As you probably know by now, Chevrolet is preparing big changes for the future. The Corvette name is about to become a performance-focused electric sub-brand and big surprises are just around the corner. Up to this point, the Corvette name was used for performance and high-performance sports cars, but the future will inevitably include both a Corvette sedan and a Corvette SUV. They will both be electric, and according to GM, they should attract new customers to the brand. But, in order to do so, the Corvette SUV (and eventually the sedan) must offer some never-seen-before, or highly improved, features.
10 The Corvette SUV Needs To Have A Killer Exterior Look
When it comes to the exterior look one thing is for sure: the future Corvette SUV needs to be a lot more than a Corvette with raised suspension. Rumors suggest it will be like “nothing seen before”, with a design inspired by the Corvette Z06, a sloping roofline, and powerful, muscular lines. We expect the front end to have the same fighter jet-inspired look, with the massive air dams from the Z06 replaced by faux vents like in the Mach-E, and a fake grille. The rear end will be just as aggressive as the one in the Z06, but it will not have an exhaust system – since that will be redundant in an electric vehicle. The SUV should be about 185 inches long and should be offered with aerodynamic features inspired by the Z06 in order to provide a low coefficient of drag.
9 The Corvette SUV Must Have A Technologically Advanced Cabin
Just like the exterior, the Corvette SUV’s cabin must be a step forward from what we are now used to seeing in the Corvette. We expect it not only to offer a high level of luxury, but also to come with tech features inspired by the Hummer EV. The latter comes with a 12.3-inch screen digital instrument cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen system, both powered by GM's latest Unreal Engine. According to GM, this new platform is one of the most powerful ones out there and offers plenty of space to accommodate the latest features and interfaces. This would give the passengers the chance to play the latest video games - a move taken straight from Tesla’s playbook. The Corvette SUV should also come with a combination of luxurious leather, carbon fiber and wood inserts, plus the latest tech features.
8 The Corvette SUV Must Boast Real Cargo Capacity
For once, we should look at a Corvette that offers plenty of cargo room. If the current Corvette Stingray provides only 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space, the Corvette SUV should go up to at least 20 cubic-feet. Such a number will place it above the Ferrari Purosangue which offers 16.7 cubic-feet of cargo room, and right next to the Lamborghini Urus which comes with 22 cubic-feet of cargo space. The cargo space should go up to at least 50 cubic-feet with the rear seats folded. This way, the Corvette SUV will not only be a very competitive sports car, but it will also be the perfect grocery-getter.
7 The Corvette SUV Needs To Have GM's Latest Ultra Cruise Technology
Announced back in 2021, GM's latest Ultra Cruise is a must in the future Corvette SUV. This new technology "enables hands-free driving in 95 percent of all driving scenarios" and after millions of miles of testing, it would be able to travel not only on every highway, but also on nearly every road including city streets, subdivision streets, and paved rural roads. The new Ultra Cruise technology is powered by a five-nanometer scalable compute architecture, and one of its primary components is the Human Machine Interface (HMI) which presents information to the driver and communicates when they need to be in control of the vehicle.
6 Chevy Must Fill The Corvette SUV With Loads Of Features
GM has all the technology ready and handy: all it has to do is transfer it from the Hummer EV, and maybe improve it a little. Key features should include In-vehicle Energy App, Digital Key - that allows you to use your smartphone as the key for the SUV – and a HD Surround Vision with up to 14 camera views. Chevrolet will most likely install the same premium Bose audio system to make the Corvette SUV sound as aggressive as any of its other sports cars. Each driver should be able to customize their favorite features using the My Mode feature. This will allow them to tailor the steering, suspension, sound, and acceleration according to their personal preferences.
5 The Corvette SUV’s Electric Powertrain Needs To Be Competent
The future Corvette SUV will be built on GM's Ultium Platform - "a game-changing electric vehicle platform" that enables a near 50/50 weight distribution of the vehicle and a lower center of gravity. The same platform is used for models like GMC Hummer EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and Chevrolet Silverado EV. This platform comes with an 800-volt electrical system that allows up to 350 kW charging power. There is no word just yet on how much power the future Corvette SUV will deliver, but with the Corvette Z06 delivering 670 horsepower and the Corvette E-Ray 655 horses, we expect the future Corvette SUV to be at least as powerful as the Hummer EV - it delivers 830 horsepower.
4 The Many Faces Of The Corvette Crossover
The future Corvette SUV will be a model built for families, so customers must have more than one model to choose from. Chevrolet needs to give its customers the chance to choose between more levels of power, different range capability, and range options. Just like with the Hummer EV, there must be a model that will deliver around 1,000 horsepower – most likely set to arrive a few years after the “base” Corvette SUV, but also trims with a range between 300 and 400 miles. The cabin must also be highly customizable, just like we are used to the current Corvette lineup and should offer an option for every picky driver out there. This means, of course, the price of the Corvette SUV can go up very fast, but in the end, you get what you pay for.
3 The Corvette SUV Should Have Impressive Performance Figures To Take On All Major Competitors
If Chevrolet wants its future Corvette SUV to be successful – and the plan is for the model to attract another 20,000-30,000 new clients every year – then it needs to be better than the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Ford’s electric SUV goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and delivers a range of up to 312 miles, but the Corvette SUV needs to aim a lot higher than that. The model is not only supposed to take on models like the future Porsche Macan EV, but also be fast enough and powerful enough to take on models like the Lamborghini Urus and the Ferrari Purosangue. With the Italian SUVs going from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 and 3.3 seconds respectively, the future Chevrolet Corvette SUV needs to go from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds and hit a top speed of about 190 – 200 mph. The Ultium Platform also ensures a range of up to 400 miles.
2 The Corvette SUV Needs To Have An Affordable Price
In order to be competitive, the future Chevrolet Corvette SUV must also be affordable. With the Corvette Z06 priced from approximately $106,000, we expect the SUV to go on sale from about $125,000 - $150,000. This will make it a lot more expensive than the Ford Mach-E, but at the same time a lot more affordable than models like the Lamborghini Urus – priced from $230,000 - and the Ferrari Purosangue – priced from $375,000. However, a lot could change between now and 2026 when the Chevrolet Corvette SUV is expected to be unveiled, so it is a little bit early to speculate on the pricing.
1 Chevrolet Needs To Find A Way Not To Kill The Corvette Brand With The Corvette SUV
One of the major issues Ford had when it decided to use the Mustang name on the new Mach-E was facing a lot of bad reactions from purists and enthusiasts. Just like the Mustang, the Corvette is a name that dates back to the 1950s and with the new SUV, Chevrolet must find a way to keep the customers interested and keep the tradition of the name. This is why the future Corvette SUV must be a powerful model, with great performance figures, and better than anything the market has to offer. In an all-electric future, such a model could be the one that either saves or kills the brand.