GM's Newest Chevrolet Corvette Concept is California Dreamin’ (and All Electric!)

The C8 Chevrolet Corvette is now six years old, which is hard to believe thanks to what all that has happened between then and the present day. With (likely) only a few years left before a ninth-generation Vette arrives, it’s time to start thinking about what the next Corvette will look like. GM certainly is, and it is giving us three Corvette concepts this year that might preview the car that becomes the C9 Corvette—the second-ever factory mid-engine Vette. Designed by GM's Advanced Design studio in Pasadena, the second of these concepts following the U.K.'s take is the California Corvette Concept, inspired by the sun and fun of SoCal.

Unlike the GM U.K. design center's design, with its gullwing doors and split windshield design, the Pasadena design studio's creation is inspired by the less cloudy conditions nearby. In other words, the Pasadena crew decided to do make it possible to do away with the roof altogether—the weather's always great in SoCal, right? A front-hinged "canopy" over the cockpit can be removed entirely.

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The idea was to create a “duality of purpose,” according to Brian Smith, director of design at GM Advanced Design Pasadena. The roof gives the California Corvette Concept the look of a modern sports car when fitted, but when it's removed, the car gives the driver and passenger that open-air track car experience. That is something that is rather rare thanks to modern crash standards, even on purpose-built racecars; this, of course, is pure fantasy.

Inside, the C8's dual cockpit design evolves into something more futuristic, with fewer buttons and, despite losing the roof, a rollover protector of sorts between the seat headrests. It’s possible to think of this as a similar crash structure we see in Formula One or IndyCar, despite their move to canopy and halo cockpit designs.

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The minimalist instrumentation display just ahead of the yoke-style steering wheel channels the current Vette's available ribbon-style digital tachometer and such, at least the colors and layout, since this concept doesn't have a conventional engine powering it. As for that yoke, hopefully GM will have figured out what Tesla hasn’t with its design in the Model S and X (but did figure out in the Cybertruck) and makes sure you don’t need to turn the wheel more than 180 degrees for full lock. We also find that the Pasadena design team thinks the inkling of a steering wheel mounted display is still a good idea beyond 2025. While this is a performance-focused design, there’s still room to install an inductive charger on the center console on this Cali ‘vette concept, if we're thinking realistically...

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What you won’t see is an engine bay and that’s because this concept is all-electric. This is also sort of a throwback to the Chevrolet Volt, of sorts. Rather than package the battery pack into the floor, the Pasadena team brings back the T-shaped battery pack from GMs extended range electric vehicle past. What isn’t ancient in design is the use of prismatic cells, hinting at the future of GM's Ultium future, as well.

This pack design allows for a much lower floor for low seating and can help with creating a more efficient aerodynamics package including the tunneled underbody made into the carbon fiber tub. Further aerodynamics include an active aerodynamics package with a rear spoiler that functions as an air brake. The wheel fitment is appropriate for a super sports car, with a staggered setup with 21-inch wheels up front and 22s on the rear axle.

While GM doesn’t say what motor layout this concept has, the rear aero treatment hints there to a rear driveshaft with a large feature seen within the rear bodywork opening and between the body and the rear wheel. We aren’t given a good view through the front openings, but it would be hard to imagine that this concept wouldn’t drive all four wheels with a second motor between the front axles. We’ll also concede the idea that there are three motors instead of two with the rear axle housing a pair of motors, but either way, it seems that Pasadena envisions an all-electric future for America’s sports car. And that future looks good.