The E-Ray improves the mid-engine Corvette’s performance, stability, efficiency, and cost by adding an electric motor enabling hybrid all-wheel drive.
The new 2024 Chevy Corvette E-Ray, which is being unveiled, is Chevrolet’s tribute to the Corvette for its 70th birthday. The E-Ray is the first hybrid and all-wheel-drive car in the history of the marque. It is also the fastest production Corvette ever, with a 2.5-second 0-60 sprint and 655 horsepower.
Starting out with the same 6.2-liter LT2 V8 as the base Corvette Stingray is the E-Ray. The eight-speed, dual-clutch transaxle transfers 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels from its position in the middle of the vehicle. The front axle is then equipped with a 160-horsepower electric motor from Chevy, adding 125 pound-feet of torque. A high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack hidden inside the transmission tunnel provides the motor with current.
With just 1.9-kilowatt-hours of capacity (little more than a Prius’ 1.2-kWh pack) there’s no need for a plug; the E-self-contained Ray’s hybrid system is able to charge exclusively by regenerative braking during deceleration or coasting. The E-12-volt Ray’s battery — which powers the V8, start-stop and auxiliary power systems — has also been changed to a lightweight lithium-ion unit.
The electric all-wheel drive, or eAWD, system of the E-Ray generates a combined 655 horsepower and completes the quarter-mile in under 10.5 seconds when operating in concert. Its sprint from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.5 seconds is more astounding. This makes the fastest production Corvette ever, beating the normal Stingray by 0.4 seconds and the race-bred Z06 by 0.1 seconds. The lighter Z06 is still most likely the best-tuned.
To begin with, the eAWD system promises to increase traction and stability in low-grip conditions, potentially transforming this sports car into an all-season vehicle that is more prepared to handle rain, snow, or ice than its rear-driven forebears. In order to save fuel while coasting and cruising, eAWD should also make it possible for the Corvette’s Active Fuel Management cylinder-deactivation technology to do so more frequently.
The Z06 shares the E-wide-body Ray’s proportions and body panels, making the E-exterior Ray’s 3.6 inches wider than the Stingray’s. Staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels with a distinctive E-Ray five-spoke design are tucked into its flared arches. All-season Michelin Pilot Sport tires come standard. The ZER Performance Kit offers upgraded Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, increasing the E-lateral Ray’s grip to roughly 1.1 Gs. The sporty hybrid also comes standard with Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 from Chevy and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes.
The infotainment system and digital instrument cluster screens inside the ‘Vette have redesigned layouts that show and track the power and effectiveness of the electric motor and V8. Additionally, the E-Ray will be available with all of the 2024 Corvette driver-assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, and lane keep assist. The Stingray (12.6 cubic feet) and E-Ray (12.5 cubic feet) have nearly identical cargo volumes, so it appears that the under-hood frunk isn’t severely harmed by the addition of an electric motor to the front.
The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray arrives later this year, starting at $104,295 for the 1LZ coupe or $111,295 for the 1LZ convertible, before destination charges that currently sit at $1,395.
