C8 Corvette Zora Flagship Signaled By Massive GM Trademark Onslaught: Exclusive
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General Motors has been quietly amassing trademark rights to Zora, which is widely believed to be the planned name for a future Corvette C8 flagship. The last time we covered GM’s efforts to trademark Corvette Zora back in 2018, so it’s high time to revisit the topic, because a lot has taken place since then.
Following painstaking research, GM Authority has learned that the Detroit-based automaker has filed for the Zora name with 31 intellectual property offices around the world. GM’s first trademark application for Zora dates back to June 2014, when the company filed to register the names in both the United States and Canada. Later that month, The General filed to register the name in a slew of other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Moldova, Macedonia, Switzerland, Zimbabwe and the European Union. Over 30 applications for the Zora name were filed in 2014 alone.
A sketch of the C8 Corvette
In 2015, GM filed to register the Zora name in Chile, followed by Uruguay and the Philippines in 2017. A second filing was made in the U.S. in December 2018. The most recent filing took place on February 14th, 2020, with GM filing for the name in the Philippines. The instance marks the third time that GM has filed for the Zora name in the Southeast Asian country where, incidentally, the automaker does very little business.
| Brand | Country | Status | Application Number | Application Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZORA | Philippines | Pending | 42020002421 | Feb 14, 2020 |
| ZORA | United States | Pending | 88226319 | Dec 12, 2018 |
| ZORA | Philippines | Active | 42017009859 | Jun 23, 2017 |
| ZORA | Uruguay | Pending | 484324 | May 30, 2017 |
| ZORA | Chile | Active | 1152650 | Apr 28, 2015 |
| ZORA | Botswana | Active | BWM2014546 | Jul 18, 2014 |
| ZORA | Kenya | Active | MAT183501 | Jul 7, 2014 |
| ZORA | Costa Rica | Active | 2014-005647 | Jul 3, 2014 |
| ZORA | Indonesia | Pending | D002014032212 | Jul 2, 2014 |
| ZORA | Brunei | Active | 45571 | Jun 23, 2014 |
| ZORA | Uruguay | Inactive | 456372 | Jun 23, 2014 |
| ZORA | Eswatini | Active | SZT2014212 | Jun 19, 2014 |
| ZORA | Malaysia | Active | 2014006755 | Jun 18, 2014 |
| ZORA | Serbia | Active | 201400936 | Jun 18, 2014 |
| ZORA | Zimbabwe | Active | ZWT2014768 | Jun 18, 2014 |
| ZORA | Malawi | Active | MWT2014521 | Jun 17, 2014 |
| ZORA | Mexico | Active | 119851496989 | Jun 17, 2014 |
| ZORA | Morocco | Active | 160517 | Jun 17, 2014 |
| ZORA | Singapore | Active | T1409332I | Jun 17, 2014 |
| ZORA | Algeria | Active | DZT2014002479 | Jun 16, 2014 |
| ZORA | Chile | Inactive | 1111216 | Jun 16, 2014 |
| ZORA | Jorsan | Active | JOT1113373 | Jun 16, 2014 |
| ZORA | Philippines | Inactive | 42014502594 | Jun 16, 2014 |
| ZORA | Tunisia | Active | TNE2014000634 | Jun 16, 2014 |
| ZORA | Vietnam | Active | 4201413441 | Jun 16, 2014 |
| ZORA | Bahrain | Active | BHT104179 | Jun 15, 2014 |
| ZORA | Israel | Active | 265822 | Jun 15, 2014 |
| ZORA | Australia | Active | 1628345 | Jun 13, 2014 |
| ZORA | European Union | Active | 12992715 | Jun 13, 2014 |
| ZORA | Iceland | Active | V0093240 | Jun 13, 2014 |
| ZORA | Moldova | Active | 35273 | Jun 13, 2014 |
| ZORA | New Zealand | Active | 999628 | Jun 13, 2014 |
| ZORA | North Macedonia | Active | 201400659 | Jun 13, 2014 |
| ZORA | Switzerland | Active | 569932014 | Jun 13, 2014 |
| ZORA | Canada | Active | 1679368 | Jun 2, 2014 |
| ZORA | United States | Inactive | 86297324 | Jun 2, 2014 |
The Zora name honors the first Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, who went to great lengths to produce a mid-engine Corvette during his tenure at The General. The vehicle is expected to slot above all other C8 variants, including the C8 Z06 and even the C8 ZR1, thereby becoming the undisputed flagship of the Corvette C8 range.
