Electric Concept Car Predicts Future Chevrolet Corvette
In 2019, the eighth-generation Chevrolet Corvette revolutionized the car by switching from a front-engine layout to a mid-engine layout. Despite the fact that six years on the assembly line is not a long time for such a supercar, General Motors is already working on the next, ninth-generation Corvette. The task of defining its appearance was given to three brand studios, and the first to show their work were the British.
The concept features aerodynamic components on the sides that optimize airflow, which the company claims makes traditional spoilers and wings redundant. However, for track use, the Corvette could use retractable stabilizers and an aero vectoring system to improve cornering.
The concept was created by GM’s new design center at Royal Leamington Spa, headed by the highly experienced Julian Thomson. During his career, the Briton worked for Ford, Volkswagen and Audi, but perhaps his most famous and elegant creation was the first-generation Lotus Elise. Thomson then spent almost twenty years at Jaguar, where he was Ian Callum’s right hand, and in 2021 he left JLR – reportedly due to disagreement with Jaguar’s new policy of total electrification.
At the moment, the technical characteristics of the concept and the future supercar are not disclosed. General Motors confirms that it is working on an electric version of the Chevrolet Corvette, but the next generation of the model, according to the company, will retain the traditional V8 engine. A fully electric modification, if implemented, will be just one of the options in the lineup.
