2028 Chevrolet Corvette C9 previewed

General Motors has revealed the concept car that will pave the way for the 2028 Chevrolet Corvette C9, with the performance vehicle tipped to switch to an all-electric powertrain.

Releasing pictures of the radical next-gen ’Vette, the new Corvette concept is the work of former head of Jaguar design, Julian Thomson, who has set up an advanced studio for the US brand in Leamington Spa in the UK.

Thomson has previously penned both the original Lotus Elise and the Range Rover Evoque while working for Jaguar Land Rover.

The move to open a design studio in Europe was triggered by GM’s desire to target markets with more European tastes, Australia included, following the decision to build the Cadillac Lyric and current Chevrolet Corvette C8 in right-hand drive.

At this stage GM has neither confirmed the concept’s drivetrain nor indicated that it is earmarked for production, instead saying the work of the 30-strong team was driven by the desire to “completely rethink the Corvette nameplate, pushing the boundaries of design and technology”.

Tasked with creating what a Corvette would look like in 10 or 20 years, the new Corvette concept measures in at 4670mm long but stands just 1000mm tall.

Paying tribute to the iconic Corvette’s rich design heritage, the new C9 design study features a full composite body, with the replacement for the six-year-old C8 getting extreme aerodynamics reminiscent of the wild Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Typical Corvette elements include lifting its peaked fenders from the 1965 Mako Shark Concept that previewed the 1968 C3 production car, a visor-shaped front screen and a pair of split windows that harks back to the iconic C2 ’Vette.

By incorporating most of its air-bending traits beneath the skin, GM designers have been able to avoid a large rear spoiler and employ smooth lines above.

Access to the tight race-car cabin is via a pair of gullwing doors, while within there’s a racer’s yoke-style steering wheel that also appears borrowed from the Valkyrie.

Overseeing the opening of the new British design studio and the next-gen Corvette concept’s design has been ex-Holden Monaro and VX Commodore designer, Melbourne-born Michel Simcoe, who’s now GM’s senior vice president of design.

“As part of the Corvette creative study, we asked multiple studios to develop hypercar concepts, which we’ll see more of later this year,” said Simcoe. 

“It was important that they all pay homage to Corvette’s historic DNA, but each studio brought their own unique creative interpretation to the project. That is exactly what our advanced design studio network is intended to do – push the envelope, challenge convention and imagine what could be.”

The new concept is the first of three Corvette concepts that will be revealed, with the other models set to be rolled out of GM’s other design studios spread across the world.

The third version will reportedly be driveable and unwrapped at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

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