THE WORST-KEPT SECRET SINCE THE MID-ENGINE VETTE
General Motors designed its Alpha platform to underpin the best driving machines around. To date, the only model of the five built on it not to make our 10Best list at least once is the Cadillac ATS.
After decades of epic sports-car battles between Chevrolet Corvettes and Porsche 911s, Chevy is queuing up a new rivalry against Stuttgart's highest-performing SUVS. Rather than expend resources to designate a new lineup of high-test sport-utility vehicles, Chevrolet will call its sub-brand a name synonymous with performance: Corvette.
It's shocking General Motors took this long to add a true performance SUV to one of its model lines. After all, Porsche's high-roof five-seaters the Macan and Cayenne-continue to be its bestsellers year after year. Their high-profit margins fund insanity such as the 718 GT4 RS and the 911 GT3 RS.
Remove any previous expectations that the Corvette SUV will be electrified, at least not at first. The SUV will be built on the celebrated Alpha platform that underpins the Camaro and the spectacular Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwings. The platform alone suggests the Corvette SUV will be both entertaining to drive and potentially sold in two sizes. Again, think Macan and Cayenne.
The Alpha platform allows access to GM's vast powertrain catalog. If Chevy builds a Macan competitor, we'd expect a 300-plus-hp turbo four to serve as the base engine and a twin-turbo V-6 with 400 or so horsepower at the top. To challenge the Cayenne, the larger SUV will get that twin-turbo V-6, while the nearly 500-hp 6.2-liter V-8 will belt out its American song in the higher trims. Expect the Vette SUV to come standard with all-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic across the board, with magnetorheological dampers an optional extra.
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