2026 KGM Musso price and specs: Reshuffled range for ex-SsangYong ute
The base price of the dual-cab 4×4 ute range has climbed by $2500 to $42,500 drive-away, while flagship Ultimate variants are now $5500 pricier than before.
However, the Ultimate now includes all of the features of the previous Luxury Pack as standard, so it's a $2500 increase as well if comparing like for like. The Ultimate also gains LED headlights.
Stepping down a rung, the mid-range Adventure has been renamed Advance and gets a darker look, with a black grille, black 18-inch alloy wheels, and rear privacy glass.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal.
Above: Musso Advance
The Musso gains electrically assisted power steering, enabling lane-keep assist. However, this isn't available on XLV grades, which stick with a hydraulic power steering setup and therefore only have lane departure warning.
No Australian-market Musso has adaptive cruise control, even though this has been offered in Korea for some time and has now been added to the related Rexton large SUV locally.
The base ELX gains the HID headlights that were previously exclusive to the Ultimate, but again there's a difference with the extended XLV variant which sticks with projector halogen units.
Safety equipment from the Ultimate has filtered down to the Advance. This includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and safe exit warning.
The Advance also gains dual-zone climate control and a heated steering wheel.
Pricing
The following pricing is for private buyers.
Drivetrains and Efficiency
The Musso comes standard with a part-time four-wheel drive system with selectable 4H and 4L modes and an automatically locking rear differential.
All Mussos have multi-link coil-spring rear suspension, bar the ELX XLV which uses leaf springs.
Payload varies. It's 790kg in regular-length Mussos, 1010kg in the ELX XLV, and 880kg in the Advance XLV.
Dimensions
Servicing and Warranty
The KGM Musso is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and five years of roadside assistance.
Above: Musso Ultimate
Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
KGM Australia hasn't announced service pricing changes for 2026. Current service prices are as follows:
Safety
The KGM Musso has never been tested by ANCAP.
Standard safety equipment across the range includes:
Autonomous emergency braking
Lane departure warning
Lane-keep assist (NEW, excludes XLV variants)
Reversing camera
Front and rear parking sensors
6 airbags
The Advance adds:
Blind-spot monitoring (NEW)
Rear cross-traffic alert (NEW)
Safe exit warning (NEW)
Tyre pressure monitoring
The Ultimate also features a surround-view camera.
Standard Equipment
There are three trim levels in the 2026 Musso lineup, each available in either regular-length or extended XLV guise.
Above: 2024 Musso Adventure pictured
The base ELX comes standard with the following equipment:
17-inch alloy wheels
HID headlights (NEW, projector halogen on XLV)
LED daytime running lights
Front fog lights
Silver roof rails (NEW)
Cruise control
Hill descent control
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Cloth upholstery
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
The Advance adds:
18-inch black alloy wheels (NEW)
Black grille (NEW)
HID headlights (NEW)
LED front fog lights
Rear privacy glass (NEW)
Black roof rails
Leatherette upholstery
Heated and ventilated front seats
Heated steering wheel (NEW)
Dual-zone climate control (NEW)
The Ultimate adds:
LED headlights with sequential indicators (NEW)
Power sunroof (NEW)
'Special design' front bumper and grille (NEW)
Proximity entry with walk-away auto door locking
Black interior highlights (NEW)
8-way power-adjustable front seats (NEW)
Heated outboard rear seats (NEW)
Colours
All Mussos have a black interior.
