DRIVEN: Chevy Corvette E-Ray | Hot Laps in the First Electrified Corvette | The One to Have?

A hybrid Corvette? Some might consider it sacrilegious to the Corvette name, but the electrified 2024 Corvette E-Ray has finally arrived to prove the haters wrong. In this first drive video, Edmunds’ Kurt Niebuhr puts the latest Vette variant to the test around the track, pushing it hard for a few hot laps.
00:00 Intro
00:20 Corvette Comparison
01:16 In-Car Run
02:47 Track Driving Impressions
03:32 Road Driving Impressions
05:06 Specs
05:48 Edmunds' Take
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[@edmundscars]

Which Corvette would you buy, the Stingray, the Z06 or the new E-Ray? Let us know in the comments.

[@collinschultz3868]

All of them

[@mormodog]

Every Corvette should be the “E-ray” version.

[@rondail5675]

I just got a String without Z51 and just love the ride. So I think the E-Ray fits me better than the stiff Z06. I will never be on a track.

[@blaketindle4703]

Z06

[@kinggor555hk]

E-Ray with turbo or supercharger on LT2.

[@TheOneTrueMvP]

Faster acceleration but slightly worse track performance than a Z06? Sounds like a great recipe for a U-Drag!

[@wbwayne8887]

Need that E-Ray vs Z06 U-Drag asap. 🙂

[@AWDCorvetteERay]

I can hardly wait for my ERay... in Status 3000's at BGA now!

[@rondail5675]

The C8 Corvette in all configurations is so well done!

[@evog35viii]

One video review: the front is quick to react! This video: the front is slow to react! But that's a good thing! Another video: there's not much feedback coming from the front wheels. I don't know if I trust this car doing a hotlap. Another video review: I love the response I get from the front wheels. Very engaging! And another video review: this car oversteers! Aaaand another: this car understeers! And on and on and on! All from several video reviews I've seen so far from the E-Ray. And just like the Stingray and Z06, my conclusion is the same: MOST of these reviewers don't know how to tap the full potential out of these cars yet. Especially from those who complain the most about the feedback of a car, yet some can squeeze 1 1/2 to 2 seconds more out of the same car, on an even worse setup, in a damp day. This video is a good review, track and road.

[@JoJoJoker]

E-Ray + Z06 = E-ZR1 or “Easier One”… Naming opportunity, GM!

[@deanmcmanis9398]

Clever. So far the name has been Zora.

[@mikebridges20]

Sounds like it's the "Grand Sport" version of the C8. Thanks for the review!

[@adrianleusink1970]

None of the prior Grand Sports ever outaccelerated a Z06, so I don't think the tag 'Grand Sport' is accurate. E-Ray hits the nail on the head. Electrification assist is what makes it do what it does.

[@mikebridges20]

@@adrianleusink1970 Fair enough, but it's pretty darned similar in terms of wide-body, standard engine/drivetrain, z06-level wheels&tires, etc. The Stingray is awesome street machine with good "trackability", Z06 is track-beast with compromised (compared to Stingray) road manners, the Eray (used to be GS) in that comfy spot in the middle.

[@deanmcmanis9398]

Nice review. I think that you should compare the E-Ray against the latest batch of hybrid supercars, like the McLaren Artura and Ferrari 296 GTB.

[@atmartens]

Pretty cool Corvette. Not that I’d ever buy one now but I think I’d stick with just a gas one.

[@adrianleusink1970]

That's all you can use in the E-Ray: Gasoline All electric assist is charged onboard.

[@RandyJM21]

