Another Blow to V8 Aficionados! General Motors Confirms Hybrid and EV Corvette Models Will Be Here Soon
Corvette is one of the last bastions of traditional V8 power. Is a hybrid and EV Corvette the beginning of the end?
You are here on LS1 Tech because you love the traditional V8 engine. And the reasons for that love are numerous. The sound, the power, the reliability, and the overall sense of occasion that comes with driving an LS-powered car is too thrilling not to love. The LS1 was introduced with the C5 generation Corvette back in 1997. The Corvette and the V8 have a long and illustrious history together. And while the regular Stingray and the upcoming Z06 each come with V8 power, there is trouble brewing on the horizon if you are a diehard combustion engine fan. The entire automotive world is going electric, and the Corvette is not immune to this paradigm shift. On April 25 GM President, Mark Reuss shared the news in a LinkedIn post that we all knew was coming. A hybrid and EV Corvette are coming.
That post coincided with a teaser video posted on the Chevrolet YouTube channel. In that video we can hear some combustion engine sounds so that is likely the hybrid model which will arrive first.
Reuss stated in LinkedIn:
“Some time ago we moved the Corvette team into the EV space in Warren, Michigan, and when we revealed the new mid-engine Corvette, I said there would be “more to come.” This morning I sat down with Phil LeBeau of CNBC and finally answered the question I’ve been asked countless times. Yes, in addition to the amazing new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and other gas-powered variants coming, we will offer an electrified and a fully electric, Ultium-based Corvette in the future. In fact, we will offer an electrified Corvette as early as next year. Details and names to come at a later date.”
E-Ray Hybrid
As stated in the post the name E-Ray is not official as names and details have yet to be officially revealed. But for now, let’s go with that. And while we are at it we will focus on the positives here. We expect this car to combine the 6.2L LT2 V8 with electric motors that will boost the horsepower to the 650 range. This is expected to be combined with an all-wheel-drive configuration. That will likely result in the fastest accelerating Corvette ever produced. And because the LT2 will still be present, the car should still have some V8 rumble.
Fully Electric Corvette
The Corvette EV is on the way. This car will not have any of the traditional V8 sounds that we have all gotten accustomed to over the last several decades. But again it will come with blistering performance. It is well known at this point how quickly an EV can accelerate with its instant torque delivery. And a sportscar like the Corvette is certainly going to prioritize performance. So, it is possible that the EV may be even quicker still than the hybrid. The mighty Z06 could be the “slowest” of the three, at least in a straight line. That is mind-boggling to think about.
Ultium Energy Recovery
The Hybrid and EV Corvette announcement was not the only news to come out of GM this week. There was also news on the new Ultium platform. Reuss stated:
“In addition, we also announced today Ultium Platform’s energy recovery system, a patented onboard system that takes the heat generated by EV batteries and uses it to warm the cabin, create more efficient charging conditions, and even increase vehicle acceleration. And it can boost the vehicle’s range by about 10%. It’s a perfect example of how developing a ground-up EV platform like Ultium enables unique features not easily done with a retrofit.”
The Future
Today we can still buy V8-powered cars. The traditional crate engine scene is also still going strong and enjoys GM support. However, the writing on the wall reads that those days might be numbered. Ultium batteries are the future. But the good news is the focus will still be on performance. And electric power has some advantages in that department so speed should not be an issue. Now if GM can get us some of the traditional V8 feel in an all-electric package it would be a win-win.
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