THIS IS HOW THE C8 CORVETTE HYBRIDS WILL WORK

Since the debut of the C8 Corvette and its mid-engined platform, it has been a forgone conclusion that Chevrolet would end up stuffing some electrified bits and bobs into the redesigned Amercian sports car. While we know for a fact that Chevrolet has made a huge splash the base C8 Corvette in terms of its specifications, we now have an idea as to how the up-level hybrid models will fit into the range.

Thanks to documents obtained and reported on by Jalopnik contributor Bozi Tatarevic, there are now some tangible details surrounding the General’s plan to hybridize the Corvette beyond just knowing that the plans exist. Chief among these details are technical specs surrounding the electric motor, battery pack, and power electronics that will allow the Corvette utilize some electric power, as well as all-wheel drive. The article stated that the hybrid powertrain will not remain exclusive to the upper-level Corvettes like the range-topping Zora, but instead will be mixed in with the base model Stingray as well – which we believe will be called the E-Ray.

This base model hybrid C8 Corvette will be available as either a coupe or drop-top, and it will retain the 6.2L LT2 V8 found behind the drivers head, likely still making somewhere in the neighborhood of 490 horsepower. The traditional internal combustion drivetrain would then be mated to an electric drive unit located in the front of the car, with the batteries located in the middle of the vehicle, and has a peak output rating of 85 kW, or around 114 horsepower in old speak. This electric motor is also said to produce 111 lb-ft of torque, and it will spin up to 16,000 RPM. That many revs ends up resulting in a vehicle speed of 150 mph. Powering the electric drive unit are four battery modules with a listed 1.94 kWh of total capacity.

What is interesting about that battery pack size is the fact that it is almost identical to the one found in the hybridized Acura NSX supercar. It is entirely possible that Chevrolet has set their sights on the 573 horsepower Japanese exercise in engineering for the Corvette E-Ray, which can’t be a bad thing. The NSX uses its hybrid power to improve the performance of its 3.5L twin-turbo V6, not to improve its efficiency. Based on the small size of the Chevy battery pack, we are willing to bet the C8 Corvette hybrid will follow suit.

The monster C8 Corvette Zora will likely be the final word in American performance, with power output said to be four figures, plus all wheel drive, mated to a 5.5L DOHC twin turbo V8 engine. Look for it to rival performance from the likes of the coveted Porsche 918, for what’s presumed to be nearly a tenth of the price.