The C8 continues to rewrite the rule book and we’re taking a spin in the first hybrid, all-wheel drive Corvette
May 17, 2024 at 20:27
- We’re taking a quick spin in the 2024 Corvette E-Ray.
- The model is the first hybrid Corvette as well as the first with all-wheel drive.
- Feel free to ask us questions, which we’ll answer in a separate piece.
The Chevrolet Corvette has withstood the test of time, largely sticking to a tried-and-true formula. However, the C8 threw that playbook in the trash as it debuted as a modern, mid-engine sports car in 2019.
The C8 continues to rewrite the rules and the Corvette E-Ray is one of the largest departures in history. It’s not only the first hybrid Corvette, but also the first with all-wheel drive.
More: 2024 Corvette E-Ray AWD Hybrid Is The Quickest ‘Vette Ever, Hits 60 In 2.5 Seconds
The powertrain is probably familiar by now, but it features a 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 495 hp (369 kW / 502 PS) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque. It powers the rear wheels as you’d expect, but the engine is accompanied by a front-mounted motor that develops 160 hp (119 kW / 162 PS) and 125 lb-ft (169 Nm) of torque.
This setup gives the car a combined output of 655 hp (488 kW / 664 PS). That’s just shy of the 670 hp (500 kW / 679 PS) Corvette Z06, but the extra traction means the E-Ray is the quicker of the two. It rockets from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.5 seconds, before running the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds.
Besides being fast, the E-Ray’s 1.9 kWh battery pack enables the car to be driven in electric Stealth Mode at speeds up to 45 mph (72 km/h). That’s something your neighbors will undoubtedly appreciate when you head off to work in the morning.
Despite being able to be driven on electricity alone, the E-Ray isn’t a plug-in hybrid. Instead, its battery gets all the juice it needs from normal driving and regenerative braking.
We’ll have lots more to say about the Corvette E-Ray in the near future as we’ll be spending some time with a well-equipped 3LZ Coupe. In the meantime, feel free to ask us your burning questions and we’ll answer them in a future piece.