Chevy unveiled the 2024 Corvette E-Ray on Tuesday morning, commemorating the iconic nameplate’s 70th birthday. The first-generation Corvette debuted on January 17, 1953 at Motorama in New York City. Fast-forward seven decades and the new E-Ray is unlike any other Corvette ever offered by the Bow Tie brand. This sports car features a hybrid powertrain, comes with standard all-wheel drive and has the ability to blitz from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds.
A tried-and-true small block is the lynchpin of the E-Ray’s powertrain, a familiar 6.2-liter LT2 V8 with 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. Fitted with GM’s Active Fuel Management, this engine can shut down half its cylinders under light loads to save gasoline. Further improving the efficiency of that small block is a separate electric motor that powers the front wheels, providing eAWD for added traction in all driving conditions.
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That motor delivers an additional 160 hp and 125 lb-ft of toque, which buoys the E-Ray’s output, giving it a system total of 655 hp. That’s enough to chew up and spit out the quarter mile in just 10.5 seconds at an estimated 130 mph, which helps make this the quickest production Corvette ever offered. Storing and releasing energy as dictated by driving conditions is a small, 1.9-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that mounts between the seats. The Corvette E-Ray is a hybrid, not a plug-in, so there’s no way – or need – to charge it. Still, despite its petite capacity, that battery is still capacious enough to enable a feature called Stealth Mode, which allows you to drive solely on electricity for very short distances at speeds up to 45 mph.
“The electrification technology enhances the feeling of control in all conditions, adding an unexpected degree of composure,” said Tadge Juechter, executive chief engineer of the Corvette in a media release posted by Chevrolet. “Corvettes must provide an exhilarating driving experience on backroads and tracks, and E-Ray nails it,” he added.
Aside from its amped-up powertrain, the 2024 Chevy Corvette E-Ray also boasts of several other unique features. For starters, it comes with a lithium-ion 12-volt battery instead of a traditional lead-acid battery. This design is almost certainly lighter and takes up less space. Additionally, staggered 20- and 21-inch wheels, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 with three different settings and Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes are all standard. That last feature is a bit surprising because it seems like overkill in a hybrid since regenerative braking helps reduce the burden placed on friction brakes. But there are probably good reasons for fitting every E-Ray with carbon-ceramic binders.
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A few visual changes help set the E-Ray apart from non-hybrid Corvettes. Body-length Electric Blue racing stripes should be standard. Four aluminum wheel designs will be offered along with a whopping 14 paint colors. New hues for 2024 include Riptide Blue, Seawolf Gray and Cacti. Carbon fiber ground-effects and blacked-out exhaust tips are optional.
“There’s never been a Corvette like E-Ray and its sophisticated design reflects that,” said Phil Zak in a media release. He’s the global executive design director at Chevrolet. “It starts with the body color trim which draws your full attention to the exotic proportions of the E-Ray. The interiors allow customers to reflect their individual personalities with their choice of color executions that provide a refined or dynamic sport look and feel.”
The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray goes on sale later this year, though how much later is unclear, though hopefully it starts showing up at dealerships before the last week of December. In coupe form, this Corvette starts $104,295, though the convertible model kicks off at $111,295. Neither of those prices likely include delivery fees, so budget accordingly.