Zac Quinn 
The current generation of the Corvette is having a pretty exciting run, diving into the realm of a more affordable supercar and working its way into hypercar territory. But while this is an exciting time for the C8 Corvette, the C9 is approaching on the horizon. Little is known about the C9 Corvette at this time, but AutoForecast Solutions have detailed the first insights on the next-generation of America’s Sports Car.
C9 Corvette: Unconfirmed Details
According to the AFS forecast, production for the C8 Corvette will come to a close in June of 2028 at the GM Bowling Green Assembly plant, giving it an 8-year life cycle. From there, production for the C9 will begin in July and run until 2035 at Bowling Green, yielding a 7-year life cycle. The forecast predicts that the C9 Corvette would ride on an updated architecture of the C8 Corvette’s current Y2 platform, dubbed Y3.
Because of this, there’s little implication that a C9 Corvette would be an electric vehicle, according to the AFS forecast. GM has been unwavering in its intentions for a zero-tailpipe-emission future, aiming to go fully electric by 2035.
At any rate, the C9 Corvette is arriving after a Corvette electric sedan and Corvette electric SUV enter the market. The sedan, according to AFS, is based on the new GM BEV Prime architecture, and carries the internal designation V284. The forecast does not mention the Corvette electric SUV, but we still understand it to be on the way as GM looks to unlock stored value in the brand’s cachet.
Because of these vehicles, GM may be able to push forward with another-generation of a Corvette coupe with a combustion engine, whether CARB states like California, Oregon and New York align with that decision or not. Hey, it worked for the Ford Mustang and the Mach-E.
There is potential for the C9 Corvette to feature an internal combustion powertrain rather than being fully electric, as General Motors has been investing in building new engines. That and recent advancements in hydrogen combustion tech have also been a positive development for an alternative to BEVs. By the time 2028 rolls around, we could be seeing a significant shift in the automotive market from electric vehicles to that of hydrogen ones, which for the most part, use the same components as standard ICE engines, and thus are cheaper to build than BEVs.
