Is This The Fastest Accelerating Corvette Ever Made?

• The E-Ray is powered by the LT2 V8 and an electric motor. 

• A 1.9kWh battery powers the electric motor which develops 162PS.

• The E-Ray offers a similar performance as the focused and sinister Z06.

• Prices for the hybrid Vette start from $104,295 (approx Rs 84 lakh). 

The C8 Chevrolet Corvette was a departure from its roots since it had a significant difference - the lack of an engine under the hood. Only because it was shifted behind the driver, transforming itself into a mid-engine supercar for the first time ever. The C8 Stingray is a brilliant supercar and offers great value for what Chevy is asking for it. But for 2023, Chevrolet has taken the game forward and debuted the Corvette E-Ray - an AWD, hybrid version of the Corvette Stingray that develops 664PS! 

The heart of the matter is still the same 6.2L LT2 cross-plane crank V8 engine that develops 501PS. Taking things further is a new e-AWD electric motor setup that sits in the front axle and puts out a healthy 162PS/169Nm taking the overall output number to 664PS, a couple of numbers shy of the hardcore Z06 with a 5.5-litre flat-plane screaming V8. The E-Ray deploys a self-charging 1.9kWh lithium‑ion battery that sits in the central tunnel of the chassis. As expected, there is a hit on the weight as the E-Ray adds 136kg to the overall mass. 

But all of what you read right now translates to a super-quick 0-60 mph (0-96kmph) time of 2.5 seconds, which puts the E-Ray in an elite club reserved for the fastest accelerating cars on this planet. Chevrolet also claims a quarter-mile time of 10.5 seconds, all of this making it as fast, if not faster than the Z06. To even out things, the Corvette E-Ray gets a stealth mode where it can drive up to 8km using electricity, but once the speedo passes 72kmph, the V8 comes to life. No more tainted relationships with your neighbours. 

Apart from that, the electric motor also comes equipped with brake torque vectoring and an open diff to keep everything in check. The E-Ray also comes kitted with some exclusive features such as the widened rear fenders from the Z06 and much-needed carbon ceramic brakes as standard. Although the sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is optional, as standard, Chevrolet offers Pilot Sport all-season tires in a staggered setup with the widest rear tires of any production car – 345/25ZR-21.

The magnetic dampers are carried forward, and so is the front lift system. That said, engineers had to make some changes to the front suspension to accommodate the electric drivetrain. However, the cabin remains unchanged and is identical to the standard Corvette Stingray. 

Prices for the hybrid Vette start from $104,295 (approx Rs 84 lakh) for the base 1LZ coupe. If the coupe isn’t to your liking, Chevrolet is also offering the E-Ray in a convertible guise. It is not news that an all-electric Vette is on its way; but until that happens, Chevrolet is offering buyers another chance to enjoy a true blue 70-year-old American supercar with an American V8 in a cleaner attire, thanks to the hybrid system.