A prototype of the upcoming Corvette C8 Z06
The C8 Corvette Zora is expected to be powered by a twin-turbo 5.5L V8 LT7 DOHC engine mated to a hybrid-electric drivetrain, with output reaching a mind-boggling 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel-drive will be responsible for putting all that power to the pavement. An aggressive wide body treatment plus a plethora of active aero features will enable this bastion of American engineering to deliver what has been described by sources as “out of this world” performance.
Pricing is unknown, though it wouldn’t be completely out of context to expect a starting MSRP north of $150,000. Launch timeframe is also unclear, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic and associated disruptions that have already delayed the C8 Z06. However, we are expecting the C8 Corvette Zora to launch in 2023 as a 2024 model year vehicle, and this trademark onslaught brings us that much closer to that date.
We’ll have more on the C8 Corvette Zora soon, so be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Corvette Zora news, mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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Live to dream.. the sketch of the potentially the Corvette Zora looks to feature a wide-body design with a clean and elegant appearance compared with the C8 Corvette Z51 which may signal the introduction of active aerodynamics.
I actually agree. And I hope the Zora is clean and elegant. Wide body as well, though that’s probably going to be a standard feature given the rubber needed underneath for traction. Chevrolet’s, trucks and cars of all types were always so clean with just a hint of mean in their designs. And those are the ones that have stood the test of time. The last 15 years or so their designs have lost that. Too asian looking with far too much influence from the transformer movies. Like a bad origami project. I hope their trucks and cars both go back to the classic clean and mean design elements from their glory days. And I do love the C8. I just keep imagining the Avista as the Camaro and how great that could have been. Or the Silverado’s without the bizarre front ends and metal stampings on the sides. Or the C8 with just a few more smooth curves like the C3 had.
I don’t disagree with anything said by Omeg and Matt. I just want to add that thus far Tadge and company have done a remarkable job working out down forces and a smooth bottom of the car for aero-dynamics. The car is able to get off the zero to 60 mark yet it is clear that the body is stable at 205 mph (think Mulssanne Straight). If they can do both, further development of the race suspension means that we everyday Corvette owners can look forward to great opportunities to win competitions in all aspects of racing, world-wide. Currently, it was and is the styling combined with the performance that took me away from a GT350, powered by you know who, to the Corvette C8 Platform. Chevy is so on the right track that I couldn’t help but lend my support. All this talk about smooth lines is fine, but I personally really don’t want a McLaren look or something like. That said, if the handling and power continue along the lines started by GM and continue to go in the direction of development, there will be mostly things to cheer about and the lines of people with deposits will continue. Porsche has proven it can kick the world’s clock with its combination of horsepower from petrol and electricity to its front drive wheels and it appears from all the patents that such thrilling performance might not be too far away for all of us to see and experience. AF
The fact that you even mention the idea of switching over to the enemy is pathetic. GM for life! Chevy for life! Corvette for life!!!
It was history, so I did mention it, Brian Scott. My past history was with the Mustang, a 19 year old Steve McQueen inspired 2001 painted factory black Bullitt. I get the hate. But a number of people commented that the C8 would not be enough to get a Powered by Ford fan to switch. The fact that I switched and bought a Corvette means that his prediction was not 100% correct. If you are GM management and you just found out that one of you 2697 sales during the, “First Release,” was a man who had been a fan of Shelby and Mustang and into his 70’s no less, just bought a C8/Z51/Lt2 Corvette, it would have to bring a smile to management’s face. So good was the car that they put together, a Ford guy just had to have a Chevy. Think about that for a while.
Forget the Zora!!
Where is my C8 Convertible???? 🙁
Why do you need a convertible if you have a removable targa top?
Simple. Storing the targa top leaves no trunk space.
Theres space in the front of the car! People will just find ways to justify what they want!
Ha Ha!! Easy for you to say, you’re not married to my wife.
When we travel, we need a trailer hitch option.
Maybe a deck luggage rack like my C3.
Are you single, Brian??
If you live in 45 plus inches of rain per year, you might need the immediacy of a convertible with a motor. Other than that, elegance, luxury and convenience. There are probably other reasons that Tadge J. could easily come up with. AF
This comment proves my point!
If you have that much baggage then you probably dont need a Corvette. I am married and I tell my wife if it doesn’t fit in a small bag then it’s not coming with us! Or she can stay at home!
I like your policy, Brian, but it doesn’t work where we’re from. 🙂
BTW, our last C7 trip was across USA and CAN to various NCRS events
and lasted over 6 weeks.