Z06 style without high-revving music.
Since its inception, the C8 Chevrolet Corvette is available. It’s not uncommon to see one on the roads. At a glance, it looks almost like a new Z06. This is a fascinating fact because the Z06 was launched just a few months back, and won’t be available for sale until 2022. This car is a test vehicle for the manufacturer, and therefore it is not a production model. That’s exactly how Chevrolet wants to make you think.
We believe that this is the Corvette E-Ray hybrid. This will be the first ever electrified production Corvette. The Z06 styling on the test vehicle suggests that it will emphasize efficiency over performance. The Z06 design of this car explains why it doesn’t have any camouflage wrap. That version of the C8 Corvette has been revealed.
Car buffs will notice something different at the back: a lack center-exit exhaust. This is a standard feature on the Z06 but the car still has the corner-exit exhaust from the Stingray. This is very important as the E-Ray will likely keep the Stingray’s V8 of 6.2-liters in its standard format. It generates 490 to 495 horsepower.
The addition of an electric motor to the front wheels makes the hybrid Corvette the first all wheel-drive Corvette. This is a rumor, but it’s not confirmed. We have collected information from several sources, and it all points to the same conclusion.
How can we be sure that this isn’t just a Z06 prototype with the Stingray’s exhaust? We can’t really be certain without photos of the engine and undercarriage. Fly-by photos are not enough. Our spy sources were able to follow the car for a while and found that the exhaust sound wasn’t the typical Z06 DOHC V8. It could be a Stingray in a Z06 suit or an E-Ray. We are betting heavily on the former.
We won’t be able to know for certain until next year. We expect Chevrolet to unveil the E-Ray at that time, which will likely be available for purchase in 2023.