By Robert Tate, Award-Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images Courtesy of the General Motors Heritage Archives
Published 10.15.2025
A 2025 Chevrolet Corvette first generation concept (GM Heritage Archives)
The history of the Chevrolet Corvette goes back to 1953. For over 70 years, the Corvette sports car has always had a great history of producing some of General Motors’ best-looking automobile designs. From the original brainchild of GM’s first design chief Harley Earl to the development of the split window 1963 Stingray model by Bill Mitchell and later generations of the Corvette under Charles Jordan and Ed Welburn, General Motors has always had great-looking designs.
Another view of the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette first generation concept (GM Heritage Archives)
Today, the year is 2025, and the question is what the future Corvettes will look like. The Corvette has always had a special niche in the marketplace and an army of enthusiasts and fans all over the world. American culture has changed and is evolving rapidly.
The 2025 Chevy Corvette first generation concept (GM Heritage Archives)
The automotive designer, putting ideas to paper, uses his or her knowledge of materials to create his or her forms and their functions to look into the future of automobile styling. For example, the first Corvette concept for 2025 was designed by Leamington SPA in the UK. The second generation great-looking California Corvette concept introduced a hyper-futuristic design proposal, which has been universally admired.
The second generation Corvette concept (GM Heritage Archives)
The Corvette concepts are not just for show -- they have been designed to inspire the next generation Corvette automotive designs that will ultimately reach the market. The Corvette C10 concept is one of the best-looking Corvette models that I have seen from GM in a very long time – just exquisite to look at! The great-looking California Corvette, known as the C10 concept from GM design studios, is the second Corvette concept to be introduced this year.
Another view of the second generation Corvette concept (GM Heritage Archives)
GM recently opened a new, larger advanced design studio in Pasadena, California. The new GM advanced Design California Center is located on an eight-acre site and is a 150,000 square-foot building. This is a place where GM’s talented designers can take vehicles in an entirely new direction, a new expression and vision for future design concepts. The new center will also enable GM Design teams to quickly make design proposals from the drawing data information.
Another next generation Chevy Corvette rendering (GM Heritage Archives)
The new Corvette concept design was created by the Advanced Design California Studio in Pasadena. GM has said that the second-generation Corvette concept is what the new Corvette models will look like in the future. This new Corvette C10 concept is a lightweight two-tone sports car with an aerodynamic look and an electric powertrain. Production on this model is highly unlikely; however, it is a concept that represents the future look of Corvette.
A futuristic Chevy Corvette Stingray rendering digitally goes back in time with pop-ups and a front V8
In conclusion, the first Corvette, which came from the vision of the legendary Harley Earl during the 1950s, introduced a new styling milestone in GM history. As GM looks at the future of the Corvette, America’s only true sports car will continue to be admired by future generations of automotive enthusiasts.
Another Corvette design proposal (GM Heritage Archives)
Bibliography
Vaughn, Mark. “GM opens Advanced Design California studio - Expect Great Things.” Autoweek, July 26, 2024.
Miler, Caleb. “California Corvette concept is a Beacon for future Corvette Design.” Car and Driver, July 24, 2025.
Ludvigsen, Karl. “Corvette: America’s Star-Spangled Sports Car. The Complete History.” Princeton Publishing, 1973. Second Edition.