As sure as we are that fire is hot and water is wet, it is inevitable that the C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette will eventually be offered as a convertible.

Much like the outgoing C7 Corvette, the mid-engine coupe is tipped to receive a hardtop which can be easily lifted off and stored. A dedicated Corvette Convertible model is also expected to arrive at some stage and the following renderings from Chazcron, shared by Corvette Blogger, provide us with a glimpse of how this model could look.

Immediately differentiating the C8 Corvette Convertible from the coupe will probably be a pair of buttresses directly behind the cabin. Chazcron’s renderings also depict the mid-engine supercar with a hardtop which can be folded away into an area just in front of the engine, similar to the roof mechanism you’ll find on the McLaren 720S Spider.

The C7 Corvette Convertible has a folding soft top but we expect the higher price point of the C8 to allow Chevrolet to sell it with a retractable hardtop. This will also make the car feel a little more premium.

Chevrolet recently announced that the new Corvette will premiere on July 18th. The American car manufacturer has been developing the vehicle for more than four years and when it launches, it will join the Ford GT as the only other current American mid-engine supercar.

Powering the entry-level C8 Corvette is expected to be a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine with around 500 hp. Various other derivatives utilizing forced induction will be launched, including a potential twin-turbo hybrid model with upwards of 1000 hp.