Seventy years to the day after Chevrolet first revealed the Corvette in New York City, it's notched another milestone: the first-ever electrified version of the iconic sports car.
On Tuesday, Chevy unveiled the 2024 Corvette E-Ray, the first 'Vette to be powered jointly by a gas engine and an electric motor. A thrilling test ride in the breathtakingly quick new model made me wonder: What took so long?The E-Ray pairs a 6.2-liter V8 with an electric motor driving the front axle. This hybrid powertrain unleashes an impressive 655 horsepower and 595 pound-feet of torque.
Capable of hitting 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and smashing a quarter mile in 10.5, the E-Ray is the quickest production Corvette ever, Chevy says. Like other souped-up models, the E-Ray gets fatter tires and a wider body to match. A grab-bag of superlatives, the E-Ray is also the first Corvette with all-wheel drive.
We started out in Stealth Mode, which uses only the E-Ray's front motor to silently amble at speeds of up to 45 mph. Bulkley then took me on a cobblestone street to demonstrate the model's standard adaptive suspension, which can soak up bumps on regular roads or stiffen up for more spirited driving. It was comfy and not at all jittery. Then Bulkley stomped the gas to switch on the E-Ray's throaty V8.
So why not launch a hybrid Corvette earlier? Simple. The new mid-engine layout, which puts the engine behind the seats andThe 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray.
An electric Corvette?! Why bother?