Corvette E-Ray Makes Even More Power Than GM Says

Not only does the Corvette E-Ray not lose torque on the dyno, it actually posts a higher number than its factory rating.

Following an elongated wait, a successful debut, and much critical acclaim, deliveries of the brand new Corvette E-Ray just began recently, and the very first electrified Corvette ever is now beginning to reach private hands. That means, of course, we’ll start seeing the Corvette E-Ray subjected to everything from dyno tests to drag races to track days, giving us an idea of just how capable it is. The first notable tidbit has arrived in a recent dyno run conducted by the folks at Paragon Performance, and needless to say, the results are quite eye-opening.

The Corvette E-Ray pairs GM’s 6.2-liter LT2 V8 – also used in the base Stingray – with an electric motor located on the front axle to generate what the automaker claims is a combined output of 655 horsepower and 592 pound-feet of torque. However, when Paragon strapped this example to their dyno recently, it churned out 573 horsepower and 630 pound-feet at the wheels. Drivetrain power loss tends to vary by vehicle, but the old 15 percent rule typically gives us a pretty good idea what to expect, meaning that there’s something amiss here.

In that regard, we’re looking at a 14 percent loss of horsepower between the engine and the wheels, which is pretty much dead on. However, the torque number is obviously eye-raising given the fact that Paragon’s Corvette E-Ray didn’t lose power – rather, it laid down 38 more pound-feet than GM claims it does without even factoring in any sort of drivetrain loss. It’s a shocking result indeed, and it makes one wonder – what is this electrified powertrain really churning out?

Even better, the E-Ray’s electric motor helps this version of the Corvette post higher power numbers through the entire rev range compared to the Stingray, in spite of the heat it generates, and that unit alone produced a whopping 200 pound-feet by itself between 2,000 and 4,200 rpm – far higher than GM’s claim of 125 maximum pound-feet from that auxiliary unit. The E-Ray can’t match the upper end power of the high-revving Z06, of course, but it’s quite clear that GM accomplished its mission of harnessing electric power to make this a seriously quick, highly capable machine, regardless.

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