We just captured a rather peculiar Corvette C8 prototype undergoing testing, and our sources tell us that this is yet another mule for the upcoming Corvette E-Ray, also known as the plug-in hybrid Corvette.
What we see is a vehicle that looks nearly identical, if not fully identical, to the all-new, mid-engine 2020 Corvette Stingray, except for a rather curious exhaust configuration mated to a device attached to the sport coupe’s rear end. A closer look reveals a stock exhaust system that’s routed through a set of new outboard piping that connects to the aforementioned device, which we’ve come to learn is an exhaust flow measurement tool from Semtech.
In addition, this plug-in hybrid Corvette C8 prototype features orange cabling that we have seen various times before. As GM Authority exclusively explained, the orange cables have kill switches on the outside of the vehicle, allowing engineers to disable power flow to whatever they’re connected to. In this case, one of the cables on this prototype is providing power to the emissions testing device out back.
Now, the 2020 Corvette C8 has been shipping to dealers since the beginning of March, and customers are beginning to take delivery of the very first C8 units. In that regard, it’s simply too late at this point for GM to be performing exhaust and emissions testing for the C8 Stingray. As such, what we’re looking at here is a prototype for a future electrified C8 model variant expected to be called Corvette E-Ray, with this particular mule being configured for emissions testing.
When it does come to market, the E-Ray is expected to be analogous to the C8 Stingray, but with added performance and fuel economy benefits. An electric drive unit located in the front cargo area will draw power from four 1.94 kWh batteries placed in the car’s midship to generate around slightly north of 100 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of torque. That electric configuration will be paired with the familiar 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine from the C8 Stingray, which makes 490 horsepower. The result will be that the PHEV hybrid Corvette will make a total system power in the vicinity 600 horsepower.
As GM Authority was first to report, General Motors filed two applications to register “Corvette E-Ray” and “E-Ray” as trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as far back as 2015.
We’ll have more on this Corvette hybrid in the very near future, so be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Corvette E-Ray news, Corvette news and mid-engine Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
A C8 Corvette hybrid makes a lot of sense as the electric motor(s) can allow for quicker acceleration as the gas motor would provide the grunt to take the Corvette to higher speeds, the Corvette wouldn’t be able to go too much further than C8 Corvette Z51 Stingray package as the gas motor would provide the grunt to take the top speed to 200+ mph and if the gas motor is a twin-turbo LS2 6.2L V8 with a horsepower output of 900-1200 hp, the Corvette Z06 will be capable of challenging almost all of the super-cars in production except for possibly the Bugatti.
OMG!! That’s not an exhaust flow measurement tool, its a disguised Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor!!! “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”
Some one was saying GM quit hybrid power train but now o see plug-in . Is this hybrid or BEV ?
They won’t make a equnox or traverse plug-in ?
It should be a PHEV. I believe that the quitting hybrids remark was limited to mainstream/volume vehicles, not specialty models like the Corvette.
That is a range extender option from Generac. Lol.
Thank you Mr. Luft for expressing his opinion on this matter. In my opinion, a Plug-in Hybrid that charges at home as well as by movements on the car chosen via braking and coasting etc. make for the most reliable and low footprint car in the industry. Until other enegy forms to power a vehicle are found This is the best method. Great styling and practicality can occur with the continual downsizing of weight and sometimes the complexity of electric components. Ways of storing energy will continue to be investigated by inventors and scientists until real efficiency is developed. The efficiency of gasoline engines as gone up, but as a result, larger vehicle which are not friendly to the environment in trucks and SUV’s continue to be built. Downsizing to cars something like the BMW electric car with reconfiguration and wide doors must also continue to grow lighter and stronger. Engine efficiency must continue to be improved. AF
Just so it is understood, Porsche has been gradually pushing the hybrid and electric envelopes, with it’s Le Mans winning car in 2015 sort of leading the way for direction in the electric car market. The 918 shows what a tremendous car that a hybrid can be. Coming quickly will be hybrid 911’s and Mercedes-Benz has been testing electric vehicles, intensively for a number of years, allowing them to produce hybrids of different types along with all electric cars. Battery charge time and battery power-holding efficiency are goals of the automakers to provide safety and proper range. Proving efficiency with other models has begun to provide a lot of information to dealers as the develop power and efficiency to provide high mileage for future models. AF