After 70 years, the Corvette goes further than ever.
By now, just about every car enthusiast knows about the level of impact that the 8th-generation Corevette has on the storied name with its mid-engined layout. Throughout the car’s long history, Chevrolet has hinted at the potential for the car to be mid-engined, and when it finally happened, it delivered on its promise of being the most radical Corvette yet when it comes to performance, reaching speeds and 0-60 times of cars with price tags exponentially higher, and production numbers exponentially smaller. However, now that exactly 70 years to the day have passed since the reveal of the very first Corvette at 1953’s Motorama in New York City, Chevrolet has announced the new 2024 Corvette E-Ray.
With the incredible naturally aspirated, small-block 6.2-liter LT2 V8 engine, the E-Ray also uses a hybrid system and for the first time, features electrified all-wheel drive. After 70 years of being America’s world-class performance car, the Corvette continues to take its name to new heights, and rather than rest on its laurels (of which it has many), with the E-Ray, the Corvette now seeks to go after the exclusive and predominantly European club of hypercars, and it’s truly something special.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Price
The Chevrolet Corvette has long been celebrated as a car that delivers incredible value for money, and the new 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray is no exception. With the incredible performance and drivability that the car promises (sub-3-second 0-60, sub-11-second quarter-mile), the new all-American supercar will be able to go toe-to-toe on the track with plenty of vehicles that cost multiple times as much as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray price, which starts at $104,295. Given the incredible innovation and the futuristically hybridized performance of the car, the price of any Corvette E-Ray for sale is lower than most of its performance peers.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Review
The C8 Corvette is a bona fide supercar as it is, but the C8 Corvette E-Ray review definitely reaches towards the extra-special designation of hypercar. Of course, it maintains the same mid-engined layout and exotic look as other C8 models, but also boasts the wider, lower stance of the Z06, and features wider tires to handle the electrified torque delivery. Speaking of that torque delivery, the performance of the new 2024 Corvette E-Ray is absolutely incredible.
With the hybrid powertrain making the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray horsepower 655, as well as with all-wheel drive, the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 0-60 is just a matter of just 2.5 seconds, making it the quickest Corvette that Chevrolet has ever made. If your foot stays planted on the accelerator after that, you’ll have gone a ¼ mile in just 10.5 seconds at 130 mph. The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray top speed is 183 mph, keeping up with some incredible performance cars. Performance is also optimized with the use of staggered wheel sizes (20-inch at front, 21-inch at rear), as well as the use of 275/30ZR20 tires at the front and 345/25ZR21 at the back.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Specs | |
Price: | $104,295 |
Engine: | 6.2-liter V8 with 1.9 kWh Li-ion battery and single electric motor |
Transmission: | 8-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Horsepower: | 655 hp |
Torque: | 595 lb/ft |
0-60: | 2.5 s |
¼ mile: | 10.5 s @ 130 mph |
Top Speed: | 183 mph |
2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Engine & Battery
The new Corvette E-Ray boasts the same naturally aspirated 6.2-liter Small Block LT2 V8 engine that has helped build the C8 Corvette’s legacy. However, its 495 horsepower and 470 lb/ft of torque are now assisted by a battery-electric hybrid system. The system is a single-motor system that uses a permanent magnetic drive motor and a 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery to deliver 160 horsepower and 125 lb/ft of torque. Together with the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray engine, the total system is capable of producing 655 horsepower and 595 lb/ft of torque.
Because the electric power is delivered through the front wheels, and the engine’s power is delivered through the rear, the result is an electrified all-wheel drive system that makes the E-Ray unique from the rest of the Corvette lineup as one of the world’s few all-wheel drive supercars, able to deliver high performance in various seasonal conditions. In addition, the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray transmission, an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic, ensures quick shifts and confident performance on road and track.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Standout Features
One of the features that distinguish the E-Ray from other C8 Corvettes are unique wheel designs for the model. Exclusive to the E-Ray, owners can opt to have their car finished with a body stripe in Electric Blue. Also, the E-Ray is available both with the Corvette’s removable roof, and as a hard-top convertible. Unique to the electrified E-Ray, a new Stealth mode will allow drivers to quietly drive using all-electric, front-wheel drive power at speeds up to 45 mph before the beastly V8 engine does anything at all. The engine does come to life when the battery is depleted, if additional torque is needed, or if the driver goes above the 45-mph speed limit.
Another useful feature for times when performance isn’t the main objective include the E-Ray’s Active Fuel Management, which allows the V8 engine to operate with only 4 cylinders, teaming up with the electric system for efficient driving. However, on the track, the electric system still plays an important role, with the front wheels getting torque from the system when needed to optimize performance, and the Charge+ feature being an option for when battery power needs to be conserved to do as many laps as possible.
With the new 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray interior, Chevrolet is introducing a new Artemis Dipped interior for the new 2024 Corvette, featuring green surfaces. Also, the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray brakes are the first standard carbon ceramic brakes to be offered on a Corvette.
Is the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray electric?
It’s not fully electric, but it is a hybrid, which is a first for the production Chevrolet Corvette. The electric system drives the front wheels, teaming up with the V8 engine that powers the rear, for immense total power and the first production Corvette to be all-wheel drive.
Is the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray the fastest C8 Corvette?
While the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray certainly is powerful and fast, it’s not as powerful as the performance-focused Z06, which itself has been eclipsed by the new ZR1, which has over 1,000 horsepower.
What is the Corvette E-Ray’s electric driving range?
To keep the weight down, Chevrolet didn’t give the Corvette E-Ray a huge electric system or battery. As a result, it will only drive 3-4 miles in its all-electric Stealth Mode at up to 45 mph. The hybrid system was made with the purpose of assisting the gas engine in delivering improved dynamics and performance, rather than being the primary propulsion method for the supercar.
Images Sourced From Chevrolet