Chevrolet’s Corvette has come a long way since its launch 70 years ago on January 17, 1953 at Motorama in New York City. Some of the first generation C1 Corvette’s had 2 speed transmissions, 150 horsepower inline 6 cylinder engines, took more than 11 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph and cost $3,500 USD. The price for the new 2024 Corvette E-Ray coupe is $104,295 USD or $128,798 CAD. The entry level 2023 Corvette coupe starts at $78,897 CAD.

“In 1953, the enthusiastic reaction to the Chevrolet Corvette concept kicked off seven decades of passion, performance and American ingenuity,” said Mark Reuss, General Motors president. “E-Ray, as the first electrified, all-wheel-drive Corvette, takes it a step further and expands the promise of what Corvette can deliver.”

The eighth generation C8 E-Ray is the quickest street legal Corvette ever. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph or 0-96 km/h in just 2.5-seconds. Powering the rear wheels is a naturally aspirated 6.2 litre LT2 small block V-8 engine with 495 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. A 1.9 kWh battery pack powers a 160 hp, 125 lb-ft of torque electric motor which drives the front wheels. The 2024 Corvette E-Ray, with its combined 655 horsepower, is the only sports car on the market today with two separate propulsion systems.

“Corvette has been a halo for Chevrolet since 1953,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet. “E-Ray’s unprecedented blend of confidence, luxury performance, sophistication and style provides a new reason for more people to experience Corvette.”

“Corvettes must provide an exhilarating driving experience on backroads and tracks, and E-Ray nails it,” said Tadge Juechter, executive chief engineer, Corvette. “The electrification technology enhances the feeling of control in all conditions, adding an unexpected degree of composure.”

Additional features and technologies include:

• Stealth Mode electric drive up to 45 mph/72 km/h
• New lithium-ion 12-volt battery that assists the V-8 engine’s stop/start function
• Standard Brembo Carbon Ceramic brake system
• Standard Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 with three suspension settings
• 275/30 ZR20 Michelin Pilot Sport all-season tires up front, 345/25 ZR21 in the rear. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are available with an optional performance package.
• A body that is 3.6 inches/9 mm wider overall than the Stingray
• A unique performance sound that combines the V8 engine note with the electric motor.
• Enhanced driver assistance technologies, which are in all 2024 Corvettes, including Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Automatic Emergency Braking.

The Corvette E-Ray has six drive modes: Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode and Z-Mode. The Charge+ feature maximizes the battery’s charge level. The battery charges via regenerative energy from coasting, braking and during normal driving.

“There’s never been a Corvette like E-Ray and its sophisticated design reflects that,” said Phil Zak, executive design director, Global Chevrolet. “It starts with the body color trim which draws your full attention to the exotic proportions of the E-Ray. The interiors allow customers to reflect their individual personalities with their choice of color executions that provide a refined or dynamic sport look and feel.”