Forgotten Chevy supercar of the ’90s had more power than the McLarens and Lamborghinis of the day
- This 1990 Chevy concept car packs a punch
- It had a powerful twin-turbo V8 engine
- The CERV III never made it to production
Published on May 27, 2025 at 11:13 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on May 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The long-forgotten 1990 Chevy CERV III supercar concept was more powerful than McLarens and Lamborghinis of the time and even made its way into a video game.
The Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle is actually a series of concept and experimental vehicles that kicked off back in 1959 with the CERV I.
In 1963, work began on the CERV II, and by 1986, engineers began designing and developing the CERV III.
The CERV III debuted at the International Auto Show in Detroit in January 1990.
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The CERV III concept car was developed from the Corvette Indy – an entirely different concept that had debuted several years previously – and it was a bit of a beast.
The concept car was fitted with a 5.7-liter twin-turbo V8 engine mated with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The CERV III’s V8 could produce 650 horsepower and 655-lb-ft torque, giving it a top speed of 225mph (362km/h).
Impressive specs for back in the early 1990s, so much so that the CERV III was more powerful than the McLaren F1 which was kitted out with a 618HP V12, or the Lamborghini Diablo, which offered 485HP and a top speed of 202mph (325km/h).
Not only did the CERV III pack a punch, it also looked the part with a carbon fiber monocoque showcasing its sleek lines and finished with a fiberglass coating.
The front end was given an aggressive, angular look and featured pop-up headlights, alongside swish scissor doors.
The CERV III was considered quite ahead of its time, as it came with a computer-controlled active suspension system, ABS braking, and traction control.
Inside, there were more advanced features, including a CRT screen and an electronic climate control system, which would have been far from typical back in 1990.
Had the car gone into production, Chevy put a price range of between $300,000 and $400,000; firmly placing the car in the high-end arena.
As we all know, that didn’t happen, and the poor old CERV III might just be the best car to never go into production.
But all is not lost, because if you fancy getting behind the wheel of the car, you can… sort of.
The concept vehicle was included in the 1990 PC game Test Drive III: The Passion alongside other cars of the time like the Ferrari Mythos and the Diablo.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
