GM is considering a Covette-based SUV with all-electric power
by Ciprian Florea, onWhen Ford announced that its first electric crossover will be called the Mustang Mach-E, die-hard Mustang fans lost it and started complaining about how FoMoCo diluted the iconic nameplate. If you’re a Chevy Corvette fan, get ready to see your beloved badge on an electric crossover too, because GM is reportedly considering an all-electric Corvette SUV. A new report says that GM already "has designers working on several Corvette-brand concept vehicles" and that a Corvette crossover could go on sale as early as 2025.
Chevrolet wants to expand the Corvette brand into a family of vehicles
Just like Ford did with the Mustang, Chevrolet wants to milk the Corvette brand beyond the traditional sports car we all love.
The plan has not yet been approved, but GM is already working on a strategy to build at least one electric vehicle inspired by the Corvette, people "familiar with the matter" told Bloomberg, according to Automotive News. If approved, the EV will arrive later this decade as a sporty crossover with dynamic styling cues.
Several Corvette-based concept vehicles are already on the drawing board and "target a wide range of buyers," the report adds. The goal is to design a vehicle that blends the Corvette’s high-performance credential and sporty look with the enhanced interior room and storage capacity of a crossover. The EV could go on sale as early as 2025, but the unnamed insiders claim that it’s likely to happen later in the decade.
Chevrolet is also working on a hybrid version of the current Corvette, so the crossover would be the second electrified model of the nameplate. An all-electric Corvette sports car might not happen until the C9-generation arrives.
Ford did it first with the Mustang nameplate
Ford was the first major automaker to use an iconic performance car nameplate for an all-electric crossover. Not only that, but it also converted the Mach 1 badge into Mach-E for the battery-powered SUV.
The Mustang Mach-E was introduced in 2020 for the 2021 model year and it’s available with a variety of powertrain configurations. Although the base model cranks out only 266 horsepower, Ford offers a beefed-up GT model that lives up to the Mustang name thanks to a four-motor layout that delivers 480 horsepower and up to 634 pound-feet of torque. With a 0-to-60 mph sprint of only 3.5 seconds, the Mach-E GT Performance Edition is actually notably quicker than the Mustang GT and on par with the supercharged Shelby GT500.
| Availability | Spring 2021 |
|---|---|
| Batteries & Range*: | US GT Extended Range (ER) AWD (98.8 kWh):Targeting EPA-Estimated 235 miles(Canada Only): Targeting Estimated 375 kilometers |
| Performance 0-60 mph** | GT: Targeting 0-60 in the mid three second range |
| Wheels | 20" Premium Forged Machined-face Dark Tarnishpaintedwith red painted front and rear brake calipers |
| Peak Power [kW/HP]** | GT Targeting 342 kW/459 HP |
| Peak Torque | GT Targeting 612 lb.-ft. AWD |
| Powertrain | All Wheel Drive Only |
| Charging Solutions† | Up to 150kW DC Fast Charge Capability |
Source: Automotive News
