√2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray hybrid revealed, likely for Australia

The first electrified – and first all-wheel-drive – Corvette in the 70-year history of the nameplate has been unveiled, ahead of a likely Australian showroom arrival at a later date.

The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray hybrid supercar has been revealed, ahead of US showroom arrivals this year, and an Australian launch expected to follow.

The third model in the new C8 Corvette range, the E-Ray is the first model wearing Chevrolet’s iconic badge to offer hybrid power – and the first to drive all four wheels, not just the rears.

Australian showroom arrival timing is yet to be confirmed, but prototypes with steering wheels on the right-hand side have been photographed testing in the US. Drive has contacted local division General Motors Specialty Vehicles for comment.

The new Corvette E-Ray – its name a play on the ‘Stingray’ badge used for the standard Corvette – combines a 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V8 powering the rear wheels, with an electric motor driving the front wheels.

The combined output confirmed by General Motors overnight is 481kW – with 369kW/637Nm from the petrol engine, unchanged from the regular Stingray from which the V8 is borrowed, and 120kW/165Nm from the electric motor.

The E-Ray is not a plug-in hybrid, as with Ferrari and Lamborghini’s hybrid supercars – but rather a ‘conventional’ hybrid closer in philosophy to a Toyota family SUV, which recharges the battery by capturing energy under braking, or using the petrol engine.

With the 1.9kWh battery mounted along the centre of the chassis, and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the wheels, Chevrolet claims a 0-60mph (97km/h) acceleration time of 2.5 seconds.

That places the hybrid Corvette among the fastest-accelerating production cars ever built by a US manufacturer– and quicker than the standard Corvette Stingray (2.9 seconds) and track-focused Corvette Z06 (2.6 seconds), which are petrol-powered and rear-wheel-drive only.

The company says the E-Ray can cover the quarter-mile (402km) drag-racing benchmark sprint in 10.5 seconds – 0.1 seconds quicker than the Z06, which is powered by a screaming 5.5-litre naturally-aspirated V8 with 500kW and 624Nm.

The Corvette E-Ray’s 1.9kWh battery can hold about twice the energy of a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid family SUV – but a quarter of the size of what’s in the latest breed of plug-in hybrid supercars, such as a McLaren Artura or Ferrari 296 GTB.

That means the hybrid Corvette can’t run with the petrol engine off for any meaningful distance – however there is a ‘Stealth Mode’ designed to allow owners to start the car, and drive out of their neighbourhood with the engine off, at speeds of up to 72km/h.

Chevrolet says the petrol engine only switches on in this mode when the car exceeds this speed, more power is requested by the driver, or the battery pack is depleted. No electric driving range figure is quoted, however it is estimated at about 5km.

When the car is travelling on electric power, it is driving the front wheels only – a first for a Corvette.

On a race track, or in dynamic driving on public roads, the electric motor is used to increase performance – while there’s a ‘Charge+’ feature that maximises “battery state of charge for extended lapping [on a race track]”.

However, the electric driving capabilities come at the cost of weight, as Chevrolet quotes dry mass figures – without fuel, oil, or fluids – of 1712kg for the coupe, or 1749kg for the convertible.

That compares to between 1530kg and 1576kg for the Stingray – or 1561 for a Z06 coupe with carbon-fibre wheels and the Z07 Performance Package.

Carbon-ceramic brakes are fitted as standard to the E-Ray – measuring 398mm up front with six pistons, and 391mm at the rear with four pistons – behind 20-inch front and 21-inch alloy wheels.

Michelin Pilot Sport all-season tyres are standard, but Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer performance tyres are optional.

All models are fitted as standard with Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension – and a lightweight lithium-ion 12-volt battery to facilitate the engine’s start-stop system, which is new for the E-Ray.

There are six drive modes – Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode and Z-Mode – plus the Charge+ feature.

The Corvette E-Ray’s design draws heavily from the Z06 flagship, sharing its widebody wheel arches, front bumper, and rear lip spoiler.

However, the exterior accents that are black on the Z06 are body-coloured on the E-Ray – though carbon-fibre accents are optional on both cars – while it uses the rear bumper from Z06 examples bound for Europe and Australia, with four exhaust tips placed outboard, instead of in the centre.

The star-inspired alloy wheels are unique to the E-Ray – in four finishes – but carbon-fibre wheels similar to the Z06 are optional, finished in dark grey or exposed carbon-fibre.

Other exterior highlights include 14 exterior colours (including Riptide Blue, Seawolf Gray and Cacti that are new for Model Year 2024), a unique Electric Blue stripe package, standard black badging, and optional black exterior badging (replacing dark grey) and exhaust tips.

Chevrolet says the electric motor and front drive unit components have little impact on the Corvette E-Ray’s front storage compartment (dubbed a ‘frunk’).

Interior differences between the E-Ray and regular Corvette are limited to Charge+ and auto stop/start buttons on the centre console, and revised infotainment system and instrument cluster graphics.

Exclusive to 2024 Corvettes will be an ‘Artemis Dipped’ green interior – while E-Ray buyers can choose between two carbon-fibre interior trim packs, three seat designs and seven interior colour.s

Four years into its model cycle, the 2024 Corvette has finally introduced autonomous emergency braking – a potentially life-saving feature that’s standard on Australia’s cheapest new car, the $16,000 Kia Picanto, but has not been available on the Corvette in its current generation.

It will become mandatory for all newly-introduced vehicles in Australia from March 2023 – but because the Corvette launched locally in late 2021 it has until March 2025 to fit the feature as standard equipment.

Also new for 2024 is lane departure warning and lane-keep assist – other features that are standard on Australia’s most affordable new cars and utes. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were already standard in Australia.

The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray hybrid is due in US showrooms this year, priced from $US104,295 ($AU150,970) – more than the $US65,895 ($AU95,380) base price of the Stingray, but less than the $US106,695 ($AU154,440) of the Z06.

Drive has contacted General Motors Speciality Vehicles to confirm Australian plans for the Corvette E-Ray, however the vehicle is expected to come to local showrooms – as prototypes have been spied testing in right-hand drive.

The standard Corvette Stingray is on sale now – while the Z06 flagship is due to follow in mid 2023.

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