The current eighth-generation C8 Corvette is far from done, with several new high-performance iterations still headed down the pipe. In fact, we just got our first look at the twin-turbo C8 Corvette ZR1. That said, one can’t help but imagine what the next-generation C9 Corvette may have to offer. Now, GM Design is sparking our interest with this sexy new design concept that is definitely giving off some strong C9 Corvette vibes.
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Recently making the rounds on social media courtesy of the General Motors Design Instagram feed (@generalmotorsdesign), this C9 Corvette design study was created by Gary Ruiz. According to his LinkedIn page, Ruiz has worked at GM for nearly 19 years, and currently serves as GM’s Lead Creative Designer.
In addition to the mid-engine portions (not to mention the Chevy hashtags), the tail lights on this machine are a dead giveaway that the design is definitely a Corvette of some sort. The proportions are long, wide, and low, with oversized six-spoke wheels rolling in the corners, and chiseled features front to back. The fenders rise up above the wheels to form narrow, creased peaks, while a large indent is seen across the flanks, leading the eye rearwards into what appears to be a side-mounted air intake.
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A large swath of glass sweeps around the front end and into the sides, while a large rear glass section no doubt provides visuals of the engine bay. And yes, this thing is indeed powered by internal combustion, as evidenced by the quartet of exhaust pipes mounted centrally in the rear fascia.
According to GM Authority sources, the next-generation C9 Corvette will debut during the 2028 calendar year for the 2029 model year. The C9 Corvette will ride on a revised variant of the GM Y2 platform found underneath the current eighth-generation C8, while production will once again take place at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky. GM Authority sources also indicate that the C9 Corvette will once again feature internal combustion, and will not be directly related to the all-electric Corvette EV sedan or Corvette EV crossover currently in development.
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Comments
That is a Hotwheel
Why are there exhaust tips? Are they just for looks?
The new design is more efficient as an electric. The rear engine can be replaced with a true rear trunk.
No more electric crap ESPECIALLY IN A CORVETTE model that’s just stupid and won’t sell.
Not bad! That would look pretty good with either a Corvette or Camaro badge on it
A supercar is NOT that if there is no sound from the engine. Yeah, it’s quick but can you imagine going to the races and all you hear is vreeeeem? All the senses must be stimulated otherwise it’s nothing.
Does anyone believe they will build this? I’m not holding my breath, but if they do, I’ll definitely buy one!
Not a chance. The Corvette must be a multi-role car, great for tossing the twisties, but also tossing shopping bags or golf clubs in your daily driver. This look is just too tucked in, too extreme. For a ’28 intro, designers are now still spiffing, with likely several 3/8 scale clays modeling different looks. Anyway, if this art really revealed anything, GM would not release it. Just playing “Is This the Next Corvette?” again, as they have for the last 50 or so years. In any case, since C9 will fit over the same platform as C8, it won’t look that different. Think C6 following C5.
What a bunch of morons run GM now we’re going to screw up the Corvette name badge by having Corvette sedans and Etc now people will say which Corvette now when you say Corvette everyone knows exactly what you’re talking about shame for shame to ruin such a icon
Like how Ferrari or Lamborghini have been ruined by having multiple models including an SUV? Don’t you think a family of Corvette high-performance cars spread across a similar model range to Ferrari is a bit more exciting than having one model that shares a floor with Chevy Equinoxes and Cruzes?
Ferrari and Lambo have different models for there SUV market that are not badged the same as say a f40 or countach. If Porsche has the macann it’s not called a 911 SUV.
That’s true. But if Corvette was spun off as a brand, you could have more differentiated models than you do now. For example, Lamborghini Aventador and Hurracain are sufficiently different and at different price points but that wouldn’t be as much the case if they were all based on the same car. You could have Corvette Stingray as a super sports car, a Corvette Zora hypercar, Corvette Manta (or whatever they call the supersports sedan and SUV) etc. Stingray still needs to be relatively practical and affordable, whereas Zora could be free to be a more exotic hypercar. Ferrari is now worth more than all of Stellantis, and Corvette to my mind holds the same brand potential.
Sports car buyers would simply discount anything but a Corvette sports car just as they do to the Mustang Mach-E. In their minds, though the cars are marked with the running pony, they’re not really Mustangs.
The car doesn’t even have a A piller.
Just to make it clear this is just a sketch of a future idea not a sorted ready for production car.
If and on,y if the would choose this much would change to make it real.
This is not real!
The only electric vehicle that could be forced down my throat would be a scooter or wheelchair!
That is absolutely fugly. I just placed my C8 Z06 order and that will probably be the last muscle car I will own unless they make the C8 ZR1 with some minor mods to the current look. Yuk.
If you look at the concepts sketches of the C8 they are pretty wild.
Great design study! Like the fact that it is going back to a more organic look with smooth, sensuous body panels. Hope the C9 follows in that direction. Corvettes were always gorgeous cars. I find the C8 to be too linear and choppy as a design statement. It is a brutal looking car. While an incredible engineering and production milestone, C8 will never be called beautiful. Just sayin’.
Corvette history from C2 on is that the cars are intro’d with too many design elements, then are “purified” as yearly facelifts are carried out. Don’t know if this is a defunct process with C8 as it’s been produced since 2020 with no significant exterior changes except color, but if it is, we should see a cleaned up version in the 2024 models and going forward to C9.
Well, you can bet, the average Corvette enthusiast can’t afford it. The last 2025 C8 is almost out of range of the Corvette dream car.