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Exactly a year ago the rumors of a Corvette sedan got louder. Now, with Automotive News’ product analysis of upcoming GM vehicles through 2025, we see that 2025 is the target for an all-electric Corvette. That’s partially true. But the mid-engine C8 isn’t going to happen. What the electric Corvette will be is a four-door sedan, followed by a Corvette SUV.

It’s not like there isn’t a precedent for a high-performance sedan

Corvette EV sedan
Corvette EV sedan speculation | Thom

According to Muscle Cars and Trucks, GM is hatching this plan right now. Porsche has done this with the Taycan and Cayenne, and Ford has done it with the Mustang Mach-E. And BMW has been doing it for years, just not with electrification. 

The Corvette brand is the only sports car brand, besides Ferrari, that has stayed away from sedans. And even Ferrari has gone all in on SUVs with the Purosangue. The precedent has been set for a while, like it or not. Really, Corvette is the only untarnished brand in all of GM. Well, except for those built in the late-1970s. 

Accordingly, the Y2 architecture the C8 is built around is not conducive to electrification. So Chevy will hold off on a full-on Corvette EV until the debut of the C9. By then, the Corvette, as well as almost everything else, will be all-electric. 

A Corvette sedan is aimed at Porsche

An orange 2023 C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe in front of a red Convertible on a racetrack
2023 C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe and Convertible | Chevrolet

So what this all means is that GM is poised to expand the Corvette brand, as has Porsche. In fact, according to MC&T, Porsche is the exact target our friends in Detroit are aiming at. So, what happened to the rumored Corvette SUV?

It is also in the pipeline but scheduled for a later debut. Supposedly, GM wants to give the recently debuted Chevy Blazer EV SS some shelf life before bumping up against it. Another reason is also about internal competition. With the Cadillac Celestiq, though in the $300,000 range, there shouldn’t be any cannibalization. 

Then, when the Corvette SUV does arrive, it can bridge the gap between the Blazer EV SS and Celestiq. We don’t know where that leaves Buick, but not being in this scenario makes this a much simpler arrangement for our purposes. 

Does this seem like bad news?

1963 Corvette
1963 split-window Corvette | Getty

For some, this is bad news for the storied Corvette brand. But while the derision was palpable when Porsche revealed its plans for the Panamera sedan, it has helped the brand expand and stay relevant. Oh, and it also dumped boatloads of profit and added value onto the company. 

Some speculate that expanding the Corvette brand will see a $12 billion profit for the General. And if it creates exciting products for enthusiasts, then it would seemingly be a win-win for everyone. This won’t happen overnight, to allow development, and also for it to sink into enthusiasts’ consciousness. And you know these won’t look and drive remotely like a Chevy sedan or Toyota RAV4. 

Let MotorBiscuit know what you think about this impending switch in Corvette’s plans, as we race into the all-electric abyss. 

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