Latest news with #E-Ray
Top Gear
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Official: the £153k, 634bhp Corvette E-Ray hybrid is coming to the UK
Supercars Or you can have the drop-top for another £6k Skip 11 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Say a cheery good day to the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, which will arrive in the UK in September wearing a £153,440 sticker for the coupe, or a £159,230 tag for the convertible. It'll also wear a mid-mounted, nat-asp 6.2-litre small-block V8 sending 475bhp and 452lb ft of torque to the rear wheels, and an electric-motor bolted onto the front axle for AWD. That motor is powered by a 1.9kWh battery sitting comfortably between the seats, allowing for an extra 159bhp and 122lb ft. As such, the E-Ray can be driven at up to 44mph in EV-only mode, and even has an Active Fuel Management system that shuts off half the cylinders for improved efficiency. Advertisement - Page continues below But that's not really why you buy a Corvette, is it? The combined total outputs are as follows: 634bhp, 574lb ft, 0-62mph in 2.9s and a top speed of 183mph. In short, it'll be the quickest-ever Corvette to be officially sold in the UK. Unless Chevy decides to unleash the mad ZR1X over here. The E-Ray gets a fancy set of Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, magnetic suspension with up to three settings, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres wrapped around a choice of 20 or 21in alloy wheels. You might like Chevrolet has also recently updated the interior to remove the sea of buttons that were previously there (although you might spy that the wall is still in place on the pre-facelift car above), so the E-Ray has a cleaner (but still quite driver-focused) cockpit. Highlights are a 14-speaker Bose audio system and a triple-screen setup, led by a 14in multimedia hub. There's a head-up display as standard and an onboard video recorder. Plus lots of tech, such as emergency braking, collision alerts and lane assist. As you'd expect from a car that costs as much as a base-spec 992 911 GT3. Advertisement - Page continues below Looking for more from the USA? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Auto Express
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Yeehaw! America's sports car is finally getting its UK release
The Chevrolet Corvette might be America's sports car, but it's now got the green light to come to Britain. Shown off at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Corvette will arrive in September this year and it'll come in E-Ray hybrid form. The current, eighth-generation Corvette was launched way back in 2020 and in 2023 the world saw the first electrified Corvette in the shape of the E-Ray. Earlier this year the Corvette gained a mild mid-life update with a change to the interior's central stack of buttons and more recently the ultimate 1,064bhp ZR1X iteration of the mid-engined sports car was unveiled. The E-Ray is set to be the only version of the Corvette we'll get here, however. Advertisement - Article continues below The Corvette E-Ray will line up against the Porsche 911 GTS E-Hybrid, not only because of its hybrid powertrain, but the price too. The Coupe is set to cost from £153,440 and the Convertible will be priced slightly higher at £159,230. In the E-Ray, the electric motor and 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 provide 646bhp in total. That means it falls slightly short of the non-hybrid C8 Z06 model on power, but the E-Ray completes the 0-60mph sprint quicker with a time of 2.9 seconds. That's thanks to the all-wheel drive system, the first of its kind fitted to a Corvette. The E-Ray's e-motor is powered by a 1.9kWh battery pack positioned between the seats to aid weight distribution. It can't be charged with a plug - instead, it's topped up by regenerative brake energy harvested while driving. To squeeze more efficiency from the powertrain, the E-Ray can shut-off four of its eight cylinders on the move, and pure-electric driving is possible at up to 44mph in 'Stealth Mode'. