Rumor Mill: Corvette EV SUV
By Edward A. Sanchez – Jan. 15, 2021
Since General Motors’ CES 2021 presentation and accompanying video, the automotive interwebs have been lit up about the possibility of a Corvette-branded performance SUV, most likely also an EV. The keyboard jockeys point to the silhouette of a sporty-shaped SUV in the background of GM’s supposed future lineup of Ultium-platform vehicles.
First off, I want to get past the nostalgic outrage among some automotive journalists that GM could “cheapen” the Corvette brand by even fathoming the prospect that such a vehicle could be suggested or built. Please – we’re way past that point, people. There’s almost no performance brand on the planet that doesn’t have, or have an SUV planned. The entire automotive industry is in a Hunger Games mode right now fighting for survival in the face of pressing global emissions and CO2 regulations, and a fight for consumer recognition among a sea of legacy and upstart brands and models. Anything and everything is on the table. Heck, we even have the prospect of a Cadillac air taxi. The idea of a Corvette SUV, even a fully electric one, is not all that far-fetched in that context.
Now that we’ve got the false outrage out of the way, let’s unpack this a bit more. Is the SUV lurking in the background of GM’s video truly a Corvette EV SUV? Maybe, maybe not. Tipping the scale in its favor is a nose and light signature that bears a strong resemblance to the current C8 Corvette. Going against it is a relatively tall glass greenhouse. The greenhouse and windshield rake suggests a more mainstream model along the lines of the Chevy Blazer. The models in the video are likely either CGI or fiberglass or SMC styling bucks anyway, so nothing is definitive.
Could we be looking at the early workings of the next Corvette – an SUV?
The beauty of the Ultium platform is it can be scaled to almost any need, from quotidian to exotic, so there’s no reason there couldn’t be both a mainstream, moderately powerful 300-400 hp e-Blazer, or up to an 800-1,000 hp Corvette crossover SUV. There would likely be a market for both.
The success of the Mustang Mach-E is still an unknown factor. Certainly, it’s received its fair share of publicity, and now first drive reviews (with hopefully one of our own soon). Most reviews give the Mach-E high marks for its styling, overall functionality, and packaging. There’s a high probability that in time, the Mach-E could out-sell the conventional two-door, ICE-powered Mustang. But that is purely speculative at this point.
I say to Barra, Reuss, et al: build an electric ‘Vette SUV. What the heck. Porsche crossed that Rubicon nearly 20 years ago and has been richly rewarded for it. Most luxury or performance brands that have launched an SUV have seen it go on to become the best-selling model of the brand. An SUV is no longer an automatic recipe for a gas-guzzling, blasé, crude implement. Those seeking a more “traditional” SUV flavor still have the Wrangler, Tahoe, Suburban, Grand Cherokee, soon-to-be Grand Wagoneer, and Bronco. In a decade, likely all of them will be partially or fully electrified anyway. Putting a sleek, high-performance top hat on one will become a lot easier in the years ahead by simply adding more battery packs and a third or fourth motor. Love it or hate it, that’s one of the beautiful things enabled by electrification: Quick development of interesting, high-performance variations without having to start completely from scratch. I say bring it!
(Images courtesy GM)
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