General Motors has pulled the wraps off the second of three upcoming Corvette design studies, and this oneโs all about West Coast flair. Dubbed the California Corvette Concept, the sleek hypercar was developed at GMโs Advanced Design studio in Pasadena, blending iconic Corvette DNA with a futuristic SoCal twist.
Part of a global design challenge involving multiple GM studios, the California Corvette follows Marchโs UK-developed concept and continues GMโs mission to push the limits of performance design.
“Our Advanced Design teams are dedicated to shaping the future,” said Bryan Nesbitt, GMโs VP of Global Design. “This concept celebrates Corvetteโs performance heritage while boldly reimagining what comes next.”
This concept isnโt headed for productionโbut thatโs not the point. GMโs Pasadena team was given a clean slate and full creative freedom to rethink what a Corvette could be. The result? A wild, single-seat hypercar with a dramatic, front-hinged one-piece canopy that lifts to reveal a minimalist, driver-focused interior. The design allows the car to shift from sleek sports coupe to open-air track weapon in seconds.
“Southern California has been at the heart of automotive culture for over a century,” said Brian Smith, Design Director at GM Advanced Design Pasadena. “We approached this concept through that lensโwith global performance and futuristic design at its core.”
The California Corvette Concept rides on a tunneled carbon tub chassis and features large staggered wheelsโ21 inches up front, 22 in the rearโwith active aero, a rear air brake, and a prismatic T-shaped battery pack assumed to enable low seating and optimized airflow.
Key Dimensions:
Length: 182.5 in
Width: 86 in
Height: 41.4 in
Wheelbase: 109 in
Inside, itโs all about performance. Structural elements are fully integrated, and an augmented-reality HUD delivers essential data onlyโideal for high-speed runs on track or simulation-inspired driving experiences.
Pasadena Studio: GMโs West Coast Design Powerhouse
The California Corvette Concept was born at GMโs 148,000-square-foot Advanced Design campus in Pasadena. With about 130 creatives and engineers, the facility is fully equipped for advanced modeling, concept fabrication, and design innovationโand plays a key role in GMโs global network of studios, including Detroit, Shanghai, Seoul, and the UK.
While this concept wonโt see a dealership showroom, it offers a bold glimpse into the future of Corvette designโand confirms that GM is still willing to dream big.
