Earlier this week, General Motors announced a bevy of battery-powered models in conjunction with the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, including highlights like the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV, Chevy Equinox EV, Chevy Blazer EV, and Cadillac InnerSpace AV concept. With GM ramping up to release 30 new EV models globally by 2025, the entirety of the GM portfolio is poised to go all-electric, at least in the longterm. Naturally, enthusiasts want to know – just how long will it be until Chevy makes the Corvette electric as well?
From the off, we should point out a few things, starting with the obvious differences between nameplates like the Chevy Silverado and Chevy Corvette. For starters, the Silverado is GM’s best-selling vehicle – period. It’s also Chevy’s best-selling vehicle, with the Chevy Corvette selling just a fraction of what the Silverado sells. For reference, Chevy sold 115,376 units of the Silverado in Q4 of 2021, and 8,293 units of the Chevy Corvette during the same time period.
Then there’s the strong internal-combustion heritage of the Corvette. For nearly the entirety of the nameplate’s existence, the Chevy Corvette has offered impressive power (the early C1 models are an obvious exception) and a loud exhaust, two characteristics that will be very difficult to unhitch with regard to enthusiasts’ expectations. Would a Corvette electric vehicle have the same sort of appeal? Likely not.
Nevertheless, it seems as though an electrified Corvette is inevitable at this point. GM is going EV, and it’ll have to bring the Vette along for the ride.
So, when should we expect a Corvette electric vehicle? Well, considering the GM vehicle lifecycle typically runs about six years, the ninth-generation C9 Chevy Corvette is due out in 2026. That could be the generation where the Vette finally goes pure EV, at least as an option.
In the meantime, the C8 Corvette is already pushing the nameplate towards battery power with two electrified models on the horizon, including the upcoming C8 E-Ray, which will mate the C8’s naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine with a hybrid electric system. The E-Ray will arrive as an indirect replacement for the Grand Sport, which won’t be part of the C8 lineup, thus slotting the E-Ray between the C8 Stingray and the new C8 Z06.
Then we have the C8 Corvette Zora, which will mate the twin-turbo 5.5L V8 LT7 from the C8 ZR1 with a new hybrid electric system, resulting in a world-churning 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque. Named after the “father” of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov, the new C8 Zora will slot in as the range-topper of the series.
While purists will undoubtedly rage at the though of a Corvette electric vehicle, the adrenaline factor will surely be on point, as evidenced by the seemingly unending rise in power levels and performance observed with subsequent eighth-generation C8 releases. However, will it be enough to win over those enthusiasts with gasoline flowing in their veins? That remains to be seen.
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A battery only Vette, highly unlikely if it's just battery based. Can't imagine LeMans running on battery alone, if anything I see hybrid electric making it's way into the performance field. Also when Brandon's out in '24 we'll see some rollback of emissions/fuel standards but not like it was when Trump was in.
I don't want electric vehicle in general especially not a Corvette I don't see GM going past that point I think they'll be out of business the most any vehicle should be is hybrid
The thing is when you are almost two seconds slower getting to 60 and no faster than the average SUV on the road is it really a sports car anymore?
Bring your political innuendo and insults to another format. This is a Corvette world which brings people together and does not seek to create “us against them”.
I expect this to be the last vehicle outside large trucks to offer Gas powered engines.
Most racing series are now planning hybrids and at some point full electric from Formula one to IMSA.
I work in the racing/performance industry and most of my vendors are scrambling to find products to where they will still fit in.
They are to a point now where too much money has been invested and they have plans already set way beyond 4 years. They can’t keep changing plans based on who is in office anymore. Also if they plan to return to global models they will need EV elsewhere.
They are planning 15 years from now not the next election.
I think the Corvette will always offer a small block V8 along with an EV Corvette as an option... If you really want an EV Corvette. Me personally I owned a 2002 Camaro Z28 with the LS1 small block V8 and I loved it I had an three inch cat back exhaust on it and it sounded awesome 😎... I could not imagine that any sounds "pumped" through the stereo will give Corvette owners the same sound and feeling of a true Chevy small block V8!
As gasoline motors go out of volume production they will become prohibitively expensive. Also this last and greatest American muscle car motor they are making now is not faster than an electric SUV. Can you really get excited about a sports car moms taking kids to school can outrun you? These are the last great gasoline cars that will be showing up in movies for a hundred years. The end
I can't see an all-electric Corvette, even though the performance will be there (e.g. Tesla S Plaid). The traditional thrill won't. But then back when rumors of a mid-engine Vette began in earnest, I said, "nah, the current one sells too well." so much for my predictive skills.
Electric and Corvette hardly belong in the same sentence
I thought the same thing. Then I watched a nitro-burning funny car left in the dust by a Tesla. Does Corvette and getting outrun by minivans go together? I think you either make it electric or you just stop making it because it won't be a sports car anymore in five years with an Ice engine.
Ford made the iconic Mustang into a pure EV in 2020 and they can't make them fast enough for demand and that is while they are still making and selling the ICE version, so GM must be smart, so the Corvette pure EV must follow as well as the Camaro pure EV and they must follow very quickly if GM is to compete in the EV marketplace. They shouldn't even waste their time doing hybrid versions. The pure electric Corvette EV and Camaro EV should be included in the " 30 new EV models globally by 2025".
The future is electric. Thomas Edison knew it over 100 years ago, but Henry Ford nevet accepted that, although his wife Claire dif drive a Detroit Electric for years, powered by Edison's batteries.
Now the latest Ford generation is going electric. GM is falling behind yet GM has made electrics since 1972. Those first electrics are still on the Moon.
I wouldn't say Ford made the Mustang pure EV....Ford left the Mustang alone, and created a new mach E SUV/crossover (I think it shares ford Focus parts, not mustang) car that they put mustang grill and badge on. Agreed, it sells lot hotcakes, as any SUV will. America is in love with SUVs, they sell millions. Sports cars are just for a very limited percent of the population, who want something different, or harkens back to their past. That is why Challenger, Mustang, Camaro all resemble the muscle car design and have V8s available. Also why Chevy was very careful with the Corvette to connect the history of the rear engine to these next gen buyers. it's very important.
To your point though, I think you have good idea that GM should do the same thing; create a full electric SUV that looks unique, or put a good looking front end on it with catchy sports car name....it may become their best seller, who knows? Maybe a Blazer ZR1 or ZL1 1000hp all electric? But I vote to keep the Vette and Camaro V8 engine high performance vehicles, and explore those limits. I'm not a big fan of hybrid, since it doubles the complication. I like simple vehicles that I can work on. Give me turbos instead of an additional hybrid powertrain any day.
As slow developing as Chevrolet has been with the C8's we will never see a Zora model if they change over to the C9 in 2026.
I have felt the torque of all electric AWD, and it is awesome. Right now electric motorcycles and sports cars are niche items but they will be mainstream, just watch Porsche and Mercedes.
and the children who misss their precious clutch pedal and stick shift will move further in to the dark ages and maintain their carburetors and instead of moonshine will convert the still to make gasoline for the ICE.
Half the fun of owning any muscle car, hot rod, whatever, is the sound of the engine. I want my VVVRRRROOOM!! Not vreeem.