Plenty of cars have been named after places in California: Catalina, Pacifica, and Santa Cruz are but a few. Some cars have even been named after the state itself. Now, you can add another car to the list as the Chevrolet California Corvette concept has been revealed.
Naming a Corvette after the Golden State may be fraught with issues these days considering California’s propensity for draconian automotive rules, but the 31st state of the union has been a cultural trend-setter for decades. “Southern California has been at the heart of automotive and design culture for a century, and GM has had a deep design presence here for nearly 40 years. We wanted to ensure that this concept was developed through that SoCal lens, but with a global and futuristic outlook. Duality of purpose is the basis of this concept’s design strategy,” says Brian Smith, design director of GM Advanced Design Pasadena. As such, let’s not get too hot ‘n bothered.
“Our Advanced Design teams are dedicated to shaping the future, driving innovation, and exploring what’s possible,” adds Bryan Nesbitt, vice president of global design. “The California Corvette concept is another example of forward-thinking design. We invited multiple GM studios to envision Corvette-inspired hypercars—the first of which was revealed by our UK studio in March. The California team has now delivered a complementary study that honors Corvette’s legendary performance, while infusing it with their own distinctive vision.”
This hypercar blends “racing-simulator inspiration” with the Corvette cues that you love to love. The proportions are classic Corvette, while the single-piece front-hinged canopy “enables the entire upper shell to be removed, transforming the concept from an agile, slick sports car to a lightweight, open-air track car,” says Smith.
Inside, the California Corvette embraces a minimalist aesthetic—somewhat the antithesis of California’s MO, come to think of it—with performance-focused displays that include an augmented-reality HUD.
Here’s the lowdown on the California Corvette:
Body Structure
- Tunneled underbody with lightweight carbon tub
- Active aero spoiler and air brake
- Large, staggered wheels—21-inch front wheels and 22-inch rear wheels
- Assumed T-shape prismatic battery pack—enabling low seating and better airflow around and through the chassis
Dimensions
- 86 inches (2,184mm) width/182.5 inches (4,669mm) length
- 109 inches (2,767mm) wheelbase