Without reading anything about the 2024 Chevy Corvette E-Ray, what are your first thoughts? If you are anything like me, you probably figured they took a really cool car and made it more fuel efficient. After all, isn’t that the whole point of creating a hybrid? No, it’s not, and Chevy knew that when it dreamt up the new E-Ray.
There are plenty of awesome things about the 2024 Chevy Corvette E-Ray, and the fact that it is technically a hybrid is only one of them. But what else makes the latest addition to the Corvette line-up totally radical? Here are the top five things that make the new Corvette E-Ray one of the coolest cars of 2024.
#1 – Faster Together
Hybrid systems are not just for boosting fuel efficiency, and Chevrolet has proven that. The 2024 Corvette E-Ray is a hybrid, but not for the reasons most people would assume. The E-Ray is equipped with an electric drive unit powered by a 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery. On its own, the electric drive unit produces 160 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. That may not seem impressive on its own, but thankfully, it is not alone.
The E-Ray is also powered by a small block 6.2-liter V8 engine. This bad boy produces 495 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. When the electric drive unit works in combination with the V8, the outcome is a whopping 655 hp. Plus, while the V8 supplies 470 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, the electric drive unit is busy sending its torque to the front. The result is one incredibly powerful sports car, with the hybrid system shaving half a second off the Corvette’s zero to 60 mph time.
#2 – Stealth Never Looked So Good
The Corvette E-Ray is not designed for long-haul electric driving, but that is okay because that was not the point of making a hybrid Corvette. However, that did not stop engineers and designers from utilizing the Corvette’s hybrid set-up for a pretty cool feature. It is called Stealth Mode, which is perhaps one of the best names given to an electric-only drive mode.
Stealth Mode allows the driver to enable the E-Ray’s all-electric drive mode at start-up. When enabled, it allows for a stealthy getaway. By not engaging the engine, the Corvette can roll on out of any situation without making a sound. Stealth Mode works when driving under 45 mph and will be disengaged if the driver depresses the accelerator or if the battery pack is drained.
#3 – Dude, Where’s the Charge Port?
That is right; the hybrid 2024 Corvette E-Ray does not have a charge port. But on this particular hybrid, it makes plenty of sense. Creating a hybrid Corvette had little to do with fuel efficiency. Instead, it had a whole lot to do with taking advantage of hybrid technology and applying it to the Corvette to make it faster and more powerful.
With that idea behind the Corvette E-Ray’s design, there was no reason to consider outside charge sources for the battery pack. The battery is small and can charge itself as you drive. Regenerative braking is one method of replenishing the battery that is quite common with hybrid vehicles. The E-Ray can also be charged while coasting and through a method called through-the-road charging which uses the electric motor as a generator.
While regenerative charging is nothing new, Chevy has managed to optimize charging time. The E-Ray is designed with a feature called Charge+ which kicks battery charging into overdrive, taking the battery from nearly depleted to fully charged in just three miles. Despite its quick charging feature, the charge does not last for long hauls. This is because the battery was not designed to hold a lot of energy like other hybrid systems. Instead, it was designed to boost performance.
That being said, it is quite difficult to fully drain the E-Ray’s battery. Because of how quickly it recharges during braking or cruising, there is extraordinarily little you can do to completely drain the power. The exception to this is drifting, which is a highly demanding activity on a vehicle. However, thanks to its quick charge capabilities, the E-Ray has been given the boost in performance it needs to smoke the competition on the track.
#4 – No Expenses Spared
There is a reason that the 2024 Chevy Corvette E-Ray starts at a cool one-hundred grand, and it is because no expenses were spared in the making of this dream machine. The E-Ray gets to claim the spot of the first production car to come standard with carbon-ceramic brakes and all-season tires. Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport tires provide the ultimate combination for the most effective stopping power.
Carbon-ceramic brakes offer several advantages over traditional iron discs. First, carbon-ceramic brakes are substantially lighter than iron brake discs. Overall, carbon-ceramic discs weigh half as much as traditional iron discs. This massive weight reduction has a dramatic impact on unsprung mass, which has an outsized effect on acceleration and ride quality.
Wheels, brakes, and even the suspension itself fall under the category of unsprung mass. By reducing the weight of the brake discs, we also reduce the unsprung mass. This means less weight impacting the effectiveness of the suspension and, in turn, the way the vehicle handles. Improved braking, acceleration, and even traction can be seen from lighter brake discs.
Carbon-ceramic discs are also resistant to brake fade, which can be caused by repetitive use and overheating of the material. Iron is susceptible to extreme heat and can become deformed as a result. The resiliency of carbon-ceramic discs makes them long-lasting. In many cases, the carbon-ceramic discs will outlast the vehicle itself. Not only do they last several times longer than traditional brake discs, but they avoid excessive wear that can impact drive quality and performance.
With so many benefits, you would have to wonder why every car manufacturer does not switch to carbon-ceramic brakes. Well, the price tag is one big reason most manufacturers do not. Because of the material that is required, and the tedious process involved in making the discs, they are quite costly to produce. That is why they are typically found on higher-end sports cars, where every little detail plays into performance. Even on higher-end vehicles, these brakes are typically an optional upgrade due to the cost, but they are standard with the 2024 Corvette E-Ray.
#5 – All-Wheel Remember This Heavy Hitter
The 2024 Corvette E-Ray gets to claim many firsts, and one of these firsts is that it is the only Corvette with all-wheel drive. For those unfamiliar with the history of the Corvette, this may seem inconsequential. If, however, your need for speed has made you familiar with the Corvette, then you will understand the implications of such a change. The Corvette has been given a new path to follow, and whether this is for the best seems to be dependent on who you talk to.
As an all-wheel drive car, the Corvette E-Ray gains an important performance advantage. This advantage comes in the form of the additional traction produced by sending torque to both the rear and front axles. The added traction contributes to the E-Ray’s ridiculous speed and its title as the fastest Corvette to date.
Another advantage that comes along with being all-wheel drive is that the Corvette is no longer a summer-only sports car. Decked out with all-season Michelin tires, the E-Ray can be a showstopper in all kinds of weather. There is some added value that comes from being able to drive your pricey sports car more than one or two seasons a year.
The E-Ray Is Changing The Game
The Corvette has never been lacking, but that didn’t stop the creative minds at Chevrolet from dreaming up ways of making it even better. When most people considered hybrid systems, they saw the potential of fuel-efficient vehicles of the future. When Chevy considered hybrid technology, it saw a way of making a really fast car even faster. It doesn’t matter if you are a purist or not; the bottom line is that it is tough to dispute the fantastic outcome that came from this mash-up. In the end, the Corvette E-Ray is still very much a Corvette, just with a little something extra.
