GM Finally Considering Corvette Brand, Says Report
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At this point, we think it’s safe to say that the debut of the new 2020 Corvette C8 was a resounding success, generating heaps of praise and attention for Chevrolet’s all-new sports car. The move to a mid-engine configuration was big news, no doubt about it, but now, rumor has it there’s something even bigger on the horizon – a Corvette SUV/crossover, which could be part of an as-of-yet unconfirmed standalone Corvette brand that would also contain a Corvette sedan.
According to a recent report from Autoweek, which cites information gleaned from anonymous “GM insiders,” that’s exactly what The General is considering. The report points out that the potential spinoff Corvette brand is still very much in the planning stages, and could hit the dustbin should the industry face some serious trouble with the next downturn. But so far, GM execs remain cagey on the subject, neither confirming nor denying the possibility of a separate Corvette brand.
“I can’t say anything one way or the other,” said vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports, Jim Campbell, at the recent Corvette C8 debut event in California.
GM President Mark Reuss was even less enthusiastic, but nevertheless held back from a flat-out denial, saying, “Probably not going to see that.”
Possible products under the supposed Corvette brand include a crossover/SUV as well as a new sedan. What’s more, Autoweek says Cadillac may utilize the C8 platform to build its own version of the sports car.
We’ve already covered the possibility of a separate Corvette brand for a while now. Back in April, we posed the question of whether or not such a thing would be a good idea, while in June, we covered statements made by former GM exec and industry top-shot, Bob Lutz, who, in an interview with Automotive News, championed the idea of a Corvette SUV.
Going back even further to September 2018, we captured a possible Corvette crossover-SUV making a run at the GM Milford Proving Ground.
Possible Corvette crossover prototype at Milford
Gauging by the public’s overwhelmingly positive reaction to the new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8, an entire Corvette brand may not be a terrible idea. It goes without saying the purists will balk at the notion, but with the nameplate now moving the engine to the midship position, perhaps the floodgates will soon open to other changes for the Corvette just as well.
For now, a release date in 2023 has been floated as a possibility for the new Corvette brand. In the meantime, we’ll continue to keep our eyes open for any further developments, so subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Source: Autoweek
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For me, too little, too late. I’ve suffered through several purchases of brand new Corvettes from plebeian Chevrolet dealerships. Unbelievable ordering and sales processes. During the ownership, I’ve been treated like I’ve just purchased an economy car, not Chevrolet’s flagship vehicle and America’s only true sports car. Dealerships that lacked the proper equipment and personal and most importantly, the proper training. I have driven home from the dealership with crooked steering wheels due to improper wheel alignment and then discovering said selling dealer didn’t even have a four wheel alignment rack. Parts departments that would mishandle special orders and were just plain difficult to work with. I have made multiple purchases of multiple generations of Corvettes starting with the C3 and ending with the C7.
No thank you Chevrolet, I’ve moved on…