2024 Corvette E-Ray A New Kind of Supercar
Corvette E-Ray
Design Eye Q Studio joins the conversation about Chevrolet’s newest Corvette, the 2024 E-Ray, a hybrid supercar unlike any other.
Chevrolet recently unveiled the latest Corvette: the 2024 E-Ray. This hybrid supercar has made a splash in not only the automotive industry, but in the tech world as well.
With an oh-so-silky-smooth baritone small block Chevy 6.2l V8 engine in the back (which you can admire in your rearview mirror from the driver seat, as it sits in glorious display) and a 160 HP electric motor with a tiny 1.9 kilowatt battery (which you never have to plug in, as it regens using the car’s inertia when it slows down at stop signs, etc.) this AWD supercar does credit to the Corvette’s legacy of power and innovation.
It was just a few months ago that we spotlighted Corvette’s history. It started with the 1963 C2 Sting Ray and culminated with the 2023 C8 Z06, the fulfillment of Zora Arkus-Duntov’s mid-engine dream. But there was still room to improve upon that dream. Check out this segment from Hoovie’s Garage just last month, when he took apart his Z06 and noted the block off plates for AWD axles and a big battery-shaped hole down the middle. The foundations for the E-Ray were already laid.
Zora’s desire to produce a mid-engine Corvette had a lot to do with increasing the car’s drivability. His spirit is alive in the design of the E-ray, as it is not only the fastest Vette ever made, but also the most drivable. Sometimes the front wheels of mid-engine rear drive cars lose traction and the car plows straight when you try to turn. But in the E-Ray, the electric-powered front wheels will kick in and pull the front end around corners. It feels like magic.
Techies are also admiring the E-Ray. MKBHD, also known as Marques Brownlee, is a crazy popular Youtuber that is primarily interested in tech. He was super impressed by the E-Ray’s software. Using its front-axle battery, the E-Ray can start up in “stealth mode” and quietly hum through the neighborhood before unleashing its full-throated V8 engine roar on the freeway. It’s a unique and compelling step towards complete electrification of the Vette. Our hot take: we predict the first fully-electric Corvette is mere months away from being unveiled.
Also worth mentioning is the E-Ray’s giganto 345 all-season tires, which, when combined with AWD, enable it to dominate even snow and ice.
In conclusion, the E-Ray is a badass hybrid supercar (three words we never thought could go together) that pays homage and does credit to the Vette legacy.