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below A selection of six drive modes, including Tour, Track and a configurable My Mode setting, dictate the car's deployment of electric power, while an additional Stealth Mode allows silent EV running when starting a journey. Advertisement - Article continues below Due to the battery and motor hardware, the E-Ray's 1,712kg dry weight exceeds the standard car's figure by 110kg. To compensate, Chevrolet's engineers have fitted carbon ceramic brakes and the firm's Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 suspension as standard, the latter of which is likely to adopt a bespoke tune. The E-Ray is just over 9cm wider than the base model, too, which should help mitigate the impact of the extra mass. A set of staggered 20- and 21-inch wheels are bespoke to the hybrid version, and can be specified with either Michelin Pilot Sport or grippier Pilot Sport 4S tyres. Those 21-inch rear wheels have colossal 345-width rubber to apply the E-Ray's torque to the road. The wheels can be had in carbon fibre too, offering a 18.5kg weight reduction. To distinguish the newcomer as the electrified Corvette, there's a unique Z06-inspired front bumper and the rear end has been restyled to blend with the wider bodyshell. There are ten exterior colours to choose from with the Corvette E-Ray too, along with carbon fibre exterior and interior trims. Our dealer network has 1,000s of great value new cars in stock and available now right across the UK. Find your new car… Find a car with the experts Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports While not officially Fords, the MST Mk1 and Mk2 Sports should drive as sharply as they look Car Deal of the Day: Skoda Octavia vRS is the consummate all-rounder and only £255 a month! Car Deal of the Day: Skoda Octavia vRS is the consummate all-rounder and only £255 a month! A three-time Auto Express Family Car of the Year winner, paired with Golf GTI power, is our Deal of the Day for 6 July Car Deal of the Day: Peugeot 208 GT is a sharp supermini for less than £180 a month Car Deal of the Day: Peugeot 208 GT is a sharp supermini for less than £180 a month It may be getting on a bit, but thanks to distinctive styling you really wouldn't know it – Peugeot's 208 is our Deal of the Day for 7 July
Hamilton Spectator
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
An electric Corvette? And it's all-wheel drive? Yeah, it's bloody fast, too
Behind you, the low-strung bellow of a naturally aspirated, 6.2-litre pushrod V8. Chevy's LT2 small block snarls, gasps, barks and farts, the way any American-bred motor ought to. That's the past. Up front, or rather, through the E-Ray's audio system, you'll hear a synthetic, almost alien-like hum. It floods the entire cabin. It's intoxicating, even a bit annoying at times. It's a reminder that this Corvette is electrified, thanks to hybrid technology. This is the future. By the time you've come to your senses from the cacophony of go-fast decibels, you've teleported to your next destination. The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray redefines your perception of what fast should be. It's bloody fast! But this Corvette is tremendously easy to live with. Chevrolet is unleashing its most potent Corvette yet. No, I'm not talking about the ZR1, although its 1,064-horsepower figure was already out of this world. The ZR1X combines the ZR1's twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V8 and this E-Ray's electric motor. The combined output is a mind-boggling 1,224 horsepower. Let that sink in for a moment! Next to such colossal numbers, the E-Ray's 655-horsepower and 595 lbs.-ft. of torque (motive force) appear, well, sort of weak. But these numbers don't tell the story: it will take just 2.5 seconds for the E-Ray to sprint to 100 km/h from a standstill. It's a rocket. (I can only imagine what a ZR1X must feel like.) Look, all Corvettes are fast. But within the Corvette hierarchy — Stingray, Z06, E-Ray, ZR1 and ZR1X — the E-Ray remains a force to be reckoned with. It's a relatively unique machine in this space, given its combination of both gasoline and electric propulsion. Acura attempted this with the second-generation NSX, and we've seen some multimillion hypercars in the McLaren P1. But this is a first for an American sports car, and definitely a first for the Corvette. It's first-ever hybrid 'Vette. But don't expect the E-Ray's hybrid system to help it save fuel. It doesn't. The sole purpose of the 160-horsepower permanent-magnet AC motor installed on the car's front axle is to add 160 hp to an already potent machine. It also gives the E-Ray the benefit of being an all-wheel-drive sports car. Yes, the E-Ray can sort of drive in full electric mode, but only during a short period of time at very low speeds. The system is best appreciated in Stealth mode. The car takes off on electric power alone only to fire up its growling V8 once you've left the neighbourhood. This proved particularly handy one early morning on my way to the airport. And boy does that eight-cylinder sound glorious when it wakes