Chevrolet has just released a short, 30 second video teasing the release of their new hybrid Corvette, the E-RAY. Although the name E-RAY is not mentioned, we do know that name has been previously registered by General Motors.
The video confirms the electrified vehicle is 4WD as the front wheels can be seen breaking traction and kicking up a spray of snow particles as the car accelerates. The exhaust rumble heard on the video is clearly that of the LT2 engine, which powers the Stingray version of the C8, not the flat-plane crank engine used in the upcoming Z06. The teaser shows the exhaust outlets are at either side of the rear fascia, not grouped in the centre as per the Z06 exhaust outlets.
So, how will the E-RAY line-up against the Z06? No power ratings for the electric motor have been released yet, but it could be in the vicinity of 150 HP, which would make the combined power output for the E-RAY around 650 HP, just 20 HP shy of the Z06. The Z06 will be the lighter car and its weight distribution may be superior to that of the E-RAY. At the first launch of the C8, the engineers told us they felt the weight distribution was just about ideal, so if they are to be believed, the E-RAY may lose out somewhat by having the centre of mass moved forward a little by the addition of the electric motor and battery. The Z06 is certainly the race-type version of the C8, with a close relationship to the C8-R race cars.
An April 26th CNBC interview with Mark Reuss, President of General Motors, revealed the Corvette team had been moved into the EV space at the Tech Centre. Reuss announced that an “electrified” Corvette would come first, then a fully electric Corvette would follow. He stated the electrified Corvette would come next year (2023). When questioned about when the fully electric Corvette would be available, he said this news would come later and that the EV model would be “in addition to” the great performance that Chevrolet had been known for with its internal combustion engines. He stressed the plan of “in addition to”.
The body is clearly the wide-body version as used by the Z06, as are the big wheels and brakes, and the wishbone style trims on the side air inlets. It has long been tipped that the E-RAY would replace the Grand Sport in the C8 line-up, and this very much appears to be the case. In past generations the Grand Sport has worn the wide body looks of the Z06, but without the Z06 engine. The E-RAY also wears the current Z06 body but differs in the engine department by again using the base engine, but this time in tandem with an electric engine to drive the front wheels.
When it comes to 0-60 mph acceleration times, the E-RAY should be comfortably in front of the Z06. All the way up to 60 mph the Corvette is “traction-limited”, meaning no matter how much power/torque the car has, its 0-60 time will be controlled by how much traction it has. The engine has the toque to break traction all the way up to 60 mph, so adding extra torque won’t make the car any quicker. But add two more wheels to propel the car and you now have basically double the traction. The E-RAY will be considerably quicker to 60 mph and I’ve heard rumours of sub 2 second times. But, as speed increases, the torque curve of the electric motor will decreases while the Z06 will come into its own, where it should overtake and pull away from the E-RAY.
Although Reuss announced GM would “have an electrified Corvette next year”, it remains to be seen if the E-RAY, which most believe it will be named, will actually go into production next year, or if it will be just fully revealed. Judging on the time between the full reveal of the Z06 and it going on sale, one could expect it may be the year after next before deliveries begin.