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Chevrolet shows off new Corvette concepts:
CX and CX.R

Chevrolet CX concept. [All images courtesy of GM/Chevrolet]

 

 

The eighth-generation (C8) Corvette design is six years old, and GM is looking to change it up -- at least conceptually. We may see an all-new model before the end of this decade. Will it be similar to the latest CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo concepts released by designers at the Chevrolet Performance Studio in Warren, MI?

Well, the short answer is ... probably not.

These latest concept cars, which made their debut at The Quail, a fancy Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, CA, are looking a bit further into the future -- the C10 perhaps -- to "reimagine what the Corvette could be." It's not all for show, though. GM says the Corvette design team, in partnership with Chevrolet performance engineers, "created detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain, and aerodynamic features of both the CX and CX.R VGT concepts."

"While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet," said Phil Zak, executive design director for Chevrolet. "The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward."

The CX concept design starts with quintessential Corvette hallmarks. The forward-lunging nose, the pronounced horizontal "chine" line delineating the upper and lower bodywork, and the dual-element taillights are all signature features of Corvette models past and present. The proportions are long, low, and sleek, with a roofline less than 41 in. high.

The CX concept is futuristic but retains a lot of the Corvette design DNA. It shows what an uncompromised future sports car can be. The athletic exterior design, highlighted by the fighter-jet-inspired cockpit canopy, isn't just about looking powerful -- it was shaped in collaboration with the GM Motorsports Aero Group. Every angle was designed with ultimate performance in mind.

The innovations continue underneath the skin with the Vacuum Fan System. Built-in fans draw air through the open-channel bodywork, generating massive downforce and adjusting the airflow over the rear diffuser to refine aerodynamic balance in real time. The front diffuser and rear wing are both active, adjusting automatically in response to the driver's inputs to generate maximum grip. The integrated understructure of the CX concept is visible through the aero channels in the bodywork, and the suspension A-arms are wing-shaped to enhance airflow and reduce front-end lift.

The CX concept's propulsion system was chosen to provide maximum design freedom, plus ultimate straight-line performance to complement the corner carving enabled by fan-driven downforce and active aero.

The CX concept is an all-wheel-drive electric supercar. This part, we must admit, is kind of a disappointment for purists. Four motors, one powering each wheel, generate more than 2,000 hp, with four-wheel torque vectoring for maximum grip and cornering performance. The 90-kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the chassis for a low center of gravity and ideal front-rear weight distribution.

On the inside, every aspect of the CX concept was designed to provide an unmatched driving experience. The forward-opening, fighter-jet-style canopy automatically raises as the driver approaches. Driver and passenger settle into seating finished in Inferno Red ballistic textile, bolstered to help hold occupants in place during high-G cornering maneuvers. Premium silicone leather, milled aluminum, and low-gloss forged carbon fiber accents give an elevated feel to the driver-focused cabin.

The digital windscreen transforms the windshield into an immersive surround display with real-time performance data. Every major control is elegantly integrated into the steering wheel.

So what's the CX.R concept about? For more than 25 years, the Corvette road car program has been accompanied by a championship-caliber Corvette Racing competition program. This close relationship between road car and racecar isn't just a source of pride for Corvette fans -- it helps further the technical lessons that can be shared across both realms. True to Chevrolet's performance DNA, the design team created a Corvette CX concept exclusively for track competition. The CX.R Vision Gran Turismo imagines the future of Corvette GT racing, and it's a future that gamers will be able to drive in Gran Turismo 7.

Chevrolet CX.R VGT concept (front) with the CX shown in back.

 

 

The CX.R VGT racecar embodies Corvette's history while looking to the future of automotive performance. The familiar yellow and black color scheme honors the Corvette GT racecars of the past 25 years. Designers took the CX's athletic exterior and ramped up the aggro for CX.R VGT with more prominent active aero features and a lower ride height for racetrack-dominating downforce and grip. Weight has been reduced across the car to further emphasize the all-out focus on performance.

Inside, the touring-inspired surfaces and materials of CX have been replaced by functional, high-performance appointments. The dashboard consists of lightweight raw carbon fiber weave, and the seating uses suede-wrapped foam inserts for grip and support where the driver needs it. The seats themselves have larger, much more aggressive shoulder and headrest pads to provide the head and neck support necessary with the intense handling capabilities CX.R VGT could deliver.

Building off the propulsion template set by the Corvette CX concept, the CX.R VGT combines electrified performance with the thrill of a high-revving V8 engine. The mid-mounted 2.0-liter dual-overhead-cam twin-turbo V8 makes up to 900 horsepower and revs to 15,000 rpm.

Powered by renewable e-fuel, this imagined, digitalized V8 drives the rear wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Three electric motors -- one for each front wheel, plus a third incorporated into the 8-speed gearbox -- provide instant torque for jaw-dropping acceleration and contribute to a total system output of 2,000 hp.

Working with Polyphony Digital Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Chevrolet will make both the roadgoing CX and the CX.R VGT racecar concepts available for fans to drive virtually in Gran Turismo 7 later this month, giving new and familiar audiences a chance to experience firsthand the future of Corvette design.

Maybe some of these design elements will make it to a real production car one day. Which design updates did you like best or dislike most? We're hoping the real-world new C9 is an ICE car when it comes out ... without that flimsy-looking hinged cockpit canopy.

Source: Chevrolet/GM

Published August 2025

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