Here's Everything We Know About the Hybrid Corvette E-Ray

Electric Avenue

It wasn't all that long ago when the mere thought of a hybrid Corvette would be considered blasphemy. But we live in a different world now, a time when the electrification of all vehicles on the market seems inevitable. Regardless, the good news is, the Corvette E-Ray won't be some world-saving, fuel-sipping hybrid - it will use its electric power to make the C8 even faster, which is music to our ears.

Photos: Chevrolet

More Motors, More Power

At this point, the E-Ray is nothing more than rumors and speculation, but together, those give us a pretty good idea of what to expect from the first-ever hybrid Corvette. And the most exciting aspect of the car is its rumored pair of front-mounted electric motors, which will work in tandem with a traditional internal combustion engine to offer up the superior traction of all-wheel-drive.

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>>Join the conversation about the hybrid C8 E-Ray right here in the Electric Vehicles Forums!

In Between

As far as that ICE engine goes, rumors suggest that the E-Ray will retain the C8's LT2 powerplant, though it could receive a bit of a boost over the current Z51-equipped Corvette's 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, which would help position the E-Ray in between the base Stingray and the forthcoming Z06.

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>>Join the conversation about the hybrid C8 E-Ray right here in the Electric Vehicles Forums!

More Sinister?

Other rumors suggest that the E-Ray will also provide the basis for an even more sinister hybrid C8 - the much-rumored Zora. That car would also feature two front-mounted electric motors, but it would pair them with a twin-turbocharged version of the Z06's flat-plane crank V8 to pump out over 900 horsepower. 

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>>Join the conversation about the hybrid C8 E-Ray right here in the Electric Vehicles Forums!

Stayin' Alive

Sharing this new technology would make a lot of financial sense for GM, and using the same powertrains in multiple variants is a classic and popular move among automakers. Plus, with some states and countries vowing to ban the sale of new ICE-powered cars by 2035, GM needs to figure out a way to keep the Corvette alive for future generations.

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>>Join the conversation about the hybrid C8 E-Ray right here in the Electric Vehicles Forums!

Electric Future

Building a hybrid is the first logical step in that process, and could eventually lead to the much-rumored fully-electric Corvette. That may not win over many traditionalists, but it almost seems inevitable at this point. 

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>>Join the conversation about the hybrid C8 E-Ray right here in the Electric Vehicles Forums!

Uncertain prospects

Regardless, there's a lot to like about the E-Ray, even if we don't know much about it at this point. That includes when it might actually launch. It could happen before or after we finally see the C8 Z06, but with the pandemic and cancellation of most major auto shows last year, it's hard to tell when either might bow.

Photos: Chevrolet

>>Join the conversation about the hybrid C8 E-Ray right here in the Electric Vehicles Forums!