GM has revealed the second in a series of three Chevrolet Corvette concept design studies to debut in 2025. The California Corvette concept, a one-of-one hypercar, blends “racing-simulator inspiration with iconic Corvette cues”, the auto maker said.
The concept was developed by GM’s Advanced Design studios in Pasadena, as part of a global design project. This latest concept reimagines the Corvette with a futuristic, Southern California twist and reflects GM’s deep roots in the SoCal design community.
“Our Advanced Design teams are dedicated to shaping the future, driving innovation and exploring what’s possible,” said Bryan Nesbitt, vice president of global design at General Motors. “The California Corvette concept is another example of forward-thinking design. We invited multiple GM studios to envision Corvette-inspired hypercars — the first of which was revealed by our UK studio in March. The California team has now delivered a complementary study that honors Corvette’s legendary performance while infusing it with their own distinctive vision.”
The concept has been designed to pay homage to Corvette’s heritage , “but with a distinct SoCal flavor”, the company said, adding that there is no production intent behind the design study. The Pasadena team embraced this project as a blank slate to reimagine what the Corvette could be.
“Southern California has been at the heart of automotive and design culture for a century, and GM has had a deep design presence here for nearly 40 years. We wanted to ensure that this concept was developed through that SoCal lens, but with a global and futuristic outlook. Duality of purpose is the basis of this concept’s design strategy,” said Brian Smith, design director, GM Advanced Design Pasadena.
“The defining design aspect is the single-piece, front-hinged canopy than enables the entire upper shell to be removed, transforming the concept from an agile, slick sports car to a lightweight, open-air track car.”
The concept vehicle features dramatic exterior proportions, wide at the wheels with a narrow, tapered cabin and a narrow cockpit, to reflect the classic Corvette. A single-piece front-hinged canopy transforms the vehicle from a sleek sports car to a lightweight, open-air track car.
The minimalist interior centers on the driver, with integrated structural elements and performance-focused displays. An augmented-reality HUD enhances high-speed driving with only the most essential data displayed.
The concept features a tunneled underbody paired with a lightweight carbon tub. It incorporates an active aero spoiler and air brake for enhanced aerodynamic performance, along with large, staggered wheels—21in at the front and 22in at the rear.
An assumed T-shape prismatic battery pack is integrated, enabling low seating and improved airflow around and through the chassis. The vehicle’s dimensions include a height of 41.4in (1,051mm), a width of 86in (2,184mm), and a length of 182.5in (4,669mm), with a wheelbase of 109in (2,767mm).
In related news, Bentley Motors has presented its latest luxury concept, the EXP 15, which represents its “design vision for the future” and takes inspiration from the auto maker’s early 20th century Grand Tourer heritage. Read the full story here
