Test drive | Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray: the expressive hybrid

With the advent of its eighth generation, the Chevrolet Corvette was radically transformed by choosing to embed its V8 in the central rear position. This revolutionary posture for the archetypal American sports car was accompanied by a bold evolutionary strategy involving its electrification in various forms. It was the E-Ray that got the ball rolling with its electric motor at the bow to support its roaring “small-block” behind the passenger compartment. Heresy or brilliant four-season sports car?

Its design

If you find the idea of ​​approaching the Corvette while the first tones of white paint the landscapes of La Belle Province curious, it's quite understandable. While its natural rival, the Porsche 911, has been honing its versatility for decades with its biting all-wheel drivetrains, the Corvette has never been tempted to imitate it… until the introduction of this E-Ray. Beyond its fascinating technical approach, this variant presents itself with more curved wings than those of the standard Stingray, a stylistic posture borrowed from the Z06 to accommodate its wider tires. Offered in both coupe and convertible body styles, it displays a more remarkable expressiveness highlighted by the elegant “surging blue” of the test vehicle. Its lines converging forward add continuity to a spectacular design.

On board

Like other versions of Corvette, the interior nicely conceptualizes its sporty positioning. After slight contortions to get on board, we discover standard seats which hug, without being too firm. Legroom is good, but taller people will find headroom a little limited. The design of the dashboard, inspired by military aviation, is undeniably concentrated around the cockpit with a right-angled central console which physically separates the passenger from the driver. The vertical strip of keys remains a questionable ergonomic choice in a space where such errors are rare. Storage space remains small, but the front and rear trunks make this E-Ray just as practical as a production Corvette. Chevrolet also offers a multitude of configurations to personalize materials and colors.

Under the hood

The 6.2L 495 hp V8 still plays the leading role here, the same engine as the Stingray. The second motor, this one electric, is placed on the front axle to increase the striking force by 160 hp without having a mechanical link with the rear. When the powertrain is operating at full load, we access no less than 655 hp. If the figure seems high, it is however the extraordinary mechanical symbiosis between the V8, the electric motor and the double-clutch gearbox (8 speeds) which monopolizes our observations. The accelerations and, above all, the restarts push us back without sparing the sensory aspect. The furious rise in revs of the V8, which peaks modestly at 6600 rpm, is superimposed on the simulated blinking of the electric motor increasing in intensity in a gripping sonic harmony.

Behind the wheel

Taking advantage of an exceptional driving position, we attack the first curve with confidence. The steering, which is very communicative, allows you to gauge the condition of the road and to properly adjust the braking force, which is very powerful and adjustable. The positioning of the small battery (1.9 kWh) under the central console preserves the intrinsic stability of this chassis. Roll is reduced to nothing and comfort is just as remarkable due to the electromagnetic damping which adjusts continuously. The contribution of the electric motor is felt during acceleration, it weaving a safety net by delicately framing the front axle, without the rush of the V8 being subdued, quite the contrary. Tested on cold, wet roads, the launch assistance proved to be breathtakingly effective, being able to reduce the 0-97 km/h time in 2.5 seconds, according to Chevrolet.

Embedded technologies

The Corvette E-Ray is equipped with the latest iteration of Chevrolet's multimedia system, called 3 Plus. Unlike the systems used by the manufacturer's latest electric proposals, this one fortunately retains the wireless connection to CarPlay and Android Auto, while avoiding making the interface more complex. Everything is intelligible and the vertical tabs to the left of the touch screen provide quick access to important menus. The slightly angled positioning of the 8-inch screen ensures good readability without obstructing the dashboard. Let's also highlight the hybrid component well explained by digital gauges displaying the powers produced by the two engines in real time. The instruments are encased in a 12-inch digital screen that is configurable and just as readable, but whose refresh rate is showing a little age.

Verdict

Without having been able to evaluate its behavior on snowy surfaces during this test carried out late in November, we can affirm that this Corvette E-Ray can boast of being a true four-season sports car. Wearing winter boots, it shone when the mercury hovered near freezing, a brilliance attributable to the extraordinary work of the stability control system. However, we cannot expect to achieve big gains in fuel consumption like those that a conventional hybrid would promise. Just like the electrified supercars that have captured our imagination over the last two decades, this Corvette E-Ray is electrified with the aim of performance and refinement. It's a tall order that transcends a high entry bill ($153,799), but makes every ride precious.