General Motors has abandoned plans to secure rights to the Manta Ray name in the U.S. and Canada. It’s believed that GM has elected to use the E-Ray name on the Chevy Corvette C8 variant once destined to be called Manta Ray.
Here’s how it all went down: five years ago, in June 2015, GM filed trademark applications for “Manta Ray” and “Corvette Manta Ray” in the U.S. as well as for Corvette Manta Ray in Canada. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO ) subsequently granted notice of allowance for both applications, but did not fully approve them until GM filed a document called the Statement of Use. Intended to eliminate a practice known as trademark squatting, the SOU must prove to the office that the applicant is using the name being registered in a real-world product or service. Sources tell us that, GM has abandoned the trademark applications for the Manta Ray names since it’s now planning to use the E-Ray name instead.
| Trademark | Office | Filing Date | Goods & Services | Application Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manta Ray | USPTO (USA) | June 18, 2015 | Motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles, engines therefor and structural parts thereof | 86666844 | Abandoned in 2019 |
| Corvette Manta Ray | USPTO (USA) | June 18, 2015 | Motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles, engines therefor and structural parts thereof | 86666866 | Abandoned in 2020 |
| Corvette Manta Ray | CIPO/OPIC (Canada) | June 18, 2015 | Motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles, engines therefor and structural parts thereof | 1733522 | Abandoned |
Expected to launch in 2022 as a 2023 model year vehicle, the Corvette E-Ray will be the first of two hybrid models in the mid-engine Corvette C8 range. The C8 E-Ray is expected to pair the 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine from the Corvette C8 Stingray driving the rear wheels with an electric motor up front driving the front wheels. Total estimated total system output should land around 600 horsepower.
A C8 E-Ray prototype undergoing testing in January 2020
The C8 E-Ray is also expected to feature a wide body design to accommodate wider running gear compared to the “base” Stingray. And, as GM Authority was first to report, the E-Ray will take the general place of the C8 Grand Sport in the Corvette lineup.
This places the E-Ray in the middle of the Corvette C8 range, between the base model Stingray and the track-focused C8 Z06, but below the expected C8 ZR1 and the C8 Zora range-toppers. Named after “father of the Corvette” Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Zora will be the other hybrid Corvette, and is expected to have a total system output of around 1,000 horsepower when it is launched in the 2024 model year.
1969 Corvette Manta Ray
It’s worth noting that GM has used the Manta Ray name in the past, but not for a customer car. The second of two 1965 Mako Shark II concepts, a running model which made its debut at that year’s Paris Motor Show, was given several updates in 1969, including a flying buttress-style rear end and more production-ready side exhausts. The concept was renamed Manta Ray to reflect the changes. The car still exists, and is part of the GM Heritage Center Collection in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Comments
I generally don’t like hybrid cars. The idea of putting two separate powertrains in a single vehicle to gain a small increase in mileage never made sense to me. However, doing this to increase performance in spurts does make sense. Use the tried and true LS engine, add a couple of electric motors to gain all wheel drive is an elegant engineering solution. I will consider buying an E-Ray and yes I like the name.
I think it should be called E-eel, E=engine eel=electric fish. It is a South American fish which can generate about 600 volts. To me this combination gas engine and electric motors is just to get us half way used to full electric Vettes. When they go to full electric what happens to the term mid-engine? Does the term change to quad corner motors?
Does not make sense why it cant be totally electric. Performance should kill current ISE models. Sports cars are best candidates for electric. Not typically daily driver, not typically driven long distances and need max performance. Thow a massive battery pack in and 4 motors!
Maybe in a couple of years, after the long recharge-time problem has been solved, EVs will become much more practical—and more-universally accepted by the motoring public.
I have over 100,000 miles on my C5, which includes several cross country trips and many years of spring/summer/fall daily driving. I guess I fall into the atypical Corvette owner category!
I’m sure fully electric will happen at some point, but it’s still a compromise at this point. Current max range of fully EVs assumes pretty conservative driving. That’s acceptable in a Bolt or a Leaf, but not in what is suppose to be a world class sports car.
Well Mr. Florida, I enjoy driving my Corvette down to Florida in the winter and I wouldn’t like to stop every 200 miles on a 1400 mile drive.
That is not a normal activity. Need to design for 80% use. Would also note on highway it should be able to do 300mi + easy
A Corvette is already not designed for any sort of 80% use.
This isn’t a Trailblazer or something.
Not a fan of E-, sounds too commercial. Reminds me of my IT days back in the late 80’s early 90’s when people would go gaga over anything with E- in front of the name.
If its called E ray should be electric!
Imagine how much more those Vettes will cost!
Without Manta in front, Ray is pointless. Might as well be E-Ralph or E-Stanley or E-Earl. Ray is just a meaningless given-name for a male from too long ago with an E in front of it that is ubiquitous for electronic, not electric; i.e e-commerce, e-mail, etc.
The C8 is called the Stingray, ya know. Ray is right in the name.
Just call it E-Rubbish because that’s all it is, rubbish.
I don’t like E-Ray. Call it X-Ray. Or Death-Ray, because you know people will crash’em.
How about we just call you x-troll, e-troll, or death-troll and call it a day?
