Chevrolet Stingray Concept at 2009 Chicago Auto Show

• Looks like: A Corvette made for Megatron
• Defining characteristics: A huge, arching rear end with a split rear hatch
• Ridiculous features: It transforms into a 20-foot-tall robot
• Chance of being mass-produced: There are some design elements that might carry over to the next-generation Corvette

Everyone thought the Chicago auto show would be this hum-drum, run-of-the-mill event. Then GM dropped the hammer on its “Transformers II” vehicles, including the much-anticipated Stingray you see here.

In the movie the Stingray will be called Sideswipe and is a good guy, but it looks like a Decepticon to us. For the Corvette fans out there, however — probably a much different demographic than those waiting for the “Transformers” sequel to come out this summer — the big news is that the Stingray concept resurrects a classic name in Corvette lore.

The concept also brings back the split rear window. Because of visibility concerns, it’s unlikely a split rear window would ever make it to production, but it’s probably the one element that screams “Stingray” from this concept. Otherwise, it looks like an unholy union of the all-new Camaro and the Batmobile. Not that that’s a bad thing, it’s just a bit too wild for a real car. GM also says this is a design study and not to get your hopes up for this to pack a ZR-1 engine under the hood anytime soon.

Check out more photos below and let us know if you think this design is worthy of being the next Corvette.