Chevrolet Corvette Goes Hybrid With All-New E-Ray
The iconic Chevrolet Corvette’s styling and performance have been defined by eight-cylinder gasoline engines sitting under a long hood since all the way back to 1953. But with the eighth generation of the American sports car, a lot of things have changed.
It started with a mid-mounted engine and exotic car looks. Now, the Corvette is going hybrid—and with all-wheel drive, too.
The new 2024 Corvette E-Ray, which Chevrolet unveiled recently, continues to rely on the 6.2-litre V8, but there’s a front-mounted, 160-horsepower electric motor drawing energy from a 1.9kWh battery located under the centre console. The combined result is 655 horsepower.
Clearly, the E-Ray’s hybrid treatment emphasizes performance. It’s the quickest-accelerating production Corvette of all time, sprinting from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 2.5 seconds and running the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds—faster than the latest Corvette Z06, which has 670 horsepower. The main reason for this is the initial grip delivered by the all-wheel drive system (the electric motor drives the front axle), contributing to more explosive acceleration and sharper handling.
Stealthy When You Need It
Can the Corvette E-Ray operate on pure battery power? Yes. With the new Stealth mode, zero-emission driving is possible for about 6 km at a maximum speed of 70 km/h. This is great for drivers who want to leave their driveway silently in the morning without waking up the neighbours. In this particular mode, only the front wheels drive the car since the V8 is turned off. A FWD Corvette? That’s another first!
By the way, the 1.9kWh battery can lose as much as 78 percent of its charge before the gasoline engine kicks in. Once the V8 is up and running, drivers can’t go back to Stealth mode since energy will be preserved for the next start.
Distinctive Yet Familiar
The Corvette E-Ray is 135 kg heavier than the Z06 but shares its carbon fibre wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes with the latter. Aesthetically, the model sports a distinctive front fascia with larger air intakes, an exclusive set of wheels and a dedicated instrument cluster where the transition from EV to gasoline is beautifully illustrated.
Available in 14 different body colours, the new gas-electric Corvette will go on sale this summer starting at $128,798 in Canada. A convertible variant will follow at some point. And in about a year or two, prepare to see the first-ever, all-electric Corvette. How times have changed!
