Is a Corvette Hybrid Really Coming? (photos)
The Chevrolet Corvette is a hallmark of American performance motor culture. Though it's earned its stripes as a muscular sports car, trends and rumors suggest a Corvette with a plug-in hybrid powertrain may be an option soon.
1. C8 Corvette May Offer Hybrid Option
If you're any kind of Corvette fan, you may be counting down the days until the much-talked about C8 generation is unveiled. As with anything related to the 'Vette, there's a ton of speculation as to what the next generation will have in store for owners. Among several other notable predictions, there's been talk that the C8 will be the first Corvette to come with a plug-in hybrid option.
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2. Hybrid Idea Dates to 2009
Although the concept wasn't discussed seriously until relatively recently, the basic concept of hybridizing the Corvette has been around for a while, even within Chevy's own ranks. Automotive News and Green Car Reports were speculating about a 750hp hybridized Vette for 2010. Back in 2013, General Motors' president Mark Reuss speculated warmly about the possibility of a future hybrid Corvette, specifically outlining the possibility of such a model competing against cars like the Tesla.
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3. Plug-in Hybrid Powertrain Means Radical Changes
There are a lot of things involved in redesigning a car with a fresh powertrain, but things get even trickier when the would-be hybrid's already known as a muscled up performance car. The C8 generation has already been predicted as one of the Corvette's most radical overhauls to date, so it would make sense that they would take hybridization capabilities under consideration. It's also worth mentioning that the plug-in powertrain would enable the C8 Corvette to have on all-wheel drive easily for torque vectoring or all-weather driving.
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4. Powertrain Option not Only Change
Putting aside the notion of a hybrid 'Vette for a second, there are many other reasons that the C8 has been so eagerly anticipated. Most significant among the changes is the anticipated evolution from a front to a mid-engine structure. A obviously mid-engined mule has been seen in testing , but has yet to be captured without its disguised body work.
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5. Experts Predict Better Performance from Hybrid
There's been a lot of speculating about the specs of the C8 model as it is, and it only grows in the case of a hybrid. Consumers are still looking for the perfect planet friendly car that can go toe to toe with the best gas guzzling models, and this may be it. Although we'll have to wait for specifics on horsepower and top speeds, you can expect a 40 mpg rating, with a 15 mile range in pure EV mode. The combination of instant electric torque, and all-wheel traction ought to make the 0-60 mph time quicker as well.
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6. Electric Powered Corvettes Already Exist
The possibility of an electric Corvette has already been proven several times over by third-party builders. While limited in number, the electrified Corvettes has shown some great promise. Of particular note, the all-electric GXE Corvette can reach a whopping 205.6 mph, beating the world speed record for street-legal EV cars. It's powertrain makes 660 hp and an even 600 lb-ft of torque, and can cruise in traffic for over 125 miles before needing a charge.
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7. How Will Corvette Fans React?
The Corvette is more than a vehicle, it's a cultural statement. Needless to say, there will be Corvette owners who will be less-than-enthused about the hybrid electric powertrain. It's highly unlikely that Chevy will eliminate the traditional gas engine 'Vettes we know and love, because the engine's distinctive roar is an integral experience of driving one. Could we have a hybrid with the roar of a V8, and a plug in all electric stealth mode to sneak out of the house early on Sunday morning?
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8. The Evolution is Inevitable
As the auto market veers steadily towards emission friendly, fuel-efficient vehicles, the models that thrive will be the ones who know to flow with the tide. A hybrid Corvette may seem like sacrilege to some, but we're confident that it won't take long before the plug-in format finds itself right at home in the Corvette's arsenal. More stringent fuel economy standards, at home and abroad, mean small motors and turbos, or hybrid systems, and which would you rather have in your Corvette?
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