Latest news with #E-Ray
Hamilton Spectator
14 hours ago
- 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.'
Miami Herald
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Every Corvette C8 Ranked By Horsepower
With the launch of the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, the Corvette C8 family has grown once more. It seems like longer than five years since the original Corvette C8 Stingray went into production, so far has this generation of the sports car come since then. Regardless of what model you pick, every C8 offers supercar-level looks and performance for a fraction of the price of an Italian exotic. Here's a refresher of where each model sits in the lineup, ranked from lowest to highest horsepower output. This is where the C8 story began, and it's almost easy to forget just how potent the standard Corvette is, especially at a base price of $68,300. The 6.2-liter V8 engine makes 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque; Porsche charges more for a four-cylinder Cayman with 300 hp. The 0-60 mph time of around three seconds is still supercar-quick, aided by the quick shifts of the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, along with the rear-wheel-drive C8's immense grip. Unless you drive one of the other C8s, you would not feel shortchanged behind the wheel of the base model in any way. You can squeeze more power and torque out of the standard Corvette Stingray by equipping either the performance exhaust ($1,195) or the popular Z51 Performance Package ($6,345). In both cases, the V8 is uprated to 495 hp and 470 lb-ft, and the C8 in this configuration can hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Besides the performance exhaust, the Z51 pack also adds performance Brembo brakes, a performance suspension, a unique rear axle ratio, an electronic limited-slip differential, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, turning this into a monster track toy. Considering the standard Corvette's appealing base price, the Z51 pack is a no-brainer. After the standard Corvettes, it's a huge bump up in power to the hybrid E-Ray, which adds an electric drive unit and e-AWD to the 6.2L V8 lump. Combined, the system makes 655 hp, and the additional traction of the E-Ray results in a 2.5-second 0-60 mph run. The price for a base E-Ray rises to $106,900, and while that's far more than a base Corvette, it still represents remarkable bang for your buck. The E-Ray manages the same 19 mpg combined as the base Corvette, so the hybrid system is less about efficiency and more about finding a way to unlock another layer of performance. You can also use the car's Stealth mode for silent getaways early on weekend mornings, without disturbing the neighbors. Choosing between the E-Ray and Z06 is quite a conundrum. The Z06 is a raw performer, swapping the 6.2-liter V8 for an intoxicating 5.5-liter flat plane crank V8 that shrieks all the way to 8,600 rpm. It produces 670 hp and 460 lb-ft, and also has an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Chevy says it'll hit 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, which is actually slower than the E-Ray, and you need the Z06's $8,995 Z07 Performance Package to achieve that time. That's on top of its $112,100 base price. Taking all this into account, the E-Ray is the winner on paper. But that doesn't tell the full story. You see, the Z06 is about 300 lbs lighter than the E-Ray. This, coupled with its more rev-hungry engine, makes it a more unfiltered and enjoyable track tool. But the E-Ray is a more refined, sophisticated daily driver. You can't go wrong with either. The ZR1 takes the 5.5-liter flat plane crank V8 from the Z06 and boosts it with two turbos. That makes a huge difference, and the result is 1,064 hp and 828 lb-ft. With the ZTK Performance Package, the 0-60 mph time drops to an astonishing 2.3 seconds. That may be only two-tenths more than the E-Ray, but even the smallest gains are not easy to come by at this level. The ZTK pack adds a special suspension with magnetic selective ride control and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. At $1,500, it's a box you may as well tick, since the ZR1 starts at $173,300. Up until very recently, it was hard to believe the Corvette could get more extreme, but then the ZR1X came along. Chevy pulled out all the stops for the new Corvette ZR1X. Combining the best of the E-Ray and ZR1, this C8 features the 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 combined with an electric drive unit, bringing combined outputs well into EV territory at 1,064 hp and 828 lb-ft. Like the E-Ray, it has e-AWD. The combination of immense power and AWD grip makes it a rocket, with a 0-60 mph time of under two seconds and a quarter-mile time of under nine seconds. In Stealth Mode, the ZR1X can be driven for 4 to 5 miles at speeds of up to 45 mph in silence, but most will prefer operating it with the V8 in full flow. Careful attention to aerodynamics make this the Corvette with the highest ever downforce, and massive carbon ceramic brakes are there to bring the car down from the insanely high speeds it can reach. Pricing for the ZR1X is yet to be revealed, but we expect something in the vicinity of $230,000 to $250,000. Like every other C8, it offers unmatched power and performance from a gas or hybrid sports car for the price. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NZ Autocar
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Chevrolet takes the Corvette to Hypercar Status with ZR1X model
The new ZR1X takes the Corvette to a whole new performance level. The latest Chevrolet hypercar is good for a 0-96km/h time of under 2seconds. That's thanks mainly to an electrified all-wheel drive (AWD) system. This car is said to be the most advanced Corvette yet, boasting 932kW and making the most of the Corvette's mid-engine architecture. Power and Performance At the heart of the ZR1X lies the is the LT7 twin-turbo V8 engine. It outputs 793kW at 7000rpm and 1124Nm of torque at 6000rpm. The power flows to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. This 5.5-litre small-block V8 is hand-built. It features dual 76mm turbochargers, an exhaust designed for rapid throttle response, and dynamic anti-lag control. This maintains turbo speed during off-throttle situations. The power is optimised for both street and track use. It's not just the V8 doing the leg work either. The ZR1X incorporates a front-axle electric motor delivering 139kW and 197Nm of torque, creating an electrified AWD system. This system builds on that of the 2024 E-Ray, the first AWD Corvette. The system integrates a high-voltage battery and an electric motor powering the front axle. There is no physical connection between the two power sources. The electric motor charges the battery via regenerative braking rather than plugging in. Said battery is designed to provide rapid bursts of power. It has improved power output over that of the E-Ray, for better lap times and acceleration. This set-up delivers standing quarters in under nine seconds. On-Track Technology and Performance Features ZR1X features several advanced systems to optimize performance on the track. The car has a new drive mode dubbed PTM Pro. It turns off traction control and stability control while keeping regen brake torque vectoring and launch control active. Moreover, the engineers have upgraded the eAWD chassis control system from the E-Ray. It offers more refined power distribution between the front and rear axles. The ZR1X also offers three specialized energy strategies: Endurance Mode: This optimises the battery for consistent performance during extended track sessions. Qualifying Mode: Maximises power for the fastest lap times. Push-to-Pass: Provides maximum available power on-demand for overtaking or acceleration. Advanced Braking and Suspension To handle the added power, the ZR1X comes equipped with Alcon 10-piston front and six-piston rear calipers, paired with carbon-ceramic rotors. These are the largest rotors ever offered on a Corvette, measuring 419mm in diameter, offering superior heat resistance and responsiveness. This braking system evidently produces 1.9G of deceleration at high speed. The car's suspension features magnetic ride control (adaptive damping), with an option for the ZTK Performance Package. This comprises stiffer springs and Michelin Pilot Cup 2R tires for track-day grip. For additional downforce, the Carbon Aero package adds dive planes and a rear wing. It produces up to 544kg of downforce at top speed, for enhanced stability. Interior and Comfort The 2026 Corvette ZR1X comes with a unique interior, including a new three-screen layout, and a redesigned centre console. It also display real-time vehicle data through the Performance App. The interior offers an array of customisation options. Customers can choose between coupe and hardtop convertible body styles too. Built in America Like all Corvettes, the ZR1X is built at GM's Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Every engine is hand-assembled at the plant, with U.S. and globally sourced parts used in production. One other aspect Chevrolet mentioned is that the ZR1X is just as happy and civilised plying city streets as it is hammering around race tracks.