Question is what happens when you add the e motor to Z06 whichhas high HP but not huge torque and you fill the torque out front plus add to HP . Just from acceleration standpoint id like to see E-ray with 5.5 screamer to know what happens. THEN!! I always want to see what happens when the power density of batteries improve and for the same small battery pack you can drive even more power to the front without adding weight . Imagine the 5.5 out back plus instead of 160 up front you have something closer to 200 . There will probably be boosted 5.5 as next level of crazy . But it would be cool to have 2 new levels of crazy with 2nd tier E- ray but i dont think they will do that and leave E-ray as the sensible corvette with great acceleration and manners as a unique experience and just have a hyper powerful boosted RWD ZR1 or Zora or whatever that will be more like a top line McClaren power to weight but fatter and of course even fatter then current Z06 when they add boost and then all the cooling needed for it . I wonder how much room for removing weight there is from current Z0-6 to offset the added weight to add boost . If they can keep the ZR1 near Z06 weight , get the torque up with turbos plus horespower that will be cool . But its still all got to go through Rear tires and id like to see E ray 2 with 5.5 NA plus battery . I always wonder about modding E-ray . It seems the C8 is not the easiest car to modify , people do twin turbo C8s but it seems such a hassle and cost that its not so worth it . Add in that the E motor works independantly from ICE engine with all kinds of programming going on to kinds sync the seperate power trains together what happens if you theoretically add power to LT 2 . Would a relatively small shot of NO2 if it can be tuned for plus sricky tires on E- RAY get you a 9 sec car and or give you extra on long straights for a few laps with relative safety with a good set up / system without adding as much complication and weight as adding boost . Id like to see an honest 100 shot of No2 added . That and or newer battery tech where power up front could be added without increased weight . I reckon the front motor isnt maxxed out and with more battery density could add 40-50 Hp for even more luanch and bottom pull and exit pull . I like the E-ray overall when you look at price , useability / all weather , approachability for average buyer and think its a great choice for certain people who will still opt for Z06 because of engine wail and cool factor even if they can use it to the same extent which is also why 5.5 plus e motor would be neat to get the sound and extra power .

[@Rhaseanw]

Lol you be driving your ass off😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@thiosemicarbizidebenzoylal2921]

Awesome car.

[@jeffjohnson3750]

I wish they would make a Grand Sport with the wide body without the electric motor. That's the one I would get if they made it. That new Flat Plane Crank motor is probably gonna break and the electric motor and battery are also very complex. Opportunity missed in my opinion.

[@aaronlevine9623]

Awaiting my Z06 allocation, but the Eray is tempting. This will not be my daily driver and I'll probably only track once or twice a year. I'll never drive it in inclement weather but AWD is great for coming hard off the line and pulling into traffic. Based on my builds the Eray would save me about $20k, but I don't like the Eray's wheels. Oh but that LT6...

[@nupecarrera]

I guess this is as close as we will get to a Grand Sport.

[@davidhiggins7026]

Yes of cause it is the one to have, out of the choice of the C8 ZO6 or this E-Ray. The C8 ZO6 will likely never have all wheel drive, so me myself I would wait 3 years or so until the GM warranty had run out then bang on an Eaton TVS-X3100 SUPERCHARGER. With of cause engine mods to handle the extra power. Easily 850+ HP and 750+ ft/lbs of torque, maybe more. End result would be what I call this hyper-performance vehicle being 'a poor mans ZORA!'. As great as the base C8 Corvette is, and as great as the C8 ZO6 is, it is the POTENTIAL of the E-Ray that with me gives it the edge. FINE enough as it already is, though with an added Supercharger or even a Turbo if that is preferred more, that E-Ray is a sure winner. Well!, even MORE of a winner, lets put it that way. AND we still have the C8 ZR1 and the ball busting ZORA yet to come out. The C8 Corvette range is without doubt a modern day phenomena, indeed truly it is proof of the acclaimed 'American Exceptionalism'. Just the humble base C8 Corvette showed us that. Get any of the C8 range, I would be enjoyed to have any of them.

[@mhasier4u]

How about MPG since they added the batteries.. ??

[@tanktheram]

Here for this. How does the hybrid affect MPG?

[@rwilson4073]

@@tanktheram According to what I've heard, there's not really any improvement. At least the corvette is already a fairly economical sports car.

[@RenBartlett]

The E-Ray was designed for performance, not MPG. It adds no MPG benefit unlike other hybrids.

[@norwegianblue2017]

I just don't see buying this over the Z06 unless you really have need for AWD.

[@4literv6]

With awd and as tires it's more a 3 almost 4 seasons use case type of vette. Vs get it out when the weather is 50-80° only for a rwd summer tire vette like the z06 is. 😁

[@kinggor555hk]

I just don't see buying Z06 over the E-RAY unless you really track it every week or at least once a month.

[@norwegianblue2017]

@@4literv6 I live in southern California, so you can drive pretty much anything all year long.

[@spacejaime]

Is the electric motor sound distracting? Seems it takes away from the gas engine beautiful noises.

[@ryants1]

I think it would be so annoying

[@jmmch3358]

How is the handling performance of the E-Ray compared to the Z06? Which one would do a faster lap time?

[@rondail5675]

The E-Ray doesn't have a Z06 suspension. The Z06 is built for track use and holds up for longer hard track driving. The E-Ray is better than a Z06 for street use and the Z06 is better for track use. I will never be on a track, so I prefer the E-Ray. I love acceleration, under 100mph. Nice that there are choices for everyone.

[@theclutch19]

You need to state that the weight you are showing is NOT curb weight.... Stingray with fluids is about 3670 lbs...

