A Porsche 911 has been available for more than 30 years with a more than sensible all-wheel drive, which transfers the engine power to the road particularly effectively. Long-standing US competitor Corvette is now following this drive technology with a long delay. But unlike the opponent from the north-west of Stuttgart, the all-wheel drive Corvette has a purely electric front axle. “The enthusiastic response to the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette concept was the launch pad for seven decades of passion, performance and American ingenuity,” said GM CEO Mark Reuss, “E-Ray, as the first electrified, all-wheel-drive Corvette, walks you Step further and expands the promise of what the Corvette can deliver.”
The drive package behind the driver’s cab is initially the familiar one. A 6.2-liter V8 small block with 369 kW / 495 hp and 637 Nm maximum torque provides the basic propulsion of the US athlete, which transmits its engine power to the rear axle via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. This combustion engine is supported by a newly developed electric motor on the front axle, which has an output of 120 kW / 163 hp / 165 Nm. The permanent magnet motor is powered by a 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery that is hidden in the center tunnel between the two seats. The overall performance increases to an impressive 481 kW / 655 hp, even without turbocharging. In part-load operation, the Corvette runs either purely electrically or, thanks to cylinder deactivation, with just four combustion chambers. From a standing start, the Corvette E-Ray eAWD can sprint to 100 km/h in little more than 2.5 seconds. Depending on customer requirements, the partially electric Corvette is available as a coupé or roadster, weighing 1,712 or 1,749 kilograms.
“Corvettes need to deliver an exhilarating driving experience on country roads and racetracks, and the E-Ray makes that possible,” explains Tadge Jüchter, Corvette chief engineer. “The electrification technology improves the sense of control in all conditions and gives an unexpected level of composure.” Purely electrically, the 4.70 meter long Corvette E-Ray can drive almost silently in what is known as stealth mode up to a speed of 72 km/h. 345 tires, adaptive dampers and a slightly widened body.Market launch should be in autumn at prices starting at 104,295 US dollars.The power hybrid is produced at the Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
