If you’ve never imagined a hybrid Corvette, or an all-wheel-drive Corvette for that matter, you wouldn’t be alone. It’s happening, and it’s called the Corvette E-Ray. This upcoming supercar – arriving a year or so after the 2023 Corvette Z06 – was recently seen taking a drive with the rest of the C8 family over in Germany. You can see the video courtesy of the CarSpyMedia YouTube channel, just below.
Observations
As we’ve seen before, the C8 Corvette E-Ray shares the same widebody design as the 2023 Corvette Z06 debuting on October 26. But keen observers will be able to differentiate the two by their exhaust outlets. The E-Ray is shared with the Stingray, and remains pushed out to the sides. The Z06 has all four exhaust tips uniquely positioned in the middle. The E-Ray also doesn’t appear to feature a Z07 package high-downforce wing.
Another major difference observed in the video are the sound profiles of each vehicle. The Z06 has a raspy idle, and howls under acceleration with its new DOHC flat-plane V8. Whereas the Corvette E-Ray is more muffled at low speeds, otherwise giving way to that trademark GM small block V8 burble. The LT2 V8 found in the C8 Corvette Stingray is nestled behind the cabin, after all.
C8 Corvette E-Ray: What To Expect
The C8 Corvette E-Ray will be the first production Corvette to feature all-wheel-drive, and will also be the first hybrid in the Corvette’s history. Similar to the Stingray, the E-Ray will feature a 6.2L LT2 V8 expected to provide just under 500 horsepower; however the battery pack and electric motors push the expectation to about 650 horsepower. The transmission will remain an 8-speed Tremec dual clutch, sending power to the rear wheels and working in tandem with a fully electronic front axle, a feature that has been described as a e-booster for acceleration. The E-Ray will also share tire compounds with the Stingray, and will position itself for of a grand tourer as a result.
The spy video also seems to confirm what our Corvette sources have originally told us; with a lack of a charge port, the E-Ray appears to be a conventional hybrid, rather than a plug-in.
