The latest eighth-generation Chevy Corvette C8 reinvents the iconic sports car nameplate with a fresh mid-engine design, upending nearly seven decades of Corvette tradition by moving the engine behind the cabin. The new mid-engine layout coincides with an equally new exterior design, but now, one digital artist is changing the game yet again with this futuristic Chevy Corvette C9/5 rendering.
This rendering was posted to social media by LeYang Bai, a California-based digital modeler for General Motors. However, although Bai works at GM, he insists that this futuristic Chevy Corvette C9/5 rendering is purely a personal project, and is unrelated to any ongoing GM properties.
Nevertheless, the rendering is quite striking, introducing a next-gen look for the world-famous sports car. The “C9/5” bit is undoubtedly a reference to the generation, looking beyond the current eighth-generation C8. This rendering is also notable for the cab-back, proportions, once again returning the Chevy Corvette to its roots with a front-engine layout.
The front end of Bai’s new Chevy Corvette C9/5 features a variety of hard angles and deep creases, with narrow, checkmark-shaped lighting elements that are pinched back towards the fenders, as well as an X-shaped fascia with a large lower grille opening finished in black. The Vette’s iconic crossed flag emblem is proudly displayed on the nose, while air vents run down the hood.
Viewed from the side, we get a look at a sultry and elegant roofline, falling gently into the rear in a single arc, while the shoulder line gives the futuristic Chevy Corvette concept a forward-leaning rake that emphasizes the fenders, under which we find a set of enormous wheels wrapped in ultra-thin rubber.
Finally, the rear end looks as though it was inspired by the C2-generation Vette, most notably with the pronounced rear fenders and rear glass. Quad exhaust pipes indicate this thing is still burning Dino juice, although the artist did hashtag #hybrid in the description.
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Comments
I’ll stick with the c8.
Uuuuuum, no thank you on this one.
So GM finally transitioned Corvette into a proper mid-engine supercar layout after decades of spadework and this guy immediately wants to regress back to the front engine with a design evokes Lexus.
Great job by the artist I’d buy it. It has a more exotic look to it.
Looks way better than the current ugly supercar look, but maybe they should call it something other than a vette to keep the markets separate. We all know that vettes have gasoline boomer racism baggage and this new car could be geared towards woke lux EV millennials who want something different than their grandparent’s wet dream.
Front looks like it could be a Pontiac Fbody, other then that. Pass!
The rear design is pretty successful, though it really needs quad taillights to nail it. The rest of the car fails to say corvette in any way. Very cool design experiment. The front view almost looks 4th gen camaro inspired.
Some parts of it, I like, but they should not have let a Buick designer loose on the rear.
Bloated – it looks like it weighs about 30,000 pounds.
I’ll keep my 2011 Grand Sport !!!
Rear view is gorgeous.
I agree that more retro quad taillights might be nice, though I did quickly get used to the C7’s
rectangular look, and remember the complaints when the round lights were replaced by ovals.
I still want a convertible with a top that goes away completely, a la C7.
Chevy made it happen with the ‘63 – 67 roof, so it might be possible with this one, too.
Not sure what the reference to Buick means: The boat tail roof? Corvette had it 9 model years before the Riviera.
Front and sides could stand more “Corvette” styling cues.
I hadn’t noticed the Pontiac and Camaro hood look until it was pointed out.
Now that’s all I see.
Would a ‘68 small block, wind split design work?
No idea about the sides.
All in all, however, a sleek, beautiful car.
At $75,000 or less, I’d buy it.
Fortunately Mr. Bai is working on his own. The car is really ugly, and looks to me like he’s fishing for a job with Toyota to design the next generation of Toyota Supra. Gen one of the Supra is ugly too so he would fit in well there.
The Corvette is not going back to front engine design, Tadge said it reached its limits of performance in front engine. This artist rendering is an insult to all Corvette. The mud engine design has made the Vette quicker 0-60 and in the quarter mile times. Also you have a 194 top speed without Z51 aero package, mid engine is here to stay and I love it.
Well, Chip Foose certainly didn’t have his hand in this turd, thank God. Let Chip do it.
As a 2020 C8 owner, this new rendering by a GM employee sucks! Combines the worst of C2 split window design with folks who never give up on two Pontiac attempts at a sports car. Anybody who thinks that a long hood with popup headlights is something positive is an idiot. Design renderings are not everything and anyone who bought a C8 will tell you that a mid-engine Corvette is a design reality and performance monster. If anyone else at GM design thinks this is the answer for a C9 needs to be fired. At present, I own a ’68 L71 (435hp, 427ci, tri-power, NCRS Top-Flight) and no real performance! The C8 is my 17th Vette and is the most incredible vehicle I’ve ever owned!
The design somewhat recaptures elements from the Corvette of the 1960’s and overall looks good, the only issue is the exhaust on this car, by the time the C9 actually comes to surface, it will more than likely be All Electric.
yep Bobby Bell is right, to bad GM is 15 years late with copying others like always, maybe they can produce another Alante or XLR, always chasing Mercedes and everyone else, C* is exactly a knock out. Look at it from the back, wow ugly.
First thing I thought was Supra
I generally like the design. It can be shrunk in the hood length and the C-8-2 could be born incorporating a 2.0 litre turbo charged/hybrid power plant. In total it should produce 375hp and be all wheel drive. It also should start at approximately $15,000 less than the base C-8. It should have a solid roof only to reduce production costs. Automatic w/paddle shift only.
Looks like Chevy and Ferrari had a baby! A Cherrari!!!
I think he’s going backwards. The new mid engine design is spot on.
It’s definitely the only way to go to keep up with new technology and design but especially to improve performance and be competitive as a race car. I have the 2020 Vette HTC with Z51 Package and “It’s Awesome”. Thanks GM!
How does this guy still have a job? Did he miss the memo the engine is behind the driver, and no longer in the front?
Personally, I think the artist did a decent job. However,it shouldn’t be labeled as a Corvette. I can see this more as a high-end Cadillac grand tourer to compete in the likes of the Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari Roma, Lexus LC500, or even the BMW M8.
Now that is one ugly design! May be futuristic but in IMO it’s ugly and would not buy one. Come on guys you can do better then that.