The Corvette E-Ray introduces a bevy of firsts to the Chevy Corvette nameplate, offered as the first-ever production Vette with hybrid power, and the first-ever production Vette with all-wheel drive. Naturally, these systems help the mid-engine sports car perform, and now, the E-Ray’s go-fast abilities have been put to the test on the racetrack.
The Corvette E-Ray was one of several performance vehicles taking part in Car and Driver’s recent Lightning Lap 2024 shakedown at Virginia International Raceway, with the results documented in the following 35-minute video.
Lightning Lap is exactly what it sounds like – a track test where some of the quickest rides on the market battle it out for ultimate lap time supremacy. At the helm of each vehicle is a professional test driver, who test the limits around a 4.1-mile, 24-corner configuration. Each vehicle is specced out in its highest-performance setting, with the only modifications allowed being durability-enhancers like brake fluid.
As Car and Driver points out, the Corvette E-Ray was actually developed at Virginia International Raceway, which means it should have some impressive speed on track. However, there were a few quirks.
Testers indicated that the onboard 1.1 kW battery was unable to provide full boost through the entirety of a single hot lap, and that power from the front motor falls off after the 120-mph mark. As such, in order to extract the quickest possible lap time, drivers were required to toggle the vehicle’s various charging modes on the fly.
“Luckily, the eight-speed automatic shifts smartly on its own, which allows you to focus on fumbling with the awkward Charge Plus button on the side of the center console,” the publication points out.
Nevertheless, the Corvette E-Ray managed to slot between the C8 Corvette Stingray Z51 and C8 Corvette Z06 in terms of raw lap times, clocking in at 2:45.9, ahead of the Stingray Z51’s 2:49.0 and the Z06’s 2:38.6.
Check out the full test video below, including how the Corvette E-Ray fared against its non-GM rivals:
As a reminder, the Corvette E-Ray features the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine and a single front-mounted electric motor. The GM Y2 platform provides the underpinnings, while production takes place at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
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Comments
Was excited for the ERAY but see it way over priced. Same goes for the rest of the C8 line.
Can not believe it can be priced for so much less money than anything close to performance and quality. Another great achievement for general motors.
Waiting for the future TC/FC version: Tracy Chapman/Fast Car. 🤪
The vette did good going up against cars 2.5 x the price even the camaro scored well ! Gm does need some upgrades on the vettes propulsion system !
Sounded like it needed a shorter track or a bigger battery. Bang for the buck ratio is pretty high for this variant.