Don’t worry, the new Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray retains its 6.2-litre V8 and there isn’t a charger in sight.
While Dodge is pushing ahead with an electric future for its muscle cars, Chevrolet Corvette fans can rejoice knowing that the upcoming model (celebrating 70 years of Corvette) retains its big V8. The E in E-Ray doesn’t stand for electric here. No. Instead, it’s Electrified, meaning the electric power adds an extra 160hp and 125lb ft of torque over the standard Corvette.
The tiny 1.9kWh battery pack is mounted between the seats, with an electric motor at the front of the car. All 655hp is sent to all four wheels via an eAWD system. As a result, the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray accelerates from 0-62mph in a claimed 2.5 seconds! It’ll complete the standing mile in 10.5 seconds, too, apparently.
There isn’t a charger port in sight on the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. That means you cannot juice it up by plugging it in. Instead, power is regenerated through braking and the kinetic energy of the car. There is also a Charge+ feature that can hold energy in the battery for deployment; this is a feature aimed at track use. This is very much a hybrid performance car, similar to what Mercedes-AMG is doing with the new C 63.
What extra features does the E-Ray have?
For starters, the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray is wider than the standard car. Some 90mm in fact. You also get the fourth-gen magnetic ride control, ceramic brakes and a new lithium-ion battery. The Performance Traction Management system has also been recalibrated to make use of the extra grip from all four wheels.
There are no fewer than six drive modes on the Corvette E-Ray; Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode and Z-Mode, all of which deploy a different amount of electric assist.
It will be interesting to see how the E-Ray compares with the all-guns-blazing Z06 model.
How much does the Corvette E-Ray cost?
The Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray goes on sale later in 2023, with prices starting at $104,295 for the 1LZ Coupe, and $111,295 for the 1LZ Convertible.
