GM Considering Electric Corvette Sedan To Battle Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan
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The eighth-generation Chevy Corvette C8 is unlike any production Corvette to come before it, offering a mid-engine layout and, as is the case for the upcoming C8 E-Ray, an all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain. Now, GM Authority has learned from sources familiar with the matter that GM is considering a new electric Corvette sedan to rival the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S.
News that GM is thinking about building a new purely electric Corvette shouldn’t come as a surprise. Back in April, The General teased the new C8 E-Ray with a brief video showing the hybrid supercar spinning all four across a blanket of snow. That same week, GM President Mark Reuss confirmed that GM would also offer a “fully electric, Ultium-based Corvette in the future.”
Indeed, with GM poised the pivot to all-electric power across its new passenger vehicle lineup by 2035, the prospect of an electric Corvette model is, at this point at least, inevitable. Although Reuss declined to provide any specifics in April, GM Authority has already examined the various scenarios in which such a model could come to market, with the most likely scenario being an all-new vehicle beyond the current Y2-based C8, thus supporting GM’s head-first dive into the EV segment.
In terms of platform, then, the most obvious candidate is the new GM BEV3 architecture, likely the low-roof variant. Providing the motivation will be the next-generation of GM Ultium batteries and GM Ultium drive motors, which, as GM Authority covered previously, are expected to provide a maximum driving range of 500 to 600 miles.
The new electric Corvette will also be relatively large in terms of exterior dimensions, likely around the same size as the Porsche Taycan or Porsche Panamera, a requirement to fit the new, rather sizable batteries. The underpinnings will also share similarities with the upcoming range of Cadillac EV sedan models.
Further highlights for the new electric Corvette sedan will include a variety of different performance levels, as well as extensive weight saving techniques, the latter of which is particularly important for a performance-oriented EV.
Expect the new electric Corvette sedan to launch roughly mid-decade.
What do you think, dear reader? Does the idea of a new electric Corvette sedan entice, or repulse? Let us know in the poll below, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Unlike Porsche having several models the Corvette is a sub-model of Chevrolet built by GM. If a Chevrolet EV sedan could beat a Tesla Plaid it could beat a Corvette. If its name was something other than a Corvette it would diminish the Corvette stature hence, GM is stuck. A Cadillac Blackwing name might be a better choice. Teslas beat most everything, Porsches, Ferrari’s, etc. to 60 and the 1/4 also.
Teslas are only fast in a straight line, they have terrible handling and track performance. A Tesla Model S Plaid doesn’t even stand a chance against a Camaro ZL1 1LE on the track. Look up Nürburgring lap times if you don’t believe me.
Creating a four-door Corvette will destroy the sports car’s image and brand. Porsche didn’t build a four-door 911. They called it Taycan. Build the E-Ray and the Zora but not a Corvette four-door sedan. Zora Duntov is turning over in his grave!
Corvette Sedan ?????? OMG – that would really ruin the brand. Use the Impala – not the Corvette
In my opinion, if GM wants to build a low roof sedan to compete with the Porsche Taycan , they should build with a Cadillac badge and call it Sevill-E.
I’m holding out for the eventual Corvette minivan with a camper pop-top and side pop-outs.
Don’t you ever do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Typical GM. Taking the names of iconic vehicles from our past and destroying them. just look at the Blazer and Trailblazer for instance. Now you want to take one of the best and only true two- seat Sports car in the GM lineup and turn it into a four-door Saloon? Just leave the Corvette alone and revamp the SS name and call it the ssev or something.
Can someone honestly explain to me why they believe this to be a GOOD idea? Because I just don’t get it.
GM has a habit of getting the name wrong (early 2000’s GTO jumps to the front of my mind) as if the name of the car is going to make it sell. Seems if anything it can only hurt sales and confuse the customer. Trying to make the Corvette a sub brand of Chevrolet will do just that. The 4 door Porsche and SUV is not called a 911 for that reason. They have their own names.