Grand White exterior paint is standard, with the following metallic finishes costing an extra $700:
White Pearl (not available on Ultimate)
Space Black
Marble Grey
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
20 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Four new Mahindra concepts preview safer, smarter future SUVs
Mahindra has revealed four new concept SUVs at a special event in New Delhi, India, and they could preview a new range of models to take on rivals from the Mazda CX-3 small SUV to the Toyota RAV4 mid-size SUV, while addressing a key issue for Australian buyers. The Global Vision 2027 event showcased the Mahindra Vision Series, which consists of four distinctively different small-to-medium SUVs: the Vision T, the Vision SXT and the smaller Vision X and the Vision S. Mahindra Australia hasn't confirmed whether the concepts, which are not officially confirmed for production, are earmarked for local showrooms – but it does want to expand its current three-SUV lineup as part of its goal to become a top-15 auto brand here by 2030. Crucially, Mahindra says all Vision Series vehicles have been engineered to achieve a maximum five-star safety rating in India, Europe and Australia. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: Vision T The lack of ANCAP safety ratings of any kind, let alone a five-star rating, for some of its models is an issue Mahindra Australia has previously said it will address for its local model range from 2026. Two of its current models on sale here have yet to be assessed by ANCAP, while the other received a zero-star rating. All four of the concepts are underpinned by a new 'NU_IQ' modular global platform, which the Indian automaker says has been engineered to offer both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, in both left-hand and right-hand drive forms. The platform is also capable of supporting internal combustion, hybrid and battery-electric powertrains, with Mahindra's president of automotive technology and product development, Velusamy Ramasamy, telling Autocar India that all four vehcles are on the table for potential showroom introduction. Above: Vision S Mahindra currently doesn't have a hybrid vehicle in its global lineup, but at the recent launch of its smallest SUV, the new XUV 3XO, Mahindra Australia said it's looking to add hybrid vehicles as well as its first EV, which is set for local showrooms by the end of 2027. However, it is yet to confirm details of which models these will be. The concepts could also bring the first software-defined vehicles (SDV) for the brand, with Mr Ramasamy saying more advanced software capability may come in the less cost-conscious larger models. 'It is a modular architecture, so the hardware is separate to the software,' he said. The four concepts share the same 2665mm wheelbase – longer than the XUV 3XO small SUV's (2600mm), but shorter than the XUV700 seven-seat mid-size SUV's (2750mm) – but range in overall length between 3995mm and 4320mm. That suggests a replacement or a companion for the XUV 3XO, which is just 3990mm long to avoid higher taxes in India for vehicles over four metres long. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: Vision X The key change enabled by the platform is a shorter overhang at each end of the vehicles – which is now between 745mm and 850mm at the front and 590mm and 805mm at the rear – which, according to Mahindra, will allow it to achieve a (yet to be tested) independent five-star safety rating in Global NCAP, Euro NCAP, and ANCAP testing. There was no confirmation of powertrains across the quartet, but the new platform will have a stronger structure than that of existing Mahindra models, and will support lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. It will also employ advanced 'Davinci' dampers and multi-link independent rear suspension – which is more advanced than the torsion-beam rear-end arrangement of the XUV 3XO – while still offering cargo space of 644 litres, measured from the boot floor to the roof with the second-row seats in place. Like the exterior designs, which show distinctly different approaches to the five-door SUV genre – and a focus on both off-road customers and urban buyers – the interiors also bring significant variations, such as the portrait-oriented screen in the Vision T to the more horizontal design of the Vision X. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: Vision SXT 'What you're about to see today is the first step in towards to two distinct paradigm changes. One is a paradigm shift in design; and the other is a paradigm shift in technology,' said Mahindra Group CEO and managing director, Anish Shah, at the New Delhi event. Mahindra's automotive business has been in transition since 2021, when it moved from offering a somewhat agricultural product line as part of its goal to become a mainstream auto brand. In Australia, it will introduce a new model every year as it looks to grow its local lineup, which currently comprises three SUVs and a ute but will be renewed via a next-generation Pik-Up ute and expanded via new models including the next-generation Thar large SUV. MORE: Explore the Mahindra showroom MORE: Mahindra studying its first hybrid models
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Honda Civic Type R is more expensive, but now comes in a pretty blue
