The Corvette has been an American standard for a long time. It’s not easy, but Chevy has been able to do it for decades by coming up with a great recipe.
When the company showed off the C8, which had a completely new mid-engine layout common in high-end supercars, everything changed. The first car with both all-wheel drive and electric technology is the 2024 Corvette E-Ray. The new ideas continue.
There’s no denying that this Corvette is unique. But after the improvements, the E-Ray can now go above and beyond regular sports cars and give you a driving experience that is on par with the best in the world. It’s even more amazing when you think about how much it costs to begin with, at $104,900.
It’s broad and powerful
It’s been a few years since the C8, but it still looks great. It looks even more threatening because of its broad body, which it shares with the Z06. It is 3.6 inches (91 mm) bigger than the Stingray, which means it is 79.7 inches (2,024 mm) longer.
The E-Ray is the only combination with 20—and 21-inch wheels that are spaced out and twisted. It also has a very big body. The wheels have wide Michelin Pilot Sport or Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that grip the road very well.
You can get the E-Ray as a car with a removable roof panel or as a hardtop convertible. This one was our test subject, and it’s easy to remove and store in the trunk.
Corvettes are great at being customized, and buyers have many choices for doing so. For example, the well-equipped model we used had carbon flash forged aluminum wheels for $995, a carbon fiber roof panel for $2,495, black exhaust tips for $395, and carbon flash mirror caps for $195.
We would make sure to complete the $2,595 front lift system, even though you don’t need any of these. It lifts the front end about 1.6 inches (40 mm) with the push of a button to protect it from damage caused by speed bumps and steep roads. We pressed that button a lot during our test drive because it’s better to be safe than sorry.
It is a pretty cabin with a few strange things about it
The inside is still amazing, even though it’s been there for years. One of the best examples of this is the top-of-the-line 3LZ, which has cloth and leather inside. The makers really went the extra mile by adding embroidery to the door and roof panels that really stand out.
The GT2 racing seats’ carbon fiber trim makes them look and feel good. They have eight power settings, eight heating and cooling choices, and perforated leather all around.
The carbon fiber steering wheel is easy to hold and the right size, but that’s not all the good news. Buyers will also have access to a 12-inch digital instrument panel, an 8-inch infotainment system with Google, and a head-up display. The second one is well-placed and sensitive, but it feels small. Also, getting in and out isn’t too hard compared to other mid-engine sports cars.
While there are many benefits, there are also some oddities, like a wireless charging port for your phone on the back wall behind your shoulder. Some people might not like the row of buttons that looks like a ramp, but others will definitely like the real switchgear. The cup holder feels and looks more like it belongs on a Cavalier than a Corvette.
The Corvette is good for the price. It skillfully mixes a huge amount of gear with style and comfort.
Engine and Motor Meet
The Corvette E-Ray stands out from its rivals thanks to its advanced powertrain. A well-known 6.2-liter V8 engine with 495 horsepower (369 kW / 502 PS) sends 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque to the back wheels. A light 12-volt lithium-ion battery powers it, and the engine is the same as the regular Stingray. A start/stop device and cylinder deactivation technology are also built-in.
The E-Ray is different in this way: the engine is paired with an electric motor on the front of the car that makes 160 horsepower (119 kW or 162 PS) and 125 lb-ft (169 Nm) of torque. It makes the car go faster and gives it all-wheel drive.
The car’s engine and motor put out a total of 655 horsepower (488 kW / 664 PS). The Z06 has 670 horsepower (500 kW / 679 PS), but the E-Ray can go from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96 km/h) in 2.5 seconds thanks to its better grip, making it the fastest Corvette ever.
There aren’t any problems, and the performance is great. The entertainment system’s E-Ray gauge gives you a look at what’s going on inside, but the real magic happens in the background. In real-time, it shows the outputs of the engine and motor.
It’s amazing to watch the screen while moving because the car perfectly sends power to both the front and back wheels. When moving, the E-Ray can send ten horsepower (7 kW / 10 PS) to the front wheels and 50 horsepower (37 kW / 51 PS) to the back. This lets you speed up. It’s almost amazing that the Corvette knows how much power to make and where to send it.
The car is now more responsive, easy to handle, and accurate. The E-Ray has an amazing amount of grip and stability, which makes it feel very stable. Because the car has a low center of gravity, good suspension, and all-wheel drive, drivers can feel very safe. These features make making turns very easy.
The all-wheel drive reduces some of the fun. On the other hand, we stayed within the car’s range and on public roads.
Corvette EV that drives its front wheels
One cool new feature that the engine makes possible is Stealth Mode. The E-ray is powered by the vehicle’s 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery so that it can run on energy alone. To do this, press the start button, put the car in Stealth mode, and apply the brakes.
When the Corvette starts up slowly, it shows a unique cluster display that lets you know it runs on electricity alone. After that, you put it in drive and go.
The Corvette can go 3–4 miles (4.8–6.4 km) on its power, even though its Stealth Mode was made so that owners could leave their homes without bothering their neighbors. That’s easier said than done, though, because the engine will start if you try to speed up quickly or above 45 mph (72 km/h).
There is nothing to plug in like there is on the McLaren Artura. Instead, it is charged by steady drive and regenerative braking. This limits what the car can do, but it’s easy to get in and out.
Lots of fun to use
Do you remember when you drove for fun instead of getting somewhere? You will drive and have fun because the E-Ray tells you to.
The car has a great eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and great steering performance, in addition to its amazing power output. It also has Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 suspension.
We’ll go over all of the Corvette’s driving modes because they have a big effect on how the car, which weighs 3,774 pounds (1,712 kg), moves. Tour Mode takes the edge off of the fast mode, making it perfect for riding slowly on bumpy roads. Track Mode turns everything up a notch, and Sport Mode is all business. In the “My Mode,” owners can fine-tune the engine sound, handling, steering, and brakes to their liking.
When you roll down the windows, the 6.2-liter V8 engine makes a great sound. Some roads were noisy, and we heard a few squeaks. But you’ll definitely hear other sounds as well.
Even though some bumpy roads made the ride rough, the Corvette is surprisingly comfy all around. On fair to good roads, the suspension did a great job of handling bumps. But when the surfaces got worse, the ride changed, and you could see a work zone and a few hits. As you might expect, this is how racing cars usually work.
There is also the usual good view, which is another nice thing that might come as a surprise. However, the back pillars make it hard to see where the nose is because they create big blind spots. The car’s digital rearview mirror and different camera angles help.
Accept the future of The Performance
Like the C8, the Corvette E-Ray will undoubtedly spark discussion. The model has electric power and all-wheel drive, which some loud people see as a sign of weakness.
This is not true at all because adding electricity gives the Corvette more speed and untapped potential. It’s hard to argue with the facts when you have a mid-engine sports car that costs $104,900 and has 655 horsepower (488 kW / 664 PS). Especially one that can run a quarter mile at 130 mph (209 km/h) in 10.5 seconds and go from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96 km/h) in 2.5 seconds.
Those numbers are compared to the Artura, which can go from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in three seconds and has 690 horsepower (515 kW / 700 PS) and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) of torque. The two may be different, but the comparison does show how great the E-Ray is in terms of price.
Besides the engine, the car is well-equipped, stylish, and comfy. A lot of people like it, and it’s fun to drive. It’s definitely a Corvette, but in that way, it’s not like any other.
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