Don’t feed it guys.
How bout we just call you Chuckles and you go back under your rock?
Maybe they should call it the Gamma Ray and offer it in Hulk green!
Is e-Vette to obvious since it’s mostly females that drive these cars?
And what do you drive? A bulldozer? Moron.
Here’s an idea. Use Toyota’s Fuel Cell tech and combine it with GM’s Ultium battery system with a few tweaks for performance, you’ll have a winner!
You do realize GM has its own fuel cell technology… right?
Corvettes are mostly driven by females?
I’ve mostly seen retired men driving them. Slowly in the right lane.
I always drive responsibly in traffic Nate, don’t want to be “that guy” the jerk weaving in and out of traffic everybody hates. I live in a rural area and drive my Vette at least 80 MPH every time I take it out. I doubt you’ve ever owned one of these cars because if you did you would understand how easy it is to get in trouble on public roads. Some mom in a mini van full of screaming kids may not realize how fast you are coming at her and pull right in front of you.
I was just pointing out that I normally am not seeing women driving them like Cuyax said.
I fully understand how easy it is to get in trouble in a sports car, especially if it is a red one.
But I stand by my statement. Most Corvettes I have seen were in the right lane going like 70 mph with an old man driving.
Corvettes are often passed on the roads by Pontiac Firebirds.
So Nate, if you owned a Corvette, you’d drive it faster than 70mph on the highway? Stay the hell away from me then. You know, the main reason we own Corvettes is for the handling, especially the C4 class and up.
RESPONSIBLE Vette owners looking to fry the rubber off their tires will generally take them to the track and not run them down the interstate at break-neck speed (this varies on the level of moron behind the wheel). So your comment is actually rather stupid.
Have you ever left your neighborhood other then to drive to the grocery store two blocks away.
I’ve been on the highway and speed limits were 80 mph and at that point I’m doing at least 85. So you stay the hell off of these freeways grandpa 👴 as you will cause an accident.
A mid-engine Vette with a Bolt FWD powertrain up front sounds nice, winter suddenly doesn’t look bad. Having AWD with max electric power off the line means 0-60 falls into 2.5 sec range while normal mileage increases to the 35 MPG range and cruise range grows to 500+ miles. Win-Win!
It’s true if it can be pulled off internally. Still 8 years behind the NSX.
You fellas ever heard of a gm product from the 70s called opel manta?so whats the issue here? Publicity stint is what we should talk about.as for the e-ray, I want one even if its called ray Charles..its a car from the future and the future is NOW.(and it will need to wait for me in the future coz my salary is not so futuristic)😎
Maybe Chevy should call the 2024 a P-Ray, since that’s the only way most lookers can ever be buyers…
I have sold GM products for over 14 yrs and I must say this website is the most ill-informed, worst maniacal lunatic GM web page on the internet. Self proclaimed “GM Authority”…. you Douchbags don’t know the way around a sphincter nozzle too putting Ethanol up your ass!
That’s a bit harsh.
No he’s being kind.
E-crap.
E-gay.
Back in ’97 ,I had a ’84 Coupe with the Crossfire engine .That , by the way , was the first year of the wide bodies .I had a Trans Am. challenge me to race on the expressway while we were going about 70 .I was in the middle lane ,he was in the fast lane .He pointed forward to go and I waved. By By ! I got up to 152 mph .and had to slow down. so I could wave goodby before exiting .I outran him by at least a football field before slowing down ! The Pontiac TA had the Crossfire as well , but was NO match for my v Vette .He even gave me a ” Thumbs Up ” after I left his ass and let him catch up .
And I’m sure all the BS comments come from individuals that have designed and produced their own cara for …how long has GM been around? The good old peanut gallery.
There are so many people that think they know what a real Corvette is. It’s a shame that they don’t.
They’re real and true Corvette people, then they’re people who just like Corvette.
Are you kidding me? No true Covetteman, I guess.
First of all, how can you call it a Corvette or a sport car and it has no manual transmission.
That’s just how it is now. Not enough people would buy a manual to make it worth producing.
Well to date myself I learned to drive on a ’64 Chevy SS with a 3 speed on the column and the car was only a couple years old.
After that I drive ’67 Chevy Nova 4 on the floor and also a ’64 Malibu 4 on the floor.
So yes I’ve been there and done that.. blah blah.
A C7 Auto will beat out a C7 manual as the computers and shifting are seamless and thus no human error.
The rare chance, and I mean rare, is a very good driver, as me, that can shift with the best of them.
And yes, I pounded through my buddys C7 manual so I know what it is like.
And the C8 is not manual and guess what….its still called a Corvette.
Or didn’t you know that?
Or you don’t consider the C8 a Corvette either???
It’s a kit car and, Corvette is what they call it.
How about calling it Corvette C9
Why not the C- Ray????
I don’t care what GM puts in the car a “vette” is a “vette” when you pull up anywhere you are in a “Corvette” I happen to own an 85′ coupe. Definitely not new but I love it. I will probably never be able to own a new one but when I pull up I’m still in a “vette”. You rich guy’s can cry about it all you want I’m going for a drive…
Why not just keep the name Grand Sport or Grand Sport-e?