GM has been teasing the public for some time with pictures and videos of a hybrid electric Corvette, dubbed the E-Ray. These spy photos show a C8 with the wide body styling of the 2023 Z06. The recent siting caught the Corvette E-Ray making test laps on the infamous Nurburgring racetrack in Germany.
Right Of Passage
The Nurburgring has long been the testing ground for sorting out high-performance production vehicles. It’s commonplace to see different manufacturers doing laps on the track and making adjustments in the technical center. During their development, the C8 Stingray and the C8 Z06 spent time at the ‘Ring. It’s no surprise that we are now seeing the C8 E-Ray putting in work on the track.
This isn’t the first time the E-Ray has been spotted at the famed testing grounds either. Last year Corvette E-Ray prototypes were caught driving on public roads surrounding the Nurburgring while the C8 Z06 was being tested on the racetrack. Several of the E-Ray models were seen testing on the track while a few Z06 models were spotted on the surrounding roads. The Corvette team spent the morning making adjustments to the cars in the technical center. The cars then went out on track for several laps in the early test session. After a break, the fleet of E-Ray prototypes made their way back out for several more laps in the afternoon session.
Best Of Both Worlds
Before readers lose their minds over the idea of an electric Corvette, the E-Ray is a hybrid design that pairs the impressive naturally aspirated 6.2-liter LT2 V8 internal combustion engine with an electric drive unit mounted up front. This mating of power trains provides all-wheel-drive grip while retaining the looks and sounds of the gasoline-only powered Corvette C8 Stingray. The Corvette E-Ray will sport the wide body of the Z06 with steam roller wide 345-section tires in the rear.
Expanding The EV Corvette Offerings
General Motor president Mark Ruess has said the hybrid Corvette will launch next year. This means it will likely be branded as a 2024 model. The GM president has also stated that the hybridization of the Corvette won’t stop with the E-Ray. The Corvette team is hard at work on the C8 Corvette Zora. It is expected to utilize a twin-turbo 5.5-liter LT7 V8 paired with an even more powerful electric drive unit. So the C8 Zora would also be all-wheel drive and produce approximately 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. The C8 Zora would be the last model in the C8 life cycle and is expected sometime in 2025.
We will continue to follow the development of the hybrid Corvette E-Ray and provide you with updates. So check back often at LSX Magazine for the latest updates on the prototype hybrid Corvette and all other LS/LT news.