C8 Corvette E-Ray Hybrid Will Reportedly Take Grand Sport’s Place
According to a new report, the Grand Sport will give way to the Corvette E-Ray, an all-wheel-drive hybrid model.
While most of the world has been fixated on the C8 Corvette Z06 prototypes running around in recent weeks, we also know that more C8 variants are on the way as well. One of them is the Corvette E-Ray, the first-ever hybrid version of GM’s long-running sports car. But if a recent report from GM Authority proves to be true, the Corvette E-Ray might also be taking the place of another beloved Corvette model.
That model is the Grand Sport, which will reportedly not be making a return in C8 form. Instead, the Corvette E-Ray is expected to fill the performance gap in between the base Stingray and the Z06, which will arrive packing a naturally-aspirated, flat-plane crank V8. What’s more, the E-Ray will reportedly split the difference between these two models by coupling the Stingray’s 6.2-liter V8 with a pair of electric motors located on the front axle.
As far as how much total power the E-Ray will offer, well, that remains a mystery. The base C8 produces as much as 495 horsepower when equipped with the Z51 package, while the Z06 is rumored to provide more than 600 ponies. So the logical landing spot for the E-Ray would be somewhere in the 550-600 hp range. And perhaps more importantly, it’s also going to offer all-wheel-drive, thanks to those frunk-mounted electric motors.
Additionally, GM Authority notes that the E-Ray is expected to wear the same widebody panels as the Z06, and will draw its electric juice from a mid-mounted Ultium battery pack. Purists may not like the fact that a hybrid is set to indirectly replace the beloved Grand Sport nameplate, but it makes perfect sense in terms of filling out the lineup while also introducing electric power and all-wheel-drive to GM’s iconic model.
GM will at some point finish filling out its C8 Corvette lineup with the ZR1, which is expected to come with a twin-turbocharged version of the Z06 engine, as well as a 1,000 horsepower Zora model that combines the ZR1’s motor with the E-Ray’s electric propulsion. But for now, there’s no clear indication as to when those variants might arrive.
Photos: Chevrolet
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