The Chevrolet Corvette has evolved by leaps and bounds during its 70-year run and now the automaker has unveiled its first hybrid version of the iconic sports car. The 2024 Corvette E-Ray features a front-mounted electric motor that drives the front wheels along with the familiar V-8 engine that powers the back wheels. With the E-Ray, Chevy brings drivers its first hybrid and first all-wheel-drive Corvette.
The E-Ray's name is derived from Chevy's legendary Stingray Corvette, which burst onto the auto scene in 1963 and whose distinctive jet-age styling was met with huge fanfare. With its hybrid format, the E-Ray allows drivers to start the car in electric mode to stealthily escape the neighborhood in the morning without waking the neighbors. The quiet ride lasts up to 4 miles before the car's V-8 kicks in with a roar. The E-Ray may have you feeling like an elite super spy.
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The E-Ray's electric motor is rated for 160 horsepower while the V-8 cranks out 495 horsepower for a maximum output of 655 horsepower — just 15 less than Chevy's top-performing Corvette Z06. The hybrid Corvette is also the first car to be sold with both all-season tires and carbon ceramic brakes as standard.
So, how exactly does the electric-meets-gas-powered ride work? Inside the car's cabin, drivers tap a button to change how the electric motor is used. The E-Ray's 1.9-kilowatt battery pack charges as the car coasts, brakes, and during normal driving. The E-Ray is also the quickest Corvette ever, covering zero to 60 in just 2.5 seconds.
Drivers can get their hands on an E-Ray later this year. Prices start at $104,300 for the coupe and $111,300 for the convertible with 14 color choices to choose from.