The Honda Civic Type R has copped a price increase of close to $5000, but is unchanged apart from a new colour and a new option. Now priced at $79,000 drive-away, an increase of $4900, the Civic Type R is available from tomorrow. Honda hasn't confirmed how many vehicles are in the 2025 production run for Australia, but it has said it's prioritising customers who registered their interest online. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. A bold new Racing Blue finish joins the colour palette, alongside carryover Championship White, Crystal Black and Sonic Grey. There's also an optional carbon-fibre spoiler priced at $5300. There are no other specification changes for this 2025 production run. That means the Civic Type R continues to use a high-revving, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed manual transmission with rev matching. Like other Hondas, the Civic Type R is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of capped-price servicing. Each visit is priced at just $199. Standard equipment on the Civic Type R includes: The steeper price tag means the Civic Type R is more expensive than a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990 before on-road costs) and the Volkswagen Golf R ($70,990 before on-roads). The Civic Type R isn't exactly a vehicle you'll find a lot of sitting around at Honda dealerships. It has traditionally come here in limited allocations, and as recently as early 2023 it was sold out for 20 months. Honda opened orders for the current generation on December 1, 2022, with the first customer deliveries in Australia taking place early in 2023. MORE: Explore the Honda Civic showroom Content originally sourced from: The Honda Civic Type R has copped a price increase of close to $5000, but is unchanged apart from a new colour and a new option. Now priced at $79,000 drive-away, an increase of $4900, the Civic Type R is available from tomorrow. Honda hasn't confirmed how many vehicles are in the 2025 production run for Australia, but it has said it's prioritising customers who registered their interest online. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. A bold new Racing Blue finish joins the colour palette, alongside carryover Championship White, Crystal Black and Sonic Grey. There's also an optional carbon-fibre spoiler priced at $5300. There are no other specification changes for this 2025 production run. That means the Civic Type R continues to use a high-revving, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed manual transmission with rev matching. Like other Hondas, the Civic Type R is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of capped-price servicing. Each visit is priced at just $199. Standard equipment on the Civic Type R includes: The steeper price tag means the Civic Type R is more expensive than a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990 before on-road costs) and the Volkswagen Golf R ($70,990 before on-roads). The Civic Type R isn't exactly a vehicle you'll find a lot of sitting around at Honda dealerships. It has traditionally come here in limited allocations, and as recently as early 2023 it was sold out for 20 months. Honda opened orders for the current generation on December 1, 2022, with the first customer deliveries in Australia taking place early in 2023. MORE: Explore the Honda Civic showroom Content originally sourced from: The Honda Civic Type R has copped a price increase of close to $5000, but is unchanged apart from a new colour and a new option. Now priced at $79,000 drive-away, an increase of $4900, the Civic Type R is available from tomorrow. Honda hasn't confirmed how many vehicles are in the 2025 production run for Australia, but it has said it's prioritising customers who registered their interest online. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. A bold new Racing Blue finish joins the colour palette, alongside carryover Championship White, Crystal Black and Sonic Grey. There's also an optional carbon-fibre spoiler priced at $5300. There are no other specification changes for this 2025 production run. That means the Civic Type R continues to use a high-revving, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed manual transmission with rev matching. Like other Hondas, the Civic Type R is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of capped-price servicing. Each visit is priced at just $199. Standard equipment on the Civic Type R includes: The steeper price tag means the Civic Type R is more expensive than a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990 before on-road costs) and the Volkswagen Golf R ($70,990 before on-roads). The Civic Type R isn't exactly a vehicle you'll find a lot of sitting around at Honda dealerships. It has traditionally come here in limited allocations, and as recently as early 2023 it was sold out for 20 months. Honda opened orders for the current generation on December 1, 2022, with the first customer deliveries in Australia taking place early in 2023. MORE: Explore the Honda Civic showroom Content originally sourced from: The Honda Civic Type R has copped a price increase of close to $5000, but is unchanged apart from a new colour and a new option. Now priced at $79,000 drive-away, an increase of $4900, the Civic Type R is available from tomorrow. Honda hasn't confirmed how many vehicles are in the 2025 production run for Australia, but it has said it's prioritising customers who registered their interest online. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. A bold new Racing Blue finish joins the colour palette, alongside carryover Championship White, Crystal Black and Sonic Grey. There's also an optional carbon-fibre spoiler priced at $5300. There are no other specification changes for this 2025 production run. That means the Civic Type R continues to use a high-revving, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed manual transmission with rev matching. Like other Hondas, the Civic Type R is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of capped-price servicing. Each visit is priced at just $199. Standard equipment on the Civic Type R includes: The steeper price tag means the Civic Type R is more expensive than a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990 before on-road costs) and the Volkswagen Golf R ($70,990 before on-roads). The Civic Type R isn't exactly a vehicle you'll find a lot of sitting around at Honda dealerships. It has traditionally come here in limited allocations, and as recently as early 2023 it was sold out for 20 months. Honda opened orders for the current generation on December 1, 2022, with the first customer deliveries in Australia taking place early in 2023. MORE: Explore the Honda Civic showroom Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Chevrolet Corvette EV, V8 concepts present two very different visions of the future
