CONFIRMED: Hybrid and Fully Electric Corvette Models Coming Soon!

We knew the day was coming but today GM made it official and stated that a hybrid and fully electric Corvette will be here as soon as next year.

The rumors of a hybrid Corvette have been swirling for a while now. Pretty much since the day the C8 platform was launched. And with the entire automotive world going electric, it had to be expected that a fully electric Corvette would also be in the cards at some point. Well, today General Motors made it official. GM President, Mark Reuss shared the news in a LinkedIn post today. That post coincided with a teaser video posted on the Chevrolet YouTube channel. In that video we can hear some combustion engine sounds so that is likely the hybrid model which will arrive first.

Reuss stated in LinkedIn:

“Some time ago we moved the Corvette team into the EV space in Warren, Michigan, and when we revealed the new mid-engine Corvette, I said there would be “more to come.” This morning I sat down with Phil LeBeau of CNBC and finally answered the question I’ve been asked countless times. Yes, in addition to the amazing new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and other gas-powered variants coming, we will offer an electrified and a fully electric, Ultium-based Corvette in the future. In fact, we will offer an electrified Corvette as early as next year. Details and names to come at a later date.”

E-Ray Hybrid

As stated in the post the name E-Ray is not official as names and details have yet to be officially revealed. However, no matter what it is called, we expect this car to combine the 6.2L LT2 V8 with electric motors that will boost the horsepower to the 650 range. This is expected to be combined with an all-wheel-drive configuration. That will likely result in the fastest accelerating Corvette ever produced. If the base C8 Stingray can hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds, it is possible this hybrid, even with the additional weight, could knock at least a half-second off of that time.

Fully Electric Corvette

Again, we don’t have a confirmed name for this model yet, but the Corvette EV is on the way. This car will not have any of the traditional V8 rumble that we have all gotten accustomed to over the last several decades. But it will come with blistering performance. It is well known at this point how quickly an EV can accelerate with its instant torque delivery. And a sportscar like the Corvette is certainly going to prioritize performance. So, it is possible that the EV may be even quicker still than the hybrid. The mighty Z06 could be the “slowest” of the three, at least in a straight line. That is mind-boggling to think about.

Ultium Energy Recovery

If you think we are expecting too much from these electrified Corvettes, consider the second announcement that GM made today. Reuss stated:

“In addition, we also announced today Ultium Platform’s energy recovery system, a patented onboard system that takes the heat generated by EV batteries and uses it to warm the cabin, create more efficient charging conditions, and even increase vehicle acceleration. And it can boost the vehicle’s range by about 10%. It’s a perfect example of how developing a ground-up EV platform like Ultium enables unique features not easily done with a retrofit.”

The Future

Today was a big news day at GM. The familiar Corvette formula that we have been so used to changed with the mid-engine C8. That change resulted in the best performing base Stingray ever. But with the announcement of a hybrid, and fully electric Corvette, the formula is set for another major change. However, one thing will remain the same and that is the commitment to performance. The base C8 rocked our world, the Z06 is going to take it a step further and these electrified versions may push it even further still. Watch this space for more news as it becomes available.

What do YOU think about a hybrid and/or an all-electric Corvette?
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