Corvette CX and CX.R VGT: Chevrolet's Bold Vision Revealed
Chevrolet gave car enthusiasts and racing fans a clear glimpse of a high-performance future when it revealed two Corvette concept cars, the Corvette CX and the CX.R Vision Gran Turismo, at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Although not intended for production, the pair will guide Corvette design language for years. Drawing on over 70 years of performance innovation, these Corvette concepts honour the heritage of America’s sports car and push it towards what comes next.
The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo close a year of Corvette concept reveals within a global GM design exercise. Teams across multiple studios contributed, and the Chevrolet Performance Studio in Warren, Michigan, designed and fabricated the CX concepts.
“While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet,” said Phil Zak, executive design director for Chevrolet. “The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we’ve added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward.”
Designers imagined a future Chevrolet Corvette engineered from the ground up to deliver the ultimate high-performance driving experience on road or racetrack, which inspired the Corvette CX concept. The design starts with quintessential Corvette hallmarks. A forward-lunging nose, a pronounced horizontal “chine” line separating upper and lower bodywork, and dual-element tail lights echo past and present Corvette models. The long, low, sleek proportions include a roofline under 41 inches.
Aggressive yet unmistakably a Corvette, the CX concept shows what an uncompromised future sports car can achieve. The athletic exterior, highlighted by a fighter-jet-inspired cockpit canopy, does more than look powerful. The GM Motorsports Aero Group shaped every angle for ultimate performance.
Innovation continues beneath the skin with a Vacuum Fan System. Built-in fans draw air through open-channel bodywork to generate significant downforce and adjust airflow over the rear diffuser, refining aerodynamic balance in real time. Active front diffuser and rear wing elements respond automatically to driver inputs to maximise grip. Through the aero channels, you can see the integrated understructure, while wing-shaped suspension A-arms manage airflow and reduce front-end lift.
Engineers chose a propulsion layout that frees design and amplifies straight-line speed to match the cornering ability delivered by fan-driven downforce and active aerodynamics. The all-wheel-drive electric supercar runs four motors, one at each wheel, for four-wheel torque vectoring and system output exceeding 2,000 horsepower. A 90-kWh lithium-ion battery sits within the chassis to lower the centre of gravity and balance weight from front to rear.
Inside, every element aims to elevate the driving experience. As you approach, a forward-opening fighter-jet-style canopy rises automatically. Driver and passenger settle into seats trimmed in Inferno Red ballistic textile, with bolstering that holds occupants during high-g cornering. Premium silicone leather, milled aluminium and low-gloss forged carbon fibre create an elevated, driver-focused cabin. A digital windscreen transforms the windscreen into an immersive surround display, displaying real-time performance data. Meanwhile, designers have integrated every central control into the steering wheel, ensuring focus remains on the road.
For more than 25 years, the Corvette road-car programme has run alongside a championship-calibre Corvette Racing programme. This close relationship between road car and race car does more than inspire pride among Corvette fans. It accelerates technical learning across both worlds. Staying true to Chevrolet's performance DNA, the team created a Corvette CX concept exclusively for track competition. The CX.R Vision Gran Turismo imagines the future of Corvette GT racing, a future gamers can drive in Gran Turismo 7.
The CX.R VGT race car embodies Corvette history while looking ahead to the next era of automotive performance. The familiar yellow and black colour scheme pays tribute to Corvette GT race cars from the past 25 years. Designers took the CX exterior and amplified its aggression for CX.R VGT with more prominent active aero and a lower ride height to deliver racetrack-dominating downforce and grip. Engineers cut weight across the car to sharpen the all-out focus on performance.
Inside, touring-inspired surfaces give way to functional, high-performance appointments. The dashboard uses lightweight raw carbon fibre weave, and the seating features suede-wrapped foam inserts for grip and support exactly where the driver needs it. The seats feature larger, more aggressive shoulder and headrest pads, providing the head and neck support required by the intense handling of the CX.R VGT.
Building on the Corvette CX propulsion template, the CX.R VGT blends electrified performance with the visceral thrill of a high-revving engine. A mid-mounted 2.0-litre dual-overhead-cam twin-turbo V8 produces up to 900 horsepower and revs to 15,000 rpm. Powered by renewable e-fuel, the V8 drives the rear wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Three electric motors, one for each front wheel and a third integrated into the 8-speed gearbox, deliver instant torque and help achieve a total system output of 2,000 hp.
The Corvette CX and CX.R VGT go far beyond inspirational stage displays. In partnership with Chevrolet performance engineers, the Corvette design team produced detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain and aerodynamic systems of both concepts. Working with Polyphony Digital Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Chevrolet will make the road-going CX and the CX.R VGT race car available to drive virtually in Gran Turismo 7 later this month, giving new and familiar audiences a first-hand experience of the future of Corvette design.
