Chevrolet Corvette hybrid confirmed for 2023; electric Corvette to follow
A plug-in hybrid variant of the mid-engined C8 Corvette has been spied testing, while a fully electric version of the model is on the cards, too
Chevrolet has revealed that an “electrified” version of its Corvette sports car could arrive as early as 2023, followed up by a fully electric model wearing the iconic nameplate. The former is expected to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain and – judging by a teaser video Chevrolet shared on social media – four-wheel drive.
While the regular V8-powered, mid-engined Corvette is rear-drive only, the electrified model is likely to get at least one motor powering the front wheels, which should help boost power, performance and grip. The electric motors are expected to augment the output of the 6.2-litre petrol engine fitted to the regular Corvette, for a combined power figure in the region of 600bhp.
Hybrid Corvette prototypes have been spotted testing on public roads at least three times in recent years, with the most recent sighting coming at the Nurburgring race track in Germany. Previous reports have indicated a still-more-powerful hybrid Corvette could be on the cards a couple of years after the initial plug-in model debuts.
But that isn’t the most radical Corvette on the horizon, as Chevrolet has confirmed it’ll produce a fully electric version, too. Mark Reuss, president of the brand’s parent company General Motors (GM), revealed on social media that the zero-emissions sports car will sit on the same Ultium platform as the electric versions of the Chevrolet Silverado, Equinox and Blazer, as well as the Hummer EV and Cadillac’s Lyriq.
More details about the electrified Corvettes should appear in due course, but it’s already rumoured that the fully electric model will be called the E-Ray. We also expect the zero-emissions Corvette to get all-wheel-drive from a dual-motor setup, with potential rivals including Honda’s electric NSX successor, among others.
GM has also recently announced that it’ll co-develop a series of affordable electric cars with Honda, including compact crossover SUVs, primarily for the American and Chinese markets.