The quickest production Corvette in history is here, with a wide body and the ability to do the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds.
- First-ever all-wheel-drive Corvette
- 495-horsepower 6.2-liter LT2 V8 and 160-hp front electric motor – 655 hp combined
- 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds
- Starting price of $104,295
At long last, the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray has been revealed, and it's just as impressive as we had hoped. Like the regular Stingray, the E-Ray is powered by GM's LT2 small block V8, a 6.2-liter unit that provides the rear wheels with 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. But unlike that car, the E-Ray adds a tiny 1.9 kWh battery pack between the seats and a 120 kW permanent magnet drive motor on the front axle. This produces 160 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque, giving the E-Ray a combined 655 hp, just 15 shy of what the Z06 can muster. But despite its power deficit and its extra heft, the E-Ray is quicker in a straight line than its race-tuned sibling.
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GM says the E-Ray can do 0-60 mph in approximately 2.5 seconds and complete the quarter mile in roughly 10.5 seconds at 130 mph. Those figures are each one-tenth better than the claims for the Z06; this is the quickest production Corvette in the nameplate's 70-year history. However, we fully expect the Z06 to be quicker around a circuit, especially since it has less weight to contend with.
For the record, a regular Stingray coupe has a dry weight of 3,366 pounds, a Z06 is rated at 3,434 lbs (with the Z07 package and all the carbon fiber goodies), and the new E-Ray weighs 3,774 lbs dry, in coupe form. As with other Corvette models, a hardtop convertible version launches alongside the coupe, which has a removable roof once more.
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“Corvette has been a halo for Chevrolet since 1953,” said Scott Bell, Chevrolet VP. “E-Ray's unprecedented blend of confidence, luxury performance, sophistication, and style provides a new reason for more people to experience Corvette.” Corvette executive chief engineer Tadge Juechter added that “the electrification technology enhances the feeling of control in all conditions, adding an unexpected degree of composure.”
Chevrolet claims that the eAWD system continually analyzes the road surface to maximize traction and stability seamlessly, but the system also helps to provide “exhilarating acceleration to power out of corners and effortless complete passing maneuvers.”
Naturally, there are some EV-type benefits to the system, too, although this is not a plug-in hybrid – the battery is charged from regenerative braking and coasting, as well as normal driving.
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Stealth Mode is something the flat-plane crank V8 of the Z06 could benefit from in the early morning hours. This is an electric drive mode that enables the driver to reach combustion-free speeds of up to 45 mph, ideal for leaving the house early or creeping in at night after a long day at the track. If you exceed that speed or request additional torque, or the battery pack is depleted, the engine will start up again. On the track, the eAWD system works in parallel with a custom-designed Performance Traction Management system to ensure maximum grip.
Speaking of harder driving, Brembo's carbon-ceramic braking system is standard, as is Magnetic Ride Control 4.0. Thanks to a body 3.6 inches wider than the Stingray, the hybrid Corvette should be exceptionally stable.
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That unique body can be painted in one of 14 choices, including new arrivals for the 2024 model year Riptide Blue Metallic, Seawolf Gray Tri-Coat, and Cacti. The 20- and 21-inch staggered wheels (wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport all-season rubber) can be had in a choice of four aluminum finishes, or you can opt for carbon fiber wheels in Carbon Flash (black). Alternatively, the carbon weave can be exposed and highlighted with a red stripe or simply finished with a gloss coat.
Exclusive to the E-Ray is a body-length stripe package in Electric Blue (such an imaginative name), while the cabin can be customized with three seat choices, seven interior colors, and two carbon fiber trim packages, among other things.
While we're inside, the E-Ray debuts an all-new Artemis Dipped interior scheme, with deep green tones on “nearly every interior surface.” This will only be available on 2024 model year C8s. New Charge+ and Stop/Start buttons and updates to the graphics complete the visible changes.
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Those graphics will be noted when changing between the six drive modes: Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode, and Z-Mode, as well as the aforementioned Charge+ feature, which maximizes the state of charge for the battery. You can also see the updates on the E-Ray Performance App on the infotainment display. This gives you access to Gauges (a mode displaying the dynamic output of both the e-motor and the V8 engine), Dyno (displaying a graph of power and torque across selectable time intervals), and Data (which shows the performance and efficiency of the electrical system). And despite all this new tech and added hardware, the E-Ray still offers 12.5 cubic feet of cargo volume (the regular Stingray is rated at 12.6 ft3).
The first-ever Corvette with hybrid technology and the first with an AWD system, the 2024 E-Ray will go on sale later this year with a base MSRP of $104,295 for the 1LZ coupe and $111,295 for the 1LZ convertible.
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Keyword: 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Hybrid Revealed With 655 HP And eAWD