The only way you'll be able to drive the Chevrolet Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo supercars is by popping on Gran Turismo 7 on your gaming console, but that doesn't mean these two concepts are complete flights of fancy. The two show cars debuted in the metal – not in pixels – at The Quail exhibition in California, as part of Monterey Car Week. Chevrolet says its Corvette design team worked with Chevrolet performance engineers to create detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain and aerodynamic features of both concepts so they can be raced digitally. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "While not intended for production, the pair will serve as inspiration to inform Corvette design language for years to come," said Chevrolet in its press release. The CX is an all-wheel drive electric supercar. There's an electric motor for each wheel, with four-wheel torque vectoring providing maximum grip. A 90kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the chassis for a low centre of gravity and "ideal" front-rear weight distribution. Total system output is over 2000 horsepower (1491kW). The racier CX.R VGT produces bang on 2000 horsepower, but it does so in a very different way. There are three electric motors, not four, with one for each front wheel and a third incorporated into the eight-speed gearbox. At the heart of the CX.R VGT, however – or at least quite literally nearby – is a high-revving V8 engine running on renewable e-fuel. It's a little V8, too: a 2.0-litre with twin turbochargers, outputting up to 671kW of power and revving to 15,000rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The CX.R VGT is intended as an imagination of the future for Corvette GT racing, and is finished in a yellow and black colour scheme like Corvette GT race cars of the past 25 years. It also features more prominent active aero features and a lower ride height than the CX concept, while inside there's raw carbon-fibre weave used for the dashboard and more aggressive seats with suede-wrapped foam inserts. Not that the CX concept is a wallflower, with a dramatic opening canopy inspired by fighter jets. Once opened, there's a bright Inferno Red interior with silicone leather, milled aluminium and low-gloss forged carbon-fibre trim used throughout. Outside, there's an active front diffuser and rear wing, along with other elements intended to aid aerodynamics. The Vacuum Fan System uses built-in fans to draw air through the open-channel bodywork to generate "massive" downforce, while the suspension A-arms are wing-shaped to aid airflow and reduce front-end lift. Chevrolet says the CX was shaped in collaboration with the GM Motorsports Aero Group, and despite the various wild design elements, it was designed to be identifiably a Corvette. That includes the "forward-lunging nose", sleek silhouette, dual-element tail lights, and pronounced horizontal crease that have come to be expected of Corvettes. "While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet," said Chevrolet executive design director Phil Zak. "The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward." Chevrolet has been busily showing off an array of Corvettes created by its various design centres, two of which have been electric vehicles (EVs). However, General Motors says it won't build a production electric Chevrolet Corvette "just to do it", with GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma pouring cold water on the prospect of an electric version of the iconic sports car in the short term. "We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction," Mr Roma told Autocar. "And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. "When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. "And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose." In addition to being the first generation of Corvette with a mid-engine layout and available all-wheel drive, the current C8 was the first to include electrification. The E-Ray and ZR1X both feature a front-mounted electric motor. Click an image to view the full gallery. MORE: Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV MORE: Chevrolet Corvette EV? Battery-powered concept could become new supercar MORE: Second Corvette EV concept debuts, but won't go into production MORE: Explore the Chevrolet Corvette showroom Content originally sourced from: The only way you'll be able to drive the Chevrolet Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo supercars is by popping on Gran Turismo 7 on your gaming console, but that doesn't mean these two concepts are complete flights of fancy. The two show cars debuted in the metal – not in pixels – at The Quail exhibition in California, as part of Monterey Car Week. Chevrolet says its Corvette design team worked with Chevrolet performance engineers to create detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain and aerodynamic features of both concepts so they can be raced digitally. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "While not intended for production, the pair will serve as inspiration to inform Corvette design language for years to come," said Chevrolet in its press release. The CX is an all-wheel drive electric supercar. There's an electric motor for each wheel, with four-wheel torque vectoring providing maximum grip. A 90kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the chassis for a low centre of gravity and "ideal" front-rear weight distribution. Total system output is over 2000 horsepower (1491kW). The racier CX.R VGT produces bang on 2000 horsepower, but it does so in a very different way. There are three electric motors, not four, with one for each front wheel and a third incorporated into the eight-speed gearbox. At the heart of the CX.R VGT, however – or at least quite literally nearby – is a high-revving V8 engine running on renewable e-fuel. It's a little V8, too: a 2.0-litre with twin turbochargers, outputting up to 671kW of power and revving to 15,000rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The