A GM Interview May Have Accidentally Revealed the Next Corvette
The ninth-generation Chevrolet Corvette, known internally as the C9, may have just made its unofficial debut in the most unlikely of settings: an NBC news interview at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.
Footage from the tour, which included an interview with GM CEO Mary Barra, showed computer screens in the background displaying what appears to be coupe designs featuring the Corvette's distinctive forward-leaning nose. A full-size clay model of a two-door sports car was also visible in the facility.
These kinds of background glimpses in media footage are rare but not unheard of. The difference here is the setting: this is where the Chevrolet Corvette is designed and developed. The odds of unrelated sports car models appearing on designers' screens at that facility are low.
The CX and CX.R Concepts: The Design DNA
Central to understanding what a C9 might look like is the connection to two Corvette concepts shown at the 2025 Monterey Car Week. These were the Corvette CX and the CX.R, both of which debuted as vehicles created for Sony's Gran Turismo 7 PlayStation game before being revealed as concept cars.
Both concepts are visible in the NBC footage, appearing on the computer screens in the Corvette design studio and among clay models at the technical centre. Chevrolet executive design director Phil Zak left no room for ambiguity when the concepts were unveiled.
"Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward," Zak said.
That is an unusually direct statement from an automotive executive. The CX and CX.R are not one-off design experiments but a deliberate statement of where the Corvette's look is heading. The Inferno Red interior of the CX appears largely unchanged in the NBC footage, suggesting its cockpit design may carry forward relatively intact.
What the CX and CX.R Actually Are
The Corvette CX is an all-electric concept featuring four in-wheel motors and a 90kWh lithium-ion battery producing more than 1491kW of power. It accesses its cabin via a lift-up canopy, a design feature that would be extraordinary on a production car but demonstrates the kind of boundary-pushing Chevrolet is willing to contemplate.
The CX.R takes a different approach: a 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 capable of revving to 15,000rpm, paired with three electric motors, producing a combined 1491kW. These are hypercar performance numbers that will not translate directly to a production C9, but they establish the technological ambition behind the project.
Neither powertrain has been confirmed for the production C9. GM Authority has reported the C9 is due to enter production in 2029, which gives GM time to make its final powertrain decisions while the concepts serve their purpose of establishing design direction.
The New LS6 V8: A C8 Development That Previews the C9 Era
While the C9 remains a 2029 story, GM is already introducing a new engine that will define the Corvette's V8 era going forward. The new 6.7-litre LS6 V8 replaces the 6.2-litre LT2 in the entry-level C8 Stingray, debuting in the C8 Grand Sport ahead of its expected broader rollout.
The LS6 produces 393kW and 705Nm, compared to the Stingray's 369kW and 637Nm from the LT2. That 24kW and 68Nm gain may not sound dramatic on paper, but the larger displacement changes the character of the engine, with more torque available at lower revs. This is the direction American performance cars have traditionally taken, and the LS6 represents a return to that principle.
Production of the LS6-equipped C8 Grand Sport is due to begin in mid-2026. It will also be paired with the Grand Sport X, which replaces the hybrid-powered Corvette E-Ray.
Australia: What's Confirmed and What Isn't
The C8 Grand Sport with the new LS6 V8 has not been confirmed for Australian showrooms. Similarly, the Grand Sport X has not been announced locally. That leaves Australian buyers with the current C8 Stingray lineup and the E-Ray, which is available here.
GM Specialty Vehicles handles Corvette sales in Australia, and the brand has shown a consistent pattern of bringing most major Corvette variants to the local market. Whether the Grand Sport arrives before the C9 generation becomes relevant is uncertain, but the LS6's existence as an engine option is a positive sign for buyers wanting a larger-displacement naturally aspirated V8 in a sports car.
The Chevrolet Corvette in Australia starts at a price that undercuts comparable European sports cars significantly. That value proposition has been a consistent part of Corvette's appeal in the local market, and buyers hoping the C9 maintains that positioning will need to wait and see how GM prices the next generation.
Personnel Changes at Corvette: Why It Matters
The C9 will be the first Corvette developed without the involvement of Tadge Juechter, who served as the car's chief engineer for 18 years before leaving in 2024. Former Cadillac Celestiq chief engineer Tony Roma has taken over the role.
There were also changes to the marketing team, with Harlan Charles departing after 24 years as product marketing manager early in 2025. These personnel shifts are worth noting because they represent a significant break with the institutional knowledge that shaped the C7 and C8 generations.
The C8 mid-engine switch was Juechter's defining contribution, fundamentally repositioning the Corvette as a competitor to Ferrari and McLaren rather than just a domestic American muscle car. Whether Roma will take the C9 in a similarly bold direction, or consolidate what the C8 achieved, is one of the more interesting questions in performance car development.
What Buyers Should Watch For
If the C9 enters production in 2029, expect a global reveal in late 2027 or 2028. Australian buyers who are currently considering a Corvette have a clear decision window: the C8 is a mature, well-developed product at compelling pricing, and the C8 Grand Sport may still arrive locally. The C9, if it arrives with the design DNA of the CX and CX.R concepts, will be a dramatically different-looking car.
Carseekers will track the C9's development as GM makes further official disclosures. For buyers ready to act now rather than wait for the next generation, the current Corvette remains one of the most compelling performance car propositions in the Australian market.
Considering finance for your next car? Loanseekers can help you explore car loan options.
The finer details
Your questions answered.
When is the Chevrolet Corvette C9 coming out?
According to reports from GM Authority, the C9 Corvette is due to enter production in 2029. An official reveal is expected a year or two before that, likely in 2027 or 2028. No Australian launch details have been announced.
What will the Chevrolet Corvette C9 look like?
Based on footage from a GM design facility and Chevrolet's own statements, the C9's design is expected to draw heavily from the Corvette CX and CX.R concepts shown at the 2025 Monterey Car Week. Chevrolet's design director confirmed these concepts 'defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward.'
Is the Corvette C8 Grand Sport coming to Australia?
The C8 Grand Sport featuring the new 6.7-litre LS6 V8 has not been confirmed for Australia. GM Specialty Vehicles handles Corvette imports locally and has generally brought major variants to market, but no official announcement has been made for the Grand Sport or the hybrid Grand Sport X.
What is the new 6.7-litre LS6 V8 in the Corvette?
The LS6 is a new engine replacing the 6.2-litre LT2 V8 in the base Corvette Stingray. It produces 393kW and 705Nm, a gain of 24kW and 68Nm over the LT2. The larger displacement gives it more low-rev torque, and it debuts in the C8 Grand Sport with production starting in mid-2026.
Is the Chevrolet Corvette good value in Australia?
The Corvette C8 is widely regarded as one of the best value performance cars in Australia, offering mid-engine supercar dynamics at a price well below European competitors. It has won multiple awards including CarExpert Choice Best Luxury Sports Car for 2026. Pricing starts well below comparable offerings from Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren.
Will the Corvette C9 be electric?
The powertrain for the C9 has not been confirmed. The Corvette CX concept is electric and the CX.R uses a hybrid V8, suggesting GM is exploring both directions. The most likely outcome for production is a V8-primary lineup with an electrified option, mirroring the approach used for the C8. A pure-electric version is possible but not confirmed.