up. During the week I was driving the E-Ray, Quebec got a summer's worth of rain. Chevrolet had planned to have me drive the car in the mid winter to prove a point: that the E-Ray is an all-weather sports car. But it wasn't to be. Even in late May's rain, the E-Ray's tenacious grip, aided by a set of Michelin Pilot all-season tires, turned its ludicrous performance into a normal, everyday affair. Getting to places fast in an E-Ray is a casual thing. It was comfortable. Sure, the confined, two-seat cabin isn't exactly sports sedan spacious. And you'll need to practice with your right arm placing your phone on the wireless phone charger between the seats. But except for these normal sports car compromises, the E-Ray is relatively spacious, given its small size, and it adapts well to different weather, thanks to its retractable top. There's storage. Obviously, nobody expects a Corvette to out-cargo a three-row SUV. But combining the front and rear storage compartments, you end up with enough space to fit anything from golf bags — two will fit — to a full complement of groceries. Yes, that retractable top will also fit in the rear compartment. There are things about the Corvette E-Ray I would change. I'm definitely looking forward to the updated interior in 2026. Although the 2025 model's large spine of buttons looks cool and all, it's not exactly an ergonomic success. The software lags when cycling from one drive mode to the next. That drive mode knob dial has an awkward resistance, as if Chevrolet doesn't want you to rotate it. Weird. This Corvette will brawl with McLarens and Lamborghinis all day on a racetrack, but it can serve as a formidable daily driver. The beauty of the E-Ray's electric assistance is that it takes none of the C8 Corvette's visceral, analogue, all-American flavour away. If anything, it enhances it. The Chevrolet Corvette lives on, even in the electric age. Type: Two-door sports coupe Engine: 6.2-litre hybrid V8; 655 horsepower and 595 pounds-feet of torque (motive force) Transmission: Eight-speed automatic Fuel: 14.7 litres/100 km in the city; 9.8l/100 km on the highway; 12.3l/100 km combined; and 13.1l/100 km observed Cargo: 340 litres, or 12.6 cubic feet Price: $179,720, as tested
TimesLIVE
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Corvette ZR1X launches with 932kW of hybrid power
The Corvette ZR1, the most powerful nameplate in the Chevrolet harem, gains a new member with modern tweaks. The ZR1X has been revealed as a hybrid all-wheel drive Corvette, and the most powerful and fastest iteration yet powered by a turbocharged and intercooled LT7 engine and an electric front-drive unit. The flat-plane crank 5.5 l V8 fitted produces 793kW on its own and paired with an electric front drive unit that contributes 139kW achieves a combined total system output of 932kW, making it the most powerful production Corvette ever. An advanced eAWD system manages the clean deployment of the fizz, operating through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but it's the first of its kind. The first electrified Corvette from the American brand appeared on the nameplate's 70th birthday in 2023 as the Corvette E-Ray. Nowhere near the brutal ZR1 lineage, the tribute model paired all-wheel-drive and a 6.2 l LT2 small block V8 with a 1.9kWh battery pack on the front axle for a total system output worth 488kW, and rated with a 2.5-second 0-100km/h time and the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds. 'The ZR1X brings learning from the ZR1 and E-Ray to create an unmatched driving experience,' the company said about the latest model. The new ZR1X, with a smaller capacity ICE engine, can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in under 2.0 seconds, bettering the E-Ray's time by half a second and with a quicker quarter mile time of under nine seconds. The ZR1X's standard carbon ceramic brakes are the Corvette's largest ever, with 16.5-inch front and rear rotors and paired with Alcon 10-piston front and six-piston rear calipers for ultra-responsive braking. Drive modes include electric-only stealth mode with up to 6km to 8km at speeds up to 72km/h. A heavy press of the throttle seamlessly unleashes the full performance potential. The energetic design of the ZR1X reflects the ZR1 species with aerodynamic and thermal management accoutrements. Lightweight carbon fibre features on the front splitter, rocker panels, split rear window surround, roof panels and side air inlets. A ZR1X carbon fibre aero package is available, which adds a lot more carbon fibre as a high-wing spoiler, underbody strakes, hood lip