters , Mitchell, and Cole had retired from Motors, David R. decided that a front/mid-engine car would be more economical to build and would have better performance, and canceled the Aerovette program entirely. Contemporary imported rear mid-engine cars had poor sales in the States compared to the front-engined , which ultimately determined the Aerovette's fate, further contributing to termination of production plans.
