The Chevy Corvette E-Ray is a new introduction to the popular Bow Tie sports car lineup, showcasing the nameplate’s versatility by ushering in the very first Vette hybrid, complete with an electric motor on the front axle, giving it an all-wheel drivetrain.
Now, car enthusiast Jay Leno has put the Corvette E-Ray through its paces, sharing his thoughts and impressions on a recent episode of Jay Leno’s Garage.
During the lengthy video, which has a runtime of more than 47 minutes, Leno discusses the E-Ray with Corvette Executive Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter. The pair start out discussing the E-Ray’s engineering and features with the aid of a Corvette cutaway.
Juechter points out that with the hybrid setup, those drivers who are nervous about the electrification of sports cars will find nothing but positives in the E-Ray’s setup. He observes that they “still have the beautiful sound of the V8” and a front trunk, while gaining the advantages of all-wheel drive, even better handling, more power, and improved fuel economy without needing to give anything up in exchange.
Leno then takes the Corvette E-Ray for a drive along the road, while Juechter discusses both the performance characteristics of the new hybrid Vette and its positioning in the lineup.
The engineer remarks that the E-Ray is still “overwhelmingly rear-wheel drive, almost 500 horsepower on the back axle, 160 on the front.” The combination gives it the torque to accelerate faster than the Z06 off the line, though the Z06 outpaces it beyond the quarter-mile.
As for product positioning, Juechter notes the E-Ray is toward the upper end of the Corvette lineup, but has significantly different use and performance than the range-topping Z06.
The Corvette Z06, he says, is pure performance, while for the E-Ray, “we’re going to keep this car the great all-round car, and let the Z06 be that track scalpel purpose-built for the person who is really going to drive it on the track.” The E-Ray’s standard all-season tires spotlight its different purpose from “track monster” variants of the Corvette, marking it as the “Swiss army knife” Corvette for all situations.
As the pair roar along the road, Juechter reveals that the Corvette E-Ray has nothing to do with GM’s electrification push and “pre-dates GM’s Ultium system.” The use of an electric motor was simply a way to gain additional power and create an efficient, powerful all-wheel-drive configuration in a mid-engine sports car.
You can view the video – and hear the numerous juicy details Tadge Juechter shares about the new Vette configuration, which are barely touched on in this article – right here:
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Comments
I wonder how much a replacement battery pack will cost? What is the expected life of the pack?
Can’t afford a mid-engined Corvette? Try a Corv8.
Why would you think I cannot afford a C8? I drive a 2020 C8 Z51 HTC now and am on the short list for a 2024 Z06, so money is not the issue. I read that the replacement battery for the Cadillac EV is in the mid $20K range which changes the value of an EV drastically. The E-Ray weighs about 260 lbs more than a regular Stingray since it is hybrid rather than total EV.
Can I trust a review of a guy that can’t even wear his seat belt right?
At least he’s wearing a seat belt, unlike the 8.4% of Americans who still refuse to wear a seat belt (based on a recent national survey). The survey also revealed that 12% of young people ages 16 – 24 don’t wear a seat belt.
when will you ever be able to say you have driven as many different cars as Jay has. He knows what he is doing, cut him a break.
I was on the Z06 deposit list for 2.5 years at two dealerships and neither could give me any date when I can place an order so I cancelled. I am also on the list (90th) for six months at one dealership for the E-Ray. They said they are hopeful I would be able to place an order by mid-2024. I am not holding my breath based on pass history with the Z06.
I wonder when the batteries go out, will the E-ray operate basically as a ICE Stingray or is it dead in the water until the batteries (@20k+) are replaced? I still think it’s going to suffer on resell.