What is in a name? The answer is everything when you’re a carmaker. People buy a BMW, a Benz, or Corvette primarily for their name. Corvette is a highly valued brand and has a high value. However, it only makes a small portion of the potential profits. However, those who know are confident that this will change.
The new Z06 has been seen, but there are many more C8 models still to be made, including an E-Ray hybrid and a revived ZR1. Zora is the extreme Zora hybrid that Zora Arkus-Duntov (the father of the original C1) was named after. A Corvette EV with GM’s Ultrium architecture is also on the horizon.
Sports cars can be very attractive and profitable. However, as Porsche demonstrated in the early 2000s with its Cayenne SUV, there is a lot to be done to expand the brand’s reach into other segments. The name Corvette can be used to make money if it is played intelligently and authentically. When Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche all offer one or more SUVs (the antithesis of the hard-core sports cars which put them on the map), why shouldn’t Corvette consider making sedans, crossovers, or even pickups?
What if Chevy made a Corvette SUV from Chevrolet?
These new products are not a half-hearted effort like the Cadillac Cimarron and the Ford Contour-derived Jaguar X-type. The pivotal point of the new Corvette is its unique DNA, which shouts “Corvette!” in terms of both design and driving dynamics. The brand’s switch to the Ultium platform will allow the owners to reimagine its proportions, stance, and engineering, or to keep the iconic elements that shaped the American sports car icon, from the 1950s through the present.
One source who saw the first proposals described them as “copies” and “encapsulated emotion purity.” The styling themes may be captured in waxing poetic, but what about the custom content? The mechanical package includes battery packs with high energy densities, superfast software, and a patented cooling system. It also contains miniaturized componentry as well as ultra-efficient inverters, high-revving electric motors, and an 800-volt electrical circuit that can provide up to 350 kW of charging.
Our friend from the GM Tech Center said that Corvette is more than a brand. It’s an ever-evolving system, paired with a drastically different user experience. The marque’s four-door coupe (think more like a liftback) as well as the crossover bring two new value propositions to the table: mainstream exclusivity and high-end luxury. All three pillars have been designed to allow for future pragmatic evolution and expansion.
“The goal is not to beat Taycan or Cayenne at their game, but to create three American legends capable to break new ground and make the essence of Corvette scalable.” Our source says that the essence must be constantly in progressive flux to achieve this. Hear, hear.
Production
Car and Driver reported on November 30, 2022, that three Corvette EVs were in development, based upon information it received from the GM Tech Center. The first model will be a modified two-door sports car, which is likely to be the eighth-gen Chevrolet Corvette (C8).
C&D claims that GM will launch a Corvette brand within a few years of the first Corvette EV. According to textbook marketing, Corvette will be a marque like Chevrolet and GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. An electric four-door coupe and an electric SUV will be the first fruits of Corvette’s brand. C&D’s source says that GM doesn’t want to compete with Porsche EVs using its three Corvette EVs. It wants to “create three American myths.” What can you expect from a Corvette SUV, then?
2025 Chevrolet Corvette SUV Redesign
According to the source, GM has made the Corvette EVs designs available to anyone familiar with the top-secret Corvette development. They are, as the source says, “copies of nothing.”
GM’s designers are developing several Chevrolet Corvette models that will appeal to a broad range of buyers. Bloomberg was informed by people who are aware of the company’s developments in January 2021. According to Bloomberg’s sources, the program is internally called Project R (or Brand R). GM had considered Corvette derivatives in the past but decided not to take the risk for fear of the nameplate’s dilution.
It could feel differently about the prospect, however, considering Lamborghini’s global success with the Urus, which will become an EV at end of this decade, and Ferrari’s announcement of the Purosangue.
Rendering
The Chevrolet Corvette SUV illustration features a face similar to the Corvette C8 as well as a body that is similar to a European sports SUV. The low front end echoes the C8’s canopy-forward stance. This is in keeping with fighter jets such as the F22, F35, and Formula 1 car. The iconic two-door model is instantly connected with this sleek and stylish design. It features a hexagonal grille and boxy air inlets that have a horizontal bar and a vertical fin at the outer end.
The greenhouse is narrower towards the rear than it is on the sides. This communicates the vehicle’s dynamic nature. Corvette’s sporty, aggressive styling is reflected in its sloping roofline and complex, powerful lines. High-riding Corvette (rendered), gets a sporty and aggressive appearance thanks to its sloped roofline, strong lines, and muscular shoulders.
