The Stunning 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Combines Hybrid and AWD
This electrified version marks the 70th anniversary of the sports car
The Corvette is getting a hybrid version, part of an ongoing trend of legacy automakers going electric in their existing fleets. Commemorating the Corvette's 70th anniversary is the E-Ray, a hybrid version that builds on the Stingray's V8 powertrain by adding a front motor (and all-wheel drive) for a total output of 655 horsepower.
GM President Mark Reuss said a fully electric version would follow.
which was recently discontinued, and was introduced for the 2017 model year. But like the Corvette Stingray, the pricey E-Ray will undercut its main competitor. Acura NSX
The E-Ray, which will be built in Bowling Green, Ky., will join the Stingray and 670-hp Corvette Z06 in late 2023. Prices start at $104,295 for the coupe and $111,295 for the convertible, factoring in destination charges.
The competition: Aston Martin Valhalla, BMW M8, Mercedes-AMG GT, Tesla Roadster
What it's like: Late 2023 On sale: $104,295-$115,840Price: 655 hp 6.2-liter hybrid V8 engine; 8-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
Powertrain: American Supercar
CR Retrieval
In 1953, the original Corvette was created as an American alternative to European sports cars, with a 150 hp inline-six engine and a two-speed transmission. Over the decades since the Corvette evolved, but it always remained a stylish front-engine/rear-drive performance coupe and roadster—until the 2020 model year.
Almost from the start, Chevrolet experimented with rear-engine designs and prototypes, but it wasn't until the current eighth-generation model that the existing mechanical formula was simply discarded. The reason: To further boost performance, Chevy said it had to move the engine to the rear, like the world's leading supercars.
And now the Corvette is straying further from its roots with electric motors and all-wheel drive. This combination promises a wider range of driving modes and the ability to have AWD. And this paves the way for upcoming all-electric models. Even if the Corvette EV is based on a different platform, the concept will be familiar to fans before the car debuts.
Stingray is currently very entertaining, with its loud soundtrack, chatty personality, and powerful grip. But competition continues to push car performance to higher levels. It will even have 500 hp. A continued journey to Z06 and beyond is inevitable. Thank you to Chevrolet for breaking with tradition to create a car that will continue the legacy of the Corvette. 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
Outside
The exterior is based on the wide-body Z06 (3.6 inches wider than the Stingray), giving the E-Ray a bolder, extroverted look that befits Europe's latest stunning supercars. E-Ray badging will further identify the car, which can be upgraded with optional black exhaust tips, carbon fiber ground effects, a choice of carbon fiber or aluminum wheels, racing-type stripes, and 14 body colors.
Comparable to AWD sports cars, the E-Ray comes with ultra-high-performance all-season tires on 20- and 21-inch wheels. Ultra-high-performance summer tires are optional. Like the Z06, the wider body also means the tires are much wider front and rear than the standard Stingray, which is a major contributor to traction. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Interior
The E-Ray interior is available in seven colors, with three seat options and two carbon fiber trim packages. Among the personalization options is a new Artemis Dipped interior that applies a dark green color to most surfaces.
Otherwise, it's basically a cabin built into the Stingray, complete with a unique divider between driver and passenger featuring climate control buttons.
What Drives It
Like the Stingray, the E-Ray has a 495-hp 6.2-liter V8 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. But what sets it apart is the electric motor at the front, connected to a 1.9 kWh battery, which produces up to 160 hp for a combined total of 655 hp.
This is a traditional hybrid that recharges the battery as the car is driven, regaining energy when braking and charging. This is not a plug-in hybrid.
Chevrolet claims the E-Ray can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds when using launch control, making it 0.1 seconds quicker than the 670-hp Corvette Z06. This makes it the fastest-production Corvette in history. For comparison, the automaker clocked 2.9 seconds for the regular Corvette Stingray. Consumer Reports recorded 3.4 seconds with our Stingray.
The addition of all-wheel drive to the Corvette—a first in the sports car's history—will certainly help with launch traction and handling on the track. And that makes it more capable of four-season driving—with the appropriate tires.
Even with this added grip, the E-Ray isn't much faster than the base model and Z06. One factor that explains this is body weight. The E-Ray is about 400 pounds heavier than the Stingray. Plus, it's really hard to shave time when you're down to 3 seconds. (On the other hand, the additional profits at that point don't amount to much more than real-world bragging rights.)
There are six driver-selectable modes to tailor powertrain characteristics, steering, and active performance to needs: Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode, and Z-Mode. There's also a Stealth mode for quiet, electric-powered operation at speeds up to 45 mph.
The center infotainment screen can display the power output of the motor and engine; graph horsepower and torque over time like a dynamometer; display energy efficiency, and show battery status—important because you can use electric assist and need to let it recover before reaching the full 655 hp.
Chevrolet hasn't hinted at fuel economy. Even though this is a hybrid, what's clear is that its mission is performance, and electricity is the means to that end.
Active Safety and Driver Assistance
Chevrolet says that like all Corvettes for 2024, the E-Ray will be equipped with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure warning. This is a big improvement over the 2021 Stingray we tested, where automatic emergency braking was not available at all.
Stopping power is enhanced with Brembo carbon-ceramic disc brakes. Buyers should be aware that such track-oriented technology can add to maintenance.
