The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is set to receive some hybrid support that can be considered as some form of indirect successor to Honda NSX
Known as Corvette E-RayOur scouting photographers captured two camouflaged prototypes of this hybrid sports car during track testing around the Nurburgring ahead of its 2023 launch.
This hybrid Escort ship will likely fall between the regular model and the flamethrower model Z06 in the squad.
While it’s not obvious at all, our spy photographers have noted that these spy Corvette E-Ray prototypes have a yellow sticker in the upper left corner of the rear window indicating that it’s an electrified prototype.
Prototypes with hybrid powertrains are required to have this distinctive yellow sticker when passing through the Green Hell so race officers can determine if the vehicle has high-voltage components.
It remains unclear whether the Corvette E-Ray will use a conventional closed-circuit hybrid powertrain or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) setup.
Reports abroad suggest that the electrified Corvette will retain the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 mid-engined from the regular Corvette, but with at least one electric motor that will power the front wheels. .
Chevrolet recently released a short teaser video of an electrified prototype Corvette undergoing testing in the snow with its front wheel spinning.
No word on total system output yet, but we do know the 6.2-liter V8 on the regular Corvette produces 364kW of power and 630Nm of torque. Expect a little more from the Corvette E-Ray.
For context, the Honda NSX Type S swansong model generates a total system-wide output of 447kW and 667Nm from its 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 and three electric motors.
It’s worth noting that when the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray goes on sale, it won’t really have any direct competitors in its expected price range.
There are some Ferrari 296 GTB and McLaren Arturabut both of these hybrid sports cars are expected to cost more than the Corvette E-Ray.
For context, in Australia the regular Corvette starts at $144,990 before going on-road for the 2LT coupe and rising to $189,990 before on-road pricing for the Carbon version.
On the other hand, the Ferrari 296 GTB starts at $568,300 before on-road pricing, and the McLaren Artura starts at $449,550 before on-road pricing.
There’s nothing immediately apparent to distinguish these Corvette E-Ray camouflage prototypes from regular Corvettes other than the aforementioned yellow sticker on the rear window.
General Motors (GM) has previously confirmed that there will be an all-electric Corvette version, following the electrified E-Ray version.
The all-electric Corvette will be “Ultium-based,” but it’s not clear yet whether this refers to GM mounting the Ultium battery on the existing Corvette platform or using a different architecture than the gasoline-powered models.
It’s still unclear if this so-called Corvette E-Ray will make its debut but the regular model is already on offer here and the Z06 is expected to arrive in late 2022 or early 2023.
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THAN: Iconic vehicles powered by electrified V8 engines
