8 Corvette Concept and Future Car Speculations Over the Years

1. 1954 Nomad Concept

1953 saw the first production year for the new Corvette model, but GM engineers were already hard at work in an attempt to broaden the model lineup. Using the 1953 Corvette as a platform, Lead designer Carl Renner restyled the car into a two-door station wagon. While the front and rear of the car were distinctly Corvette, the wheelbase was stretched an additional 13 inches on the wagon.

A cool feature was that the exhaust was routed to allow each port to exit at the lower part of each rear quarter panel. The interior featured bench seating, and the rear seats could be folded flat to increase rear cargo storage. In general, the idea of the Nomad concept was to combine the performance and styling of a sports car with the usability and practicality of a station wagon.

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2. 1958 XP-700

The XP-700 Corvette concept was built on a 1958 Corvette platform. It is said that Bill Mitchell, the successor of Harley Earl, built this particular car for his personal use. The car incorporated many different body components to give it a completely different look than that of the first generation 'Vette. The rear deck area was heavily shaved to create a sharp, sloping angle. The car had side exit exhausts, an elongated front-end with smaller air intake openings, bubble canopy with a periscope-style rear view mirror, and flamethrower headlights. While it may seem like a pieced-together Corvette with some tacky styling cues, a number of its features were integrated into following Corvette year models.

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3. 1967 Astro-I

In modern times, many feel that concept cars are a culmination of advanced designs and futuristic technologies. Prior to 1967, it seemed as if many of the GM concept cars focused largely on visual design cues, but lacked special cutting-edge technology. That all changed with the Astro-I concept. Designed by Larry Shinoda, who was known for his design of the C2 Corvette Stingray, the Astro-I had no doors, but instead featured a mind-boggling roof and rear bonnet that would automatically pivot open (think Lamborghini Miura or Ford GT40) to allow entry into the car.

The electric-powered seats would extend upwards to collect occupants before lowering them down into a reclined seating position under the insanely low 35-inch roofline. While the concept was scrapped because it was deemed too advanced, it is clear that the swooping body lines would be incorporated on a number of European exotics in years to come.

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4. 1968 XP-880

After revenue began to pour in from Corvette sales, GM began looking to push the envelope on the performance side of things, and the natural thought process was to move to a mid-engined platform. Egged on by Zora Arkus-Duntov, the XP-880 was an evolution of the 1964 CERV II project that featured an all-wheel drive system. Traces of the '68 Corvette styling could be seen in the nose and rear fascia areas; however, a big 427 V8 paired with a Pontiac Tempest transaxle made for a completely different car. While top brass at GM claimed the car was a pieced-together "parts bin special," eventual Design Vice President Chuck Mitchell was quoted as saying that the XP-880 (aka Astro-II) was the closest concept to reach the quality appearance of a real production car.

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5. 1973 XP-882 Rotary

A car that could have greatly changed the direction of the Corvette was the 1973 XP-882 "Four-Rotor Wankel Car." Unlike many other early concepts that used either a Corvair or Corvette engine, the XP-882 was fitted with two of GM's experimental prototype 2-rotor Wankel engines paired together. While no official engine specifications are truly known, some reports claim the rotary engine produced an impressive 350 to 420 horsepower.

The chassis and styling side of things saw an evolution of the Astro I, II and III concepts, but integrated awe-inspiring gullwing doors. The car debuted in 1973 at the Paris Auto Salon. It is said that the fit and finish, as well as the tidy interior of the car, proved that it was in serious contention as the fourth generation Corvette production car, but as we all know, the front engine layout would continue to endure for at least another 40+ years.

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6. 1986 Corvette Indy

The Corvette Indy concept began as a simple clay modeling exercise but, once the project was green-lit, developed into a full-size, push-only concept car (engine-less mock-up) within six weeks. The Indy name was given to the car as a way of showcasing the 2.65 liter Ilmor/Chevrolet engine collaboration as found in Indy racing cars of the time.

The concept spec sheet was nothing short of amazing as the car would feature a 32-valve, twin-turbo V8 producing 600 horsepower, all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, active suspensions, traction control, and fly-by-wire throttle. Unfortunately, the car as spec'd never came to fruition, and only two road-going models were fitted with the LT5 engine as found in the C4 ZR1. While the car did not feature all of the futuristic technology, performance estimates of the lightweight super car put it at a max speed of approximately 180 MPH and sub-5-second quarter-mile times.

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7. 1990 CERV-III

The 1990 CERV-III was based on the Corvette Indy concept, but was a much more complete and functional car compared to its predecessor. At first glance, the Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle III looks strikingly similar to Jaguar's 1992-1994 XJ-220 super car, but the two cars are incredibly different. The CERV-III was oozing with state-of-the-art technology including a carbon-kevlar body that was reinforced with aluminum honeycomb, a dual disc brake setup that showcased two brake rotors at each corner, two 3-speed computer controlled transmissions for a total of six gears, and a viscous coupler for the all-wheel drive system.

The engine was a 5.7 liter V8 with twin turbochargers that produced a whopping 650 horsepower. With a drag coefficient of .277 and loads of power on tap, it was estimated that the CERV could hit 225 MPH! Best of all, this was a fully functional concept that was able to run and drive. That said, all this great technology would have led to astronomical pricing, so the car never did make it further than the prototype stage.

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8. 2019 Mid-Engine Corvette C8?

For the last decade, there have been rumors of a mid-engined Corvette finally being produced. Many expected to see the super car built alongside the C7 platform and be branded with the ZR1 name, but nearly four years into the C7 generation Corvette production run, enthusiasts are still left wanting. With that in mind, spy shots have revealed a number of mid-engine cars, believed to be the C8 Corvette, out testing in public.

Rumor has it that GM plans to debut the new car at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show and begin selling them in 2019. While details are scarce at the moment, the car looks to have a short nose with a longer sloping rear section housing the engine as traditionally found on mid-engined cars. Estimates put entry level pricing at $80,000 which would seem like a steal next to the Audi R8 or Lamborghini Huracan. Could the long-awaited mid-engine Corvette be here at last?

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