Back-Up Plan: Ultimately becoming a production reality in 2020, a rear or mid-engined Corvette was envisioned as far back as the development of the second-generation model. In the 1980s, one idea that floated around General Motors was the creation of a fourth generation Corvette featuring a mid, transversely mounted V6 engine. The concept was rejected by Chevrolet but Pontiac was seemingly encouraged by the potential vehicle as the Fiero was introduced in 1984.