All-Electric Genovation Corvette to Debut with 800HP at CES

At long last, the production version of the all-electric C7 Corvette with 800 horsepower will make its grand debut at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show next month.

While the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas focuses on far more than just the auto industry, the best-performing electric vehicle ever is set to make its debut at the 2018 convention. That car is the Genovation Extreme Electric (GXE) and it is an 800 horsepower, all-electric Corvette that will reach speeds well over 200 miles per hour – making it the fastest EV sold in the world.

The Genovation Saga

For the past few years, Genovation has been talking about their plans to build and sell their Corvette-based electric supercar. The company has issued a few videos showing their prototype car in action, including a top speed record run of 209 miles per hour and a standing-mile record for an EV of 190.4 miles per hour.

The car used to set these records and to draw attention to their project was a C6 Corvette Z06, but over the past year, Genovation has made it clear that the production version of the GXE would be based on the C7 Corvette Grand Sport. That design offers the lightest basis for the build, allowing the company to worry just a little less about the weight of the electric drive system. We have never seen a Genovation GXE based on the C7 Corvette, but that will all change next month when the production version of the all-electric Vette makes its grand debut at CES.

The Production Genovation GXE

Back in 2016, it was expected that the GXE sold to the public would offer 650 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, but we have learned that when the all-electric Corvette is unveiled next month, it will feature an twin-motor drive system with 800 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque. With the 650 horsepower GXE C6 test car hitting 209 miles per hour, the sleeker C7 with 150 more horsepower and 50 more lb-ft of torque should make for an even quicker electric supercar. The company expects a new top speed of over 220 miles per hour, while being able to blast from a stop to 60 in less than three seconds.

Finally, it sounds as though one of the most intriguing aspects of the Genovation GXE will make it through to production. Unlike most EVs that use a variable-ratio transmission, the all-electric Corvette is fitted with a standard automatic transmission and – most importantly – an optional manual transmission. Those traditional gearboxes play a big role in the GXE being able to reach speeds so much higher than most EVs, but the availability of the manual transmission will create a truly unique driving experience.

Oh, the GXE also has round taillights, so those folks who still don’t like the C7 rear end will be happy to see the return of the quad-circle taillights out back.

A Big Price Tag

The only real downside to the Genovation GXE is the price. The company plans to cap production at 75 units and each one of them will have a starting price of $750,000. You read that right – three-quarters of a million dollars. Even with a 0-60 time in the two-second range and a top speed of over 220 miles per hour, $750k is a big chunk of change for any Corvette, but all of the money raised with this project will help Genovation develop a new, more affordable EV in the future.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com