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First look: New Corvette concept hints at what's to come

Chevrolet Corvette concept car. [Credit: All images courtesy of Chevrolet/General Motors]

 

 

General Motors has given the world a first look at the possible design direction for a next-generation Corvette -- or maybe the next-gen vehicle after the coming 9th-generation iteration.. A Chevrolet Corvette concept car developed by the company's new UK advanced design studio captures an even-more-aero-inspired, low-slung racecar-meets-spaceship vibe that oozes futuristic cool.

GM says the UK team based in Royal Leamington Spa, about 20 miles from Birmingham, is part of a global design project involving multiple studios, and that additional Corvette concepts will be revealed throughout 2025. That's interesting! Part of generating new buzz is that GM is preparing to launch Corvette sales across the UK and mainland Europe. GM's global design footprint also spans studios in Detroit, Los Angeles, Shanghai, and Seoul.

The UK studio is led by experienced automotive designer Julian Thomson, who has worked with some of the industry's most recognized brands. The 24,584-sq-ft Royal Leamington Spa studio employs more than 30 designers and creative team members and is outfitted for both digital and physical clay model development.

"These teams are primarily tasked with imagining what mobility could look like five, 10, and even 20 years into the future and driving innovation for GM," said Michael Simcoe, senior VP of GM's global design.

The UK design team aimed to approach Corvette's re-imagined design with a true blank-page approach. The result is a hypercar that pays homage to Corvette's historic DNA (it still looks like a Corvette, weirdly), but pushes and pulls the boundaries in all directions.

The UK team's concept subtly incorporates Corvette's iconic design heritage into a futuristic aesthetic focused on clean forms and muscular shapes. The design draws inspiration from the aviation industry, both in the sculptural and functional elements. It features gull-wing doors, huge front air intakes, and a flattened and rounded cockpit that, with its halo roof structure and windshield center spar, kind of resembles a stealth bomber from the outside.

"One of the most unusual and significant aspects of our concept's design is a feature known as Apex Vision," said designer Thomson. "A nod to Corvette's centerline focus, and inspired by the iconic 'split window' 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, this feature emphasizes a singular vertical central spine that is also a structural element, providing a panoramic view of the road and surroundings." It sports full wraparound side glass.

The exterior design includes a distinctive division between the upper and lower halves of the vehicle. The upper half captures the Corvette's classic design elements, but in a futuristic manner. The lower half focuses on functional technical design, including aerodynamic elements designed to channel air efficiently without the need for wings or spoilers.

GM did not release any power plant details for the new Corvette concept. It could be fully electric (that would be a shame!) or possibly incorporate some hybrid EV elements (extra electric motors) with a traditional internal combustion engine, which is a trend for hypercars right now. We would certainly expect a change from the the mid-engine 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, which sports a 5.5L twin-turbocharged DOHC flat-plane crank V8 engine (dubbed the LT7) that puts out 1,064 hp.

The overall design plans call for increased use of additive manufacturing for the body structure and body panels.

Aero details (very general) provided by GM include:

• On-road efficiency and on-track performance in harmony
• Fan assistance and active ducting to redirect air over and through the vehicle
• On-road: Flowing forms, functional intakes, and vented surfaces
• On road: Air directed through the vehicle to fill its wake, increasing efficiency and range
• On track: Like an aircraft wing, aero surfaces reconfigure, dorsal fins deploy, and spoiler venting creates aero vectoring to enhance cornering performance
• Sculpted underbody, lowered ride height, and fan assistance delivers ground effect
• Chassis: Racecar inspired, package efficient, pushrod suspension setup

Dimensions

• 40.7 in. tall, 85.75 in. wide, 183.8 in. long (NOTE: 2025 ZR1 is 48.6 in. tall, 79.7 in. wide, 185.9 in. long -- so this new concept loses almost 8 in. in height, is 6 in. wider, and is 2 in. shorter in length)
• 22-in. front wheel/23-in. rear wheel
• 127 mm seat height -- race car inspired

Not a lot of real specs here, we admit, but we're excited to see what the next concept from a competing GM design house looks like later this year. What do you think?

Sources: General Motors, Chevrolet

Published April 2025

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