Lamborghini (Ford), Lamborghini (Porsche), and Porsche made their debut in the SUV market by drawing inspiration from their sportscars. The Corvette SUV will be an EV so GM’s aerodynamics expertise for the Z06 will prove invaluable in creating a low-drag, high-performing electric SUV. The massive air dams that are a hallmark of the ‘Vette could be replaced by faux vents (similar to Ford’s Mustang Mach-E). Additionally, the rear could receive a more aggressive ‘aero’ treatment. The infamous ‘floating’ exhaust bezel won’t be used in the EV.
New dimensions
The overall dimensions will increase slightly to fit the rear doors. However, the Z06’s nearly 4.5-meter length and the benefits of born-electric vehicle architecture mean that we don’t expect the Corvette SUVs to exceed 4.7 meters, which is where the Mach-E sits.
Interior
GM could imagine the interior of a Corvette SUV EV. They would do everything to make sure the cabin is luxurious and technologically advanced. The absence of an ICE would undoubtedly free up a lot more space for passengers and luggage. The technology could also flow in from premium GM EVs such as the Hummer EV.
The sporty look of the ‘Vette SUV would be enhanced by optimizing the driver and central infotainment screens (12.3 and 13.4 inches respectively in the Hummer EEV), which will include high-end graphics from Unreal Engine. The electric Corvette will also get UltraVision with High Definition Surround Vision, which allows the driver to access 9 exterior cameras from the Hummer EV.
A flat floor with good knee-room and a glass roof could give rear-seat passengers the feeling of ‘open top’ motoring. Adaptive seats can adjust side bolstering or vibrate to compensate for the absence of a V8. Integrated speakers with synthesized sounds will further enhance the sporty feel.
Corvette SUV Specifications
The Chevrolet Corvette would be an electric SUV that uses the GM Ultium Platform, the third-generation global EV platform. It has already given the GMC Hummer EV pickup and GMC Hummer EV SUV to Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Silverado EV to Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and GMC Hummer EV.
The Ultrium platform was designed to deliver high-end parameters such as an 800V operating voltage, 350kW charging power, 200kWh battery pack capacity, and 400 miles of range. A Corvette electric SUV would be very close to Z06’s 2.6-second time. Further advancements could be made to Watts to Freedom, which unlocks the full acceleration potential of the Ultium propulsion systems. The electric motors are improving to handle more power. A Corvette SUV should be able to run in 2.6 seconds.
Engine
There are two types of Corvette SUVs: dual-motor and tri-motor. The 830 hp Hummer EV SUV with the most power is 830 hp. This is much more than the 670 hp V8 in the Z06. The upcoming hybrid Corvette (Corvette E Ray), which is expected to be AWD, will reportedly have an electric motor at its front axle.
GM Ultra Cruise
Ultra Cruise is one of the most appealing features of the Chevrolet Corvette SUV. It allows for “door-to-door hands-free driving” by using a combination of radars, cameras, and a LiDAR hidden behind the windshield. Ultra Cruise will allow autonomous driving on almost all roads, including those in cities, subdivisions, and rural roads.
The Corvette SUV is a great choice for everyday driving, and while most customers may be enthusiasts of driving, it could also be an excellent option for those who are not interested in the Corvette coupe/convertible. Ultra Cruise can be used to help you shop for groceries, drop off/pick up your children, or drive around town to work.
Rumors suggest that GM is considering expanding the Corvette family to include all members of the family, as the industry shifts to the EV era. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas believes that a Corvette subbrand could be worth $7B to $12B.
2025 Chevrolet Corvette SUV Release Date
Bloomberg reported that sales of the Chevrolet Corvette SUV could begin as early as 2025 according to a Bloomberg source. However, this timeline is unrealistic considering where GM stands with its EV production plans. GM must deliver many more advanced EVs before 2025. This includes the Hummer EV pickup, Lyriq, and the introduction of the Hummer EV SUV, Celestiq EV crossover, and the Equinox EV. We doubt that it will be in a position to sell a Corvette SUV until 2026.
The Chevrolet Corvette SUV will be available when it is. It could compete with the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV and the Audi RS Q6 etron, Polestar 3 Porsche Cayenne EV, and the Lotus Eletre.