Even the Chevrolet Corvette must move with the times.
The Chevrolet Corvette has changed drastically in the last few years. It went from having the image of a simple sports car for Americans suffering from a mid-life crisis to become a sharp mid-engined performance machine that gives European rivals a run for their money. Now, the Corvette is evolving once again exactly 70 years since the Corvette first debuted. Ladies and gentlemen, the Corvette will now be available as a hybrid!
Chevrolet made the announcement today that they’d be making the first electrified, all-wheel drive Corvette and they’re calling it the Corvette E-Ray. This is a nod to the ‘Stingray’ name that has been attached to the Corvette in concept car forms, as well as on its 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 8th generation models.
The Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray will be available as a coupé with a removable roof or as a hardtop convertible. Powering this American sports car is a naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8 that sends 495 hp and 640Nm of torque to the rear wheels and an electric motor that sends an additional 160 hp and 170Nm of torque to the front wheels. There’s a tiny 1.9 kWh battery pack that is charged passively by the petrol engine or while the car is coasting or braking. The eAWD system is programmed to respond to available traction, helping enhance vehicle stability.
The eAWD system also boosts overall power, making this the quickest production Corvette in history with a 0-60mph time of 2.5 seconds.
The Corvette E-Ray can be driven on pure electric power up to 72km/h (but not for very long) in Stealth Mode. The car’s overall body is 3.6″ wide than that on the petrol model. Other new features include Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking and a new lithium ion battery for the V8’s start/stop functionality.
To distinguish the E-Ray from the petrol models, Chevrolet designers have given it the following:
- Four aluminium wheel finishes with a unique rim design
- An E-Ray-exclusive body-length stripe package in Electric Blue
- Standard carbon flash badging
- Available black exhaust tips and bright badging
- Available carbon fiber ground effects
- Optional carbon fiber wheels in carbon flash, visible carbon fiber finish or visible carbon fiber with a red stripe
- New Artemis Dipped inteior with green tones
- New Charge+ and Stop/Start buttons on the console
- New graphics for the instrument cluster and infotainment system
Here’s more information about the electrified propulsion system on the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray.
PRESS RELEASE
Electrified propulsion details
The 2024 Corvette E-Ray’s electrified propulsion system provides exhilarating acceleration to power out of corners and effortlessly complete passing maneuvers. It can also provide limited all-electric propulsion at the driver’s discretion upon startup.
E-Ray’s standard Active Fuel Management system uses the electric motor to extend 4-cylinder operation in various driving scenarios.
The amount of electric assist is tailored within each of the Corvette E-Ray’s six driver-selectable modes: Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode and Z-Mode. Drivers can also select the Charge+ feature which maximizes the battery’s state of charge.
E-Ray Performance App on the infotainment system provides the driver with technical insights into how the propulsion system is operating. There are three primary display layouts:
- Gauges (displays dynamic power output from electric motor and V-8 engine)
- Dyno (provides graph of power/torque across selectable time intervals)
- Data (showcases electrical system performance and efficiency).
The Corvette E-Ray’s electric motor over the front axle is compact, preserving space in the front storage compartment.
Stealth Mode and tracking the E-Ray
The Corvette E-Ray’s two driver-initiated electric modes enable the car to travel under electric propulsion in certain conditions. The electric motor also optimizes track performance.
Stealth Mode enables all-electric driving, when selected at start-up, for a period of time before the engine turns on for normal driving. It is designed for quietly exiting a neighborhood, with a maximum speed of 45 mph. The engine automatically engages if the vehicle’s speed exceeds the limit, additional torque is requested by the driver, or the E-Ray’s battery pack is depleted.
When it comes to leveraging the electrified propulsion system for enhanced track performance, E-Ray’s eAWD control system applies torque to the front axle as needed. The Charge+ feature can be used to maximize battery state of charge for extended lapping.
The custom-designed Performance Traction Management (PTM) modes are optimized in concert with the eAWD propulsion system.
