CORVETTE E-RAY HYBRID EXPECTED TO BE QUICKER THAN C8 Z06

By now you have certainly heard that General Motors intends to introduce a hybrid sports car by way of the C8 Corvette E-Ray. This electrified Corvette is expected to arrive for the 2023 model year, and will replace the Grand Sport model in the sport car’s hierarchy. And while we have a little bit of information related to what sort of performance this thing will have on tap, nothing official has come from GM at this time. That said, a new report from MotorTrend suggests that this hybrid C8 Corvette E-Ray will be no pushover of a performance car. In fact, the publication states that it will likely be quicker than the upcoming 2022 C8 Corvette Z06, at least by some metrics.

The news comes by way of the publication’s sources in Detroit, and was printed in their MT Confidential column in the print version of the magazine. The new report presents a very different look at the C8 Corvette E-Ray than has been already established.

A previous report from Don Sherman suggested that the C8 Corvette E-Ray will utilize two electric motors in conjunction with the LT2 V8 engine, both of which should provide more than 50 horsepower. These motors are also said to provide functional all-wheel drive and torque vectoring. MotorTrend believes that the car will instead arrive with a single front-mounted electric motor, which should produce around 215 horsepower. They then go on to say that the E-Ray will have a total output of just 590 horsepower, which isn’t how math works.

Unless GM is planning to de-tune the 490 horsepower LT2 V8 for use in the C8 Corvette E-Ray, a 215 horsepower electric motor would bring total output above 700 hp. The report from Sherman – who has largely been correct with future Corvette news – noted that the E-Ray should make more than 600 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, which makes a bit more sense than what MotorTrend is reporting.

Regardless of the discrepancy there, both reports agree that the C8 Corvette E-Ray should be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph quicker than the Z06. That really shouldn’t be a surprise, as AWD, a large displacement cross-plane V8, and instant torque from an electric motor are all conducive to acceleration. That’s a no brainer. Of course acceleration isn’t the only performance metric we care about, and the 5.5L flat-plane V8-powered C8 Corvette Z06 will likely outshine the E-Ray AWD Hybrid in other areas, such as road course lap times, curb weight, and engine speed.

When dealing with future products, it’s always a challenge to get an idea as to what’s really happening. Both reports from MotorTrend and Sherman cite sources in Detroit, though they paint dramatically different pictures. This could be the result of GM purposely throwing bad information out there, or simply a source who isn’t as in the know as they say.

MC&T is more apt to side with Sherman in this case, as the industry veteran has a decades long relationship with the Corvette team. Which of these two takes related to the C8 Corvette E-Ray are you more interested in? Let us know down below.