Facts about the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray

The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray is no ordinary Corvette. Probably object to this automobile even having the nameplate. This is because what seems to be a Z06 model with a busier grille design is an all-wheel-drive hybrid.

The E-Ray may not stick out at the local country club, but behind its broad body lies a 160-hp front-mounted electric motor that couples with a 495-hp small-block V-8 from the ordinary Stingray to provide 655 ponies—just 15 less than the track-focused Z06.

That’s only the tip of the E-Ray iceberg, so we’ve compiled a list of our top seven Vette facts.

The Front-Motor Vette Has Returned!

You read that correctly. The E-Ray, with its front-mounted electric motor, signals a comeback of the front-motor Vette—sort of. When in all-electric Stealth mode, the E-Ray becomes the first-ever front-wheel-drive Corvette, although quiet breaks beyond 45 mph or after severe throttle inputs. When the raucous 6.2-liter V-8 powering the back wheels joins the party, the first hybrid Corvette becomes the first with all-wheel drive.

Motoring at Its Finest

According to experts that worked on the hybrid Corvette, the E-Ray has a peak speed of roughly 180 mph. However, research has it that the electric powertrain is capable of speeds more than 150 mph. Still, it’ll be difficult to get a more typical hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius, to travel that fast. GM also claims that the E-Ray is the fastest production Corvette ever manufactured, reaching 60 mph in 2.5 seconds.

Escape from the House

The ability to leave your area without alerting the neighbors is the most practical feature of the Corvette E-Ray’s electric-only Stealth mode, apart from being a cool party trick.

Another Corvette first.

The E-Ray is not just the first all-wheel-drive hybrid Corvette; it is also the first vehicle to come equipped with carbon-ceramic brakes and all-season tires. The eBoost-assisted carbon-ceramic discs with Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers fit within the wide 20-inch front and 21-inch rear rims, which are wrapped in 275/30 and 345/25 all-season rubber, respectively.

All-Season Tires of Biblical Size

The rear tires on the Corvette E-Ray are massive. While the 275-section-width front tires are pretty huge on their own, the 345-section-width rear tires dwarf them. A summer-specific set is also available, but all-season rubber is usual. Chevy engineers said that the all-season tires will have up to 1.0 g of lateral grip.

Built with a Ton of Bricks… or Two…

You’re undoubtedly wondering how much the electric motor, battery pack, and other hybrid components add to the curb weight of the Corvette. Chevrolet experts said it weighs roughly 300 pounds less than the Z06 variants. A coupe measured 3666 pounds on our scales, while a convertible weighed 3799 pounds. According to a simple calculation, the latter will exceed the 2-ton threshold, making the droptop E-Ray the first model to weigh more than 4000 pounds and the fattest Vette ever.

Quick Charge, Small Battery

The Corvette E-Ray’s hybrid powertrain lacks a plug, resulting in a limited electric-only range of a few miles. This is by design since the tiny 1.1-kWh battery pack squeezed between its occupants is designed to enhance performance more than efficiency. The battery, according to Chevy experts, is designed to charge and discharge quickly. On short and narrow road courses, the battery is believed to survive as long as the automobile has gas. However, on longer racetracks like Virginia International Raceway (VIR), where the E-Ray’s special Charge+ option is necessary to maximize the battery’s state of charge, this is not the case.