gurney and dive planes work together to produce high downforce. Advanced traction and stability control systems, including PTM Pro designed, optimise performance across a variety of track driving conditions. Regenerative brake torque vectoring engineered to recover peak energy without sacrificing agility is integrated while front axle pre-control actively manages inside front brake pressure to control on-throttle wheel flares for consistent grip and composed handling at the limit. A fully customisable performance app displays performance data in real time with live graphs that show outputs over selectable time intervals. The ZR1X is available in coupe and convertible styles and in 1LZ and 3LZ trims. A visible carbon fibre roof panel, eight-way power GT1 or competition sport seats, an HD rear camera and rear camera mirror, Bose 10-speaker sound system, wireless phone charger and head-up display are standards 1LZ amenities. The 3LZ includes everything on the 1LZ, plus a 14-speaker sound system, heated and ventilated Napa leather GT2 or competition sport seats with power lumbar/wing adjustment, a heated steering wheel with carbon fibre trim and shift paddles, suede micro fibre upper interior trim, HD front and rear vision cameras and two wireless phone chargers.
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
General Motors' 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X is the automaker's most powerful
General Motors is rolling out the world's most powerful Corvette near the end of 2025 – and it's a hybrid. The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the sister to the ZR1, boasts 1,250 horsepower, a record for the automaker, and comes with a button to release the entire stable at once. The driving force behind the vehicle's propulsion stems from the decision in 2020 to move the engine to the center of the vehicle. 'From day one, we designed the midengine Corvette architecture with ZR1X in mind,' General Motors Senior Vice President Ken Morris said in a statement. 'This is the most revolutionary platform in Corvette history.' The Detroit automaker said June 17 that the ZR1X also borrows features launched in previous models, such as all-wheel drive and a dual powertrain first seen on the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. GM calculates the neck-breaking power through combining the two propulsion methods. A battery pack and electric motor drives the front axle and a V8 engine propels the rear, the company said, but there is no physical connection between the two power sources on the ZR1X. The ZR1X credits 1,064 horsepower from the LT7 5.5L V8 engine and 186 horsepower from the electric unit ― making it the most powerful, fastest Corvette ever. The battery capacity, 1.9 kWh, is the same as the E-Ray, but GM said the ZR1X has more usable energy to provide greater lapping capability. This higher peak operating voltage increases the power output from the front drive unit. The electrified propulsion system also does not require a plug – regenerative energy from the front drive unit charges the vehicle as it goes. In case you missed it: Iconic Corvette faces changes ahead, but enthusiasts are confident GM previously confirmed an all-electric Corvette is in the works, but did not provide an update about a potential time frame on a recent media call. The ZR1X will be built at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky. The company said prospective buyers can expect pricing details later this year. Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis for AutoPacific, said it's likely the ZR1X will be the brand's most expensive. Hypercar territory 'The ZR1X launches Corvette into true hypercar territory and sets a new benchmark for full-line automakers,' he said. 'What's striking is the range it crowns: From the attainable Stingray to the electrified E-Ray, and now the ZR1X, the C8 lineup spans a remarkable spectrum of performance.' Notably, the 2025 ZR1 started at $174,995, the most expensive Corvette for the market and a steep jump from the 2019 Corvette ZR1, which started at $121,000. Rick Hendrick, a Chevrolet dealer and NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner, broke records this January when he purchased the 2025 ZR1 for $3.7 million. Stephanie Brinley, associate director of Auto Intelligence at S&P Global Mobility, said in the scope of ultra sports car development, Corvette's advancements tend to offer good value. 'If you're doing product progression correctly, every new Corvette is the most advanced Corvette yet,' she said. 'This is power beyond what most vehicles can do.'