[@davidlustig1834]

salt eats up magnesium I hope the front is sealed well

[@pepeshopping]

A “hero”? Just cause you have some materialistic possession? Heroes also become zeroes in the blink of an eye!

[@waltscrossfiresrt6]

This Corvette is a keeper

[@ryants1]

The sound from the e-ray is wack! Just get the stingray and turbo/supercharge it and save your money

[@GadgetyMV]

5:14 The E-Ray specs presented are lacking torque.

[@ginob615]

Another Vette I can't afford lol. C5 or C6 here I come 😂

[@dickwoods536]

2020 GT500 vs C7 ZR1! (auto) C8 Z06 vs McLaren 675LT! whos with me??!

[@joshualewis393]

Carbon ceramic brakes as standard? That should have been an option. If it had been an option, then that could have dropped the E-Ray's price by at least $15k. Nice to see the Vette finally getting an AWD option but at an ~$36k increase over a base C8 is crazy. I hate it when manufacturers try to justify it with....well it comes standard with this and that. How about you just let those be options and let consumers put what they want on the vehicle vs what you want to over charge and get more money out of consumers?

[@roguedogx]

​@@festuspunkyI second your no

[@joshualewis393]

@@festuspunky So you'd rather have options that you'll never use and could have saved ten of thousands of dollars on if they had been options? No wonder the car market is all screwed up and repo's are at an all time high.

[@joshualewis393]

@festuspunky Then why not have a base car that you can select each option you want vs having it standard? Or being standard doesn't make it better, it's the manufacturer's way of poverty charging for things that could be options and at a cheaper cost. But I'm also sure you're also the type of person who'd pay over MSRP for a car. Like I said, this is the reason why cars are priced the way they are because of people like you who just want to spend money that you don't have and then complaining about how expensive cars are.

[@TheFlooringInspector82]

@@joshualewis393 They do have a base car, its the stingray. if you do not want the higher performance, the widebody, the awd, the extra technology, then just buy a Coupe Stingray 1lt with no extras. There is an option, you're griping because you're broke at this point, that's none of our problem or theirs.

[@joshualewis393]

@@TheFlooringInspector82 Not griping because you think I'm broke. I'm griping because GM couldn't make an equally affordable AWD Corvette that was just a bit over the base Stingray. But I keep hearing from non car people about this so I can see why none of you understand.

[@HBCUFantasySports]

Based on engineering, GM should have used axial drive motors instead of that old school low power hybrid motor. Make it as premium as possible.

[@ALMX5DP]

I can imagine price would reflect such a change appropriately. Not sure there's a financial case to be made with that arrangement.

[@HBCUFantasySports]

@@ALMX5DP it’s one of the most iconic sports cars in the world. Charge what you need for the best experience

[@ALMX5DP]

@@HBCUFantasySports best experience sounds quite subjective. I’m sure the engineers and bosses at GM fully understand their market demographic and know what is viable or cost effective when producing a product for it.

[@thegreeneyej]

UDrag IT

[@DS22723]

I really hope it doesn't blew it's engine up less than 52 miles like the Z06 does 😂😂😂

[@TheFlooringInspector82]

It's got the LT2 engine which has already been proven to be reliable. The LT5 however, yeah that is a bit sketchy. I like it, but I just do not trust it.

[@goonthreegtr]

thks is definitely not a track car. by 1 min mark at 85 mph, electric motor is not doing anything and 2nd lap electric motor aint doing anything when video ends. 2nd lap run will be much slower as battery is dead. they dont want to show yoj laps 2 thru 5 because essentially it is a stingray carrying extra weight

[@RenBartlett]

Not entirely true. The hybrid motor is self regenerating and will continue to kick in forever. Heated track laps do take alot out of it, but it won't be dead ever.

[@goonthreegtr]

@RenBartlett you obvious don't track. regen takes power away from car and braking from 155 for turn takes only few seconds. you ain't charging crap in a few seconds

[@RenBartlett]

@@goonthreegtr You should watch the videos of the E-Ray on the track, its far ahead of the Stingray and not as far behind the Z06 as you obviously think it would be....it tracks well but is ideal as a daily driver and light to light race smasher.

[@dj_laundry_list]

They should add four cylinders to the Z06 engine when paring it with the electric motors in order to compete with lamborghini

[@lplt]

that looked so sluggish

[@ericblanchard5873]

Looks like a video game. Graphics aren't the best.

[@OlllOHD]

Why they look so cheap from outside?

[@joevokey1340]

Yawn 🥱

[@chich2744]

Keep your electric crap