Electrification and eAWD have officially entered the Corvette world.
Lucas Bell
The Chevrolet Corvette has changed a lot since it launched onto the scene on January 17, 1953. Once an inline-six powered roadster with an automatic gearbox, today, the Corvette sits as a genuine mid-engine, naturally-aspirated V-8 supercar competitor. After 70 years of evolution, GM just pulled the cover off of the most radically different Corvette model yet: the electrified 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. Thanks to an electric power bump and eAWD, the new E-Ray is ready to win over diehard fans as the quickest Corvette model ever.
At the heart of the new 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray sits a new hybrid system, which consists of a single electric motor and a 1.9-kWh battery pack. Both the battery and the motor are entirely unique to the Corvette brand, sharing nothing with the Ultium EV products in GM’s portfolio.
While the battery itself is tiny by segment standards, the E-Ray isn’t concerned with all-out efficiency or EV range. Instead, the unique chemistry in the battery allows for rapid charge and discharge rates. That helps the motor make the best use of the 160 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque it brings to the platform. Mated to the Stingray’s 6.2-liter LT2 V-8 engine, the system is good for a combined 655 hp. That allows the E-Ray to hit 0-60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, making it the quickest Corvette yet. The E-Ray even outpaces the more powerful Z06 through the quarter mile, finishing a tenth quicker at 10.5 seconds.
“This wasn’t invented to trump the Z06,” executive chief engineer Tadge Juechter told R&T. “It’s just a different flavor, and they’re both great in their own ways.”
Lucas Bell
Like the Z06, the Corvette E-Ray wears 3.6-inch wider bodywork than the standard Stingray. That allows the hybrid to utilize the 275-section front and 345-section rear Michelin Pilot Sport all-season from the Z06 for improved torque management. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires will be available as part of a performance package. Those tires sit on a staggered set of twisted five-spoke wheels, which are unique to E-Ray and come in four finishes. Carbon fiber wheels will also be available in a variety of finishes. Behind the 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels sit a set of eBoost-assisted carbon ceramic brake discs, complete with six-piston front and four-piston rear Brembo calipers. Slight suspension tweaks were made to accommodate the presence of front driveshafts, including the addition of new canted shock tower tops and a shock tower connector for rigidity. Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 shocks are standard equipment.
Lucas Bell
The Corvette E-Ray is bolstered by six driver-selectable modes: Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode, and Z-Mode. Track Mode allows the E-Ray to make full use of the hybrid system at all times, backed by some unique tuning to the Performance Traction Management system. The car also packs some unique modes related to the hybrid system, including the aforementioned Charge+ and Stealth Mode. The latter allows you to drive the E-Ray in all-electric mode at speeds up to 45 mph and is designed for hushed morning departures. The hybrid system also works in tandem with Active Fuel Management by torque-filling in four-cylinder mode, which limits full-engine startups. GM’s suite of driver assistance technologies is shared across the Corvette lineup.
“Just like the Stingray brought the mid-engine to the masses, now we’re going to bring performance hybrids to the masses,” said Juechter.
Lucas Bell
Inside the E-Ray, things are largely untouched compared to other C8 models outside of the new Charge+ and Stop/Start buttons on the center console. The E-Ray does though receive a unique start-up graphic, which shows owners how the flow of power through the hybrid system works. Of course, the auditory experience inside the car is quite different, as the electric motor up front adds some new texture to the familiar soundtrack.
The infotainment system has been updated for 2024 as well. Customers can spec a number of visual interior packages, including two carbon fiber trim packages, three seat choices, and seven interior colors among others. The 2024 model year will also feature the exclusive Artemis Dipped interior, which is a nice gray-green hue. Though the electric motor is mounted in the front, thanks to its positioning above the front axle, storage space in the frunk is largely unchanged. Customers will have 14 exterior paint options, including the new Riptide blue, Seawolf gray, and Cacti hues.
The Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray is slated to go on sale later this year, with the base 1LZ coupe carrying an MSRP of $104,295. That puts the E-Ray right on the heels of the Z06, which starts at $106,395 in base trim. That said, the performance of the two cars is quite similar on paper, albeit achieved via dramatically different approaches. Whether or not traditional Corvette customers are willing to pony up for an electrified offering, the E-Ray represents an interesting value proposition in the segment.
Lucas Bell Lucas Bell Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry.
Keyword: The Chevy Corvette E-Ray Is a Hybrid and the Quickest Vette Ever