WHAT IS THE CORVETTE E-RAY?
The upcoming Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray (ERay) will be both the first hybrid-electric production Corvette and the first all-wheel-drive production Corvette in the nameplate’s 70+ year history. It will be the third variant of the C8 Corvette, following the inaugural Stingray and Z06 supercar.
The 2024 Corvette E-Ray was officially teased by Chevrolet in a video that depicted a camouflaged prototype launching in the snow with all four wheels spinning, confirming all-wheel-drive early on. General Motors President Mark Reuss further elaborated on the E-Ray during his 2022 GM Investor Day presentation, where he confirmed it will launch in 2023, and described it as the “next springboard” for for the C8 platform.
E-RAY DESIGN
The C8 Corvette E-Ray hybrid will share a lot of visual similarities with the C8 Z06, in that it will share the same widened body style, and similar front fascia. However, it will differentiate itself from the Z06 with unique wheels, body-colored accents, and will not feature a center exhaust outlet in the rear. Instead, it will see outboard exhaust tips like the Stingray. This was confirmed during an online configurator leak the week of December 8, 2022. In addition, four 5-spoke aluminum wheels and three carbon fiber wheel designs will be offered. The interior will feature a dark gray accent called Artemis, while both Level 2 Carbon Fiber interior trim package and the Stealth interior trim package will be available to customers.
C8 CORVETTE E-RAY PERFORMANCE SPECS
The tires on the C8 Corvette E-Ray will be the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 and Pilot Sport 4S tires currently found on Stingray. The extreme Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires found on the Z06 will not be offered. However, being that this Corvette hybrid will share the same wide body as the Z06, the tires are substantially meatier, measuring 275/30R20 in front, and 345/25R21 in the rear.
Further differentiating itself from the 670 horsepower Z06, the Corvette E-Ray will position itself in the marketplace as more of a grand tourer. Its hybrid powertrain will allow the E-Ray to move in near-silence at low speeds and supple ride quality on the highway. This hybrid Corvette will also refrain getting the Z07 Performance package that the Z06 gets. Instead, it will get a ZER package, which is expected to be similar to the Z51 package on the Stingray. Due to the added weight of a battery pack and electric motors, the E-Ray is expected to be one of the heaviest Corvettes on record.
C8 CORVETTE E-RAY HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE
The E-Ray will have more torque than the Corvette Z06, but marginally less horsepower. Official numbers are not immediately available, but the Corvette E-Ray is expected to produce more than 650 horsepower and nearly 600 lb-ft of torque.
ENGINE
Also like the Stingray, the E-Ray will have a 6.2L LT2 V8 under the hood. This engine will continue to deliver 490-495 horsepower, but with the assistance of a small battery pack and motors, total output is expected to be closer to 650 horsepower. This output is similar to that of the Corvette Z06, but the E-Ray will have superior traction off-the line, as well as superior fuel economy thanks to its hybrid setup.
ELECTRIC MOTORS
The C8 Corvette E-Ray will run a battery pack through the “spine” of the chassis, which is mostly hollow in the Stingray variant. That’s been previously reported, but here is what hasn’t: the drivetrain will incorporate a fully electronic front axle, which was described to us as an “e-booster”. The setup is expected to allow for low-speed zero-emissions driving, up to around 25-35 miles per hour.
The C8 Corvette E-Ray is not expected to be a plug-in hybrid, but a conventional hybrid with a “Regen on Demand” feature that will capture kinetic energy during deceleration events. The E-Ray Corvette hybrid will share the Tremec 8-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, as seen in the Stingray and Z06.
Corvette E-Ray 0-60 times have yet to be finalized, but will all-wheel drive and instantaneous front wheel torque, we imagine this electrified Corvette is capable of bringing acceleration times closer to the 2.0-second mark thanks to all-wheel-drive and instantaneous torque. For reference, the Stingray and Z06 are both capable of accelerating from 0-60 below the 3.0-second mark.
C8 CORVETTE E-RAY PRODUCTION
The Corvette E-Ray will begin production at the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly plant in 2023 as a 2024 model year vehicle. Chevrolet is expected to make details official in the first quarter of 2023.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The E-Ray will be sold both in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) and in select global markets, as it will be built in both LHD and RHD configurations. It’s expected that customers in China, European Union, Middle East, South America and Australia will all have access to the E-Ray. The MSRP for the 2024 Corvette E-Ray is expected to be priced around the Z06 – meaning over $100,000 USD – and is expected to launch in the summer of 2023.
COMPETITION
The direct competitive set for the 2024 Corvette E-Ray can be summarized as the Porsche 911 4S (443 hp, $130,000+ USD), which is an AWD sports car, but isn’t a hybrid. The Acura NSX would be another direct competitor, but the hybrid supercar was discontinued in 2022. This makes the E-Ray a firm “white space” product in the supercar space, until Porsche answers with a 911 Hybrid in 2024.
E-RAY PHOTOS