CX.R VGT is intended as an imagination of the future for Corvette GT racing, and is finished in a yellow and black colour scheme like Corvette GT race cars of the past 25 years. It also features more prominent active aero features and a lower ride height than the CX concept, while inside there's raw carbon-fibre weave used for the dashboard and more aggressive seats with suede-wrapped foam inserts. Not that the CX concept is a wallflower, with a dramatic opening canopy inspired by fighter jets. Once opened, there's a bright Inferno Red interior with silicone leather, milled aluminium and low-gloss forged carbon-fibre trim used throughout. Outside, there's an active front diffuser and rear wing, along with other elements intended to aid aerodynamics. The Vacuum Fan System uses built-in fans to draw air through the open-channel bodywork to generate "massive" downforce, while the suspension A-arms are wing-shaped to aid airflow and reduce front-end lift. Chevrolet says the CX was shaped in collaboration with the GM Motorsports Aero Group, and despite the various wild design elements, it was designed to be identifiably a Corvette. That includes the "forward-lunging nose", sleek silhouette, dual-element tail lights, and pronounced horizontal crease that have come to be expected of Corvettes. "While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet," said Chevrolet executive design director Phil Zak. "The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward." Chevrolet has been busily showing off an array of Corvettes created by its various design centres, two of which have been electric vehicles (EVs). However, General Motors says it won't build a production electric Chevrolet Corvette "just to do it", with GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma pouring cold water on the prospect of an electric version of the iconic sports car in the short term. "We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction," Mr Roma told Autocar. "And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. "When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. "And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose." In addition to being the first generation of Corvette with a mid-engine layout and available all-wheel drive, the current C8 was the first to include electrification. The E-Ray and ZR1X both feature a front-mounted electric motor. Click an image to view the full gallery. MORE: Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV MORE: Chevrolet Corvette EV? Battery-powered concept could become new supercar MORE: Second Corvette EV concept debuts, but won't go into production MORE: Explore the Chevrolet Corvette showroom Content originally sourced from: The only way you'll be able to drive the Chevrolet Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo supercars is by popping on Gran Turismo 7 on your gaming console, but that doesn't mean these two concepts are complete flights of fancy. The two show cars debuted in the metal – not in pixels – at The Quail exhibition in California, as part of Monterey Car Week. Chevrolet says its Corvette design team worked with Chevrolet performance engineers to create detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain and aerodynamic features of both concepts so they can be raced digitally. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "While not intended for production, the pair will serve as inspiration to inform Corvette design language for years to come," said Chevrolet in its press release. The CX is an all-wheel drive electric supercar. There's an electric motor for each wheel, with four-wheel torque vectoring providing maximum grip. A 90kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the chassis for a low centre of gravity and "ideal" front-rear weight distribution. Total system output is over 2000 horsepower (1491kW). The racier CX.R VGT produces bang on 2000 horsepower, but it does so in a very different way. There are three electric motors, not four, with one for each front wheel and a third incorporated into the eight-speed gearbox. At the heart of the CX.R VGT, however – or at least quite literally nearby – is a high-revving V8 engine running on renewable e-fuel. It's a little V8, too: a 2.0-litre with twin turbochargers, outputting up to 671kW of power and revving to 15,000rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The CX.R VGT is intended as an imagination of the future for Corvette GT racing, and is finished in a yellow and black colour scheme like Corvette GT race cars of the past 25 years. It also features more prominent active aero features and a lower ride height than the CX concept, while inside there's raw carbon-fibre weave used for the dashboard and more aggressive seats with suede-wrapped foam inserts. Not that the CX concept is a wallflower, with a dramatic opening canopy inspired by fighter jets. Once opened, there's a bright Inferno Red interior with silicone leather, milled aluminium and low-gloss forged carbon-fibre trim used throughout. Outside, there's an active front diffuser and rear wing, along with other elements intended to aid aerodynamics. The Vacuum Fan System uses built-in fans to draw air through the open-channel bodywork to generate "massive" downforce, while the suspension A-arms are wing-shaped to aid airflow and reduce front-end lift. Chevrolet says the CX was shaped in collaboration with the GM Motorsports Aero Group, and despite the various wild design elements, it was designed to be identifiably a Corvette. That includes the "forward-lunging nose", sleek silhouette, dual-element tail lights, and pronounced horizontal crease that have come to be expected of Corvettes. "While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet," said Chevrolet executive design director Phil Zak. "The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward." Chevrolet has been busily showing off an array of Corvettes created by its various design centres, two of which have been electric vehicles (EVs). However, General Motors says it won't build a production electric Chevrolet Corvette "just to do it", with GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma pouring cold water on the prospect of an electric version of the iconic sports car in the short term. "We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction," Mr Roma told Autocar. "And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. "When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. "And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose." In addition to being the first generation of Corvette with a mid-engine layout and available all-wheel drive, the current C8 was the first to include electrification. The E-Ray and ZR1X both feature a front-mounted electric motor. Click an image to view the full gallery. MORE: Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV MORE: Chevrolet Corvette EV? Battery-powered concept could become new supercar MORE: Second Corvette EV concept debuts, but won't go into production MORE: Explore the Chevrolet Corvette showroom Content originally sourced from: The only way you'll be able to drive the Chevrolet Corvette CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo supercars is by popping on Gran Turismo 7 on your gaming console, but that doesn't mean these two concepts are complete flights of fancy. The two show cars debuted in the metal – not in pixels – at The Quail exhibition in California, as part of Monterey Car Week. Chevrolet says its Corvette design team worked with Chevrolet performance engineers to create detailed blueprints for the chassis, drivetrain and aerodynamic features of both concepts so they can be raced digitally. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "While not intended for production, the pair will serve as inspiration to inform Corvette design language for years to come," said Chevrolet in its press release. The CX is an all-wheel drive electric supercar. There's an electric motor for each wheel, with four-wheel torque vectoring providing maximum grip. A 90kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the chassis for a low centre of gravity and "ideal" front-rear weight distribution. Total system output is over 2000 horsepower (1491kW). The racier CX.R VGT produces bang on 2000 horsepower, but it does so in a very different way. There are three electric motors, not four, with one for each front wheel and a third incorporated into the eight-speed gearbox. At the heart of the CX.R VGT, however – or at least quite literally nearby – is a high-revving V8 engine running on renewable e-fuel. It's a little V8, too: a 2.0-litre with twin turbochargers, outputting up to 671kW of power and revving to 15,000rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The CX.R VGT is intended as an imagination of the future for Corvette GT racing, and is finished in a yellow and black colour scheme like Corvette GT race cars of the past 25 years. It also features more prominent active aero features and a lower ride height than the CX concept, while inside there's raw carbon-fibre weave used for the dashboard and more aggressive seats with suede-wrapped foam inserts. Not that the CX concept is a wallflower, with a dramatic opening canopy inspired by fighter jets. Once opened, there's a bright Inferno Red interior with silicone leather, milled aluminium and low-gloss forged carbon-fibre trim used throughout. Outside, there's an active front diffuser and rear wing, along with other elements intended to aid aerodynamics. The Vacuum Fan System uses built-in fans to draw air through the open-channel bodywork to generate "massive" downforce, while the suspension A-arms are wing-shaped to aid airflow and reduce front-end lift. Chevrolet says the CX was shaped in collaboration with the GM Motorsports Aero Group, and despite the various wild design elements, it was designed to be identifiably a Corvette. That includes the "forward-lunging nose", sleek silhouette, dual-element tail lights, and pronounced horizontal crease that have come to be expected of Corvettes. "While the shape of a Corvette has always been expressive and forward-looking, each crease and line has its roots in the generations that came before it. It is aspirational, it is cultural, it is the reason people want to come and work at Chevrolet," said Chevrolet executive design director Phil Zak. "The CX and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo demonstrate our design teams stepping away from the constraints of production vehicles and unleashing their creativity. Through this exercise, we've added to Corvette and defined the design direction for Corvette moving forward." Chevrolet has been busily showing off an array of Corvettes created by its various design centres, two of which have been electric vehicles (EVs). However, General Motors says it won't build a production electric Chevrolet Corvette "just to do it", with GM Performance lead engineer Tony Roma pouring cold water on the prospect of an electric version of the iconic sports car in the short term. "We talk about what it would take to make a capable enough car, but right now it's still science fiction," Mr Roma told Autocar. "And so that's our challenge – to come up with something different, that something engaging. "When you're buying a car like a Corvette, why are you buying it? You're buying it because you want something special. You want to be engaged in the art of driving. "And so, when we can figure out how to do that, and as we put more electrification in the car, we will, but we're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose." In addition to being the first generation of Corvette with a mid-engine layout and available all-wheel drive, the current C8 was the first to include electrification. The E-Ray and ZR1X both feature a front-mounted electric motor. Click an image to view the full gallery. MORE: Even hotter Chevrolet Corvettes to come, but don't count on an EV MORE: Chevrolet Corvette EV? Battery-powered concept could become new supercar MORE: Second Corvette EV concept debuts, but won't go into production MORE: Explore the Chevrolet Corvette showroom Content originally sourced from:
