Corvette enthusiasts have often wondered what would have been, should Chevrolet have opted to continue with a front-engined Corvette rather than making the move to a mid-engined configuration. The new mid-engined Vette should see even bigger steps as the upcoming Z06 is on the horizon. Well, artist Sean Peterson has spent some of his time coming up with what could’ve been had the C8 Corvette not taken that step.
The Front End Has A Definite ZR1 Influence
Peterson, an exterior car designer for Ford, left most of the ex-gen sheet metal in his rendering, but up front the presence of an aggressive air intake rivals that of the Corvette ZR1. But the look still comes across with the elegance and flair of what a base Stingray would present. X-shaped light clusters utilizing LED technology help to minimize the amount of space on the nose needed to provide light, all in front of a vented hood which strikes a smooth visual balance. Along the sides, skirt extensions are simple and aero-effective with the rear-view mirrors having been replaced by cameras.
This C7 Has The Look Of A Supercar
The rear deck and fascia have the most pronounced changes, giving the Vette more of a hypercar type look, while the complex styling of the huge wheels further add to that impression. Looking at the central fin running into the rear window, along with the super-sized, nozzle-style exhaust tips that are neatly intertwined with the rear diffuser, are reminiscent of a Bugatti. The rear light bar is brought together by a pair of vents keeping the arrangement of the back end clean and simple.
Mint green accents highlight the matte black finish that dominates C7, giving it a sleek look and contributing to its high-end supercar appearance. With the bat-like active rear unit, the wing package helps to give a high-speed, racing feel that can appeal to both drag racers and track runners.
Likely Just One More ICE Vette Before EV Takes Over
It’s likely that there will be just one more Corvette using internal combustion, as GM has partially committed to be on an all-electric platform by 2035. It’s a reasonable assumption that there won’t be any waffling back and forth between engine types with such a big change on the horizon. So it’s likely new Vettes will stick to the current middle engine V8 until EV technology takes over as the powerplant for the iconic American sports car, so expect to see more conceptual ideas like this one.