The American sports car celebrates its 70th anniversary with a four-wheel drive hybrid version. There is a petrol V8 at the rear and an electric unit at the front.
Times are changing, even for American sportswomen. The famous Corvette enters a new era with its first electrified version, named E-Ray.
No way to give up the V8! It is always present in the entrails of the beast. It is recalled that since the current generation, the C8, this block is placed in the rear central position. Atmospheric, this 6.2 liter develops 369 kW, or 502 hp.
It is here associated with a 120 kW electric motor, or 163 hp. The particularity is that this block is mounted on the front axle, which makes the E-Ray a four-wheel-drive Corvette. The maximum cumulative power is 654 hp. Enough to give first-class performance, the 0 to 60 mph American (i.e. 0 to 96 km / h) being achieved in about 2.5 seconds. The E-Ray also becomes the fastest production Corvette!
This Corvette is a simple hybrid, with a small 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery. This is recharged by recovering energy during braking and deceleration. The car can move forward in 100% electric mode, but necessarily for a short distance and at a speed limited to 45 mph, or around 72 km/h.
The E-Ray takes up the silhouette of the Z06 variant. It is available as a coupé or convertible. The aesthetic customization is limited to a few decorative elements, it can for example have “Electric Blue” bands. The vehicle has 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. There are carbon-ceramic Brembo brakes as standard, which are very useful to deal with the excess weight of hybridization.
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