Dream Cars: Chevrolet Corvette Mako

Bill Crittenden
October 6, 2014

In Europe and some smaller markets, Corvettes are sold as their own marque, separate from the rest of Chevrolet.

Having seen Corvette established itself as a marque as well as a model, and having seen the success of the Porsche Cayenne (once it established some sort of racing record), I think Chevrolet could sell Corvettes as a separate marque with two models: the sports car Stingray and a small SUV that would let Corvette drivers stay in a 'Vette all through the winter months up north.

As the ray is a class of cartilaginous fish related to sharks, I'd be a fan of using the once-used-on-a-Corvette-before Mako name on such a vehicle.

So what would the Corvette Mako be? At least in my mind it shouldn't be a jacked-up off road SUV but a crossover with just enough ground clearance to drive it on a moderately snowy day. Think of the size and long & low profile of the Mazda CX-7 crossover. But with 455 horsepower!

It should resemble the Corvette in style but perhaps be extended to a 2+2 layout, with small reverse-opening back doors used for the back seat to keep the overall coupé shape. It shouldn't be a full wagon back, but a 1963-style bulging rear shape would at least give it enough space to haul a few days' worth of groceries.

Of course, where Porsche had to reinvent themselves and create a new engine to fit an SUV into their lineup, the Corvette V8 is plenty powerful enough to muscle a small crossover to seriously respectable 0-60 times. Making the vehicle and its ability to launch even better would be my one major modification to the drivetrain: all wheel drive.

Aside from the obvious high-performance all weather or snow tires, the rest would be pulled from the Corvette Stingray or modeled as closely to possible to match the coupé in appearance, right down to instruments, seats, wheels, available colors, and that all-important exhaust note.