When Ford put the Mustang name on the Mach E the blue oval faithful hated it. I understand why Ford did it. Tesla was successful by marketing EVs as performance and luxury. Ford wanted it’s customers to know the Mach E is about performance also. Not a tree hugging, wallet conscience compromise. GM has plenty of other great sedan names to rehash. For Ford, the Mustang name was really the only name that was going to get that done.
This is total B.S. Corvette is a MODEL of Chevrolet. Not a Brand of car.
Porsche is a Brand. Tesla is a Brand.
Leave the Corvette alone. Do Not bastardize it like Ford did with the Mustang E car
The EV push makes it tougher, if it diminishes the sport character of vehicles. Porsche could struggle too. The mid-engine is on an island. Not saying don’t do it, the hype exists in certain circles.
The muscle-car+ Vettes could have served within a family of part sharing vehicles. At a lower tier, and not breaking out a separate brand though.
It is going to be big, so why not resurrect the Monte Carlo name for the 2 door and Impala for 4?
don’t go feigning that this was not planned from the start, the space for an electric motor in the front has been design in from the very start.
Should NOT have discontinued C7 or front end engines.
Most Corvette owners are not race car drivers. They are weekend pleasure drivers, mostly.
WHY IS THE NEED TO TRY TO COPY ALL THE FOREIGN CARS CONCEPTS.
C6 and C7 Corvettes were some of nicest best styled driving Corvettes.
Ton of value for the money.
Bad idea – playing catch up. Leave the corvette for what it is. If you want a new EV like Tesla, then design it and rename it something new. EV just helps China, 70% of battery supply and dominator of global Cobalt markets, but that’s a different story
Mary and the bean counters need to go away. Make the sedan an Impala or a ChEVelle. Don’t bastardize the Corvette!
GM must not do this! There are too many storied GM names and marques that could go on a super fast high performance EV sedan. Bring back Oldsmobile and push out a Jetfire or Jetstar. Even Cadillac could continue with a hypothetical Meteoriq or Hypersoniq super sedan EV.
Its been a cool sports car for 70 yrs. Leave it alone,you have enough UGLY suv”s on the road now.
This is a great opportunity for GM to leverage the legacy of the Corvette name on a CUV type vehicle that can undoubtedly generate a lot of profit. This is the beauty of Ultium. It’s highly flexible so a Corvette-styled body with a performance-themed interior can be married with the common EV skateboard and as many as four of the generic electric motors can be affixed to produce a product as fast as the classic Corvettes but with more utility and substantial cost savings. Selling them at $200,000. or so will make GM a lot of money and with the government subsidy on EVs they become even more attractive.
I would suggest that GM might want to do a 6.2 L V8 soundtrack to pipe in some of the noise consumers are used to and maybe use their vibrating seats to recreate that thrilling visceral feel but the beauty of that is that it could be turned off for those buyers used to Sienna minivans. For those looking for a sedate driving experience, it could all be turned off but they’d still have that Corvette look and the image. Lots of opportunities for GM to make money though.
Barf.
There are a lot of Corvette “fans” on other fan sites who think that this is a good idea. They believe that if Porsche can do it, then so too can Corvette. There are a lot of differences between the status of Corvette and Porsche win their corporate structures and in the public imagination.
I bet dollars to donuts that these “fans” believe that Porsche is a manufacturer of upscale sports cars that now all manufacturers premium SUVs and sports sedans. It is not. Porsche is a manufacturer of premium SUVs and sports sedans that still manufacturers upscale sports cars. In fact, I cannot recall the last time that I saw a two-seat Porsche. However, I see Porsches that seat more than four often. Yesterday, I saw two of them.
Corvette-branded sedans and SUVs would have to be priced above the two-seaters in order to be true to the marque. This price level is cheap for high-performance sports cars, but it is high for most American sedans and SUVs. In fact, the vehicles would be priced above most Cadillacs. The market confusion will be devastating, and not only for Corvette.
I don’t know where you live but I Rarely See four-door Porsches more 911s and boxers