New Delhi: The comeback of the iconic Corvette Grand Sport has brought one piece of sad news, as this would kill the Corvette E-Ray. Of course, the electrified Corvette will still exist in the iteration of the Grand Sport X. The Corvette E-Ray was launched in 2023, as the first-ever hybrid Corvette targeting to take advantage of the growing fondness towards electrification in the sports and supercar segments.
In spite of some initial concerns about the Corvette getting an electric motor, the E-Ray was more like a traditional mild hybrid, with its battery being used at low speeds, for launch, and to power some of the car’s internal electrical parts.
Though it was heavier at 1711 kgs, compared to the standard one weighing 1603 kg, the E-Ray could go from 0-100 kph in just 2.5 seconds, which made it the fastest Corvette ever made back then. Unlike the quite aggressive ZR1 and ZR1X, the E-Ray was a much softer car, seen more as a grand-tourer Corvette than the one that made records around the circuit.
What led to E-Ray’s sad demise?
Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
The new Grand Sport X comes with the same hybrid system as the E-Ray, and given that the Corvette Grand Sport is the softer version of the ZR1, it is quite more practical from Chevrolet’s point of view to combine both in a single trim. Further, the Grand Sport has existed in one way or another throughout the Corvette’s life, so that obviously gets more priority.
In terms of specs, the Grand Sport comes with an all-new 6.7-litre V8 that has an output of 535 bhp and 705 Nm of torque. The slightly more aggressive Grand Sport X makes 721 bhp because it comes with the previously mentioned E-Ray electric motor at the front axle. It will be interesting to see if the Grand Sport X can match the E-Ray’s 0-100 kph pickup, but it can almost be assumed.
The Corvette E-Ray was one of the most interesting cars that ever came from the brand. With the huge tech leap the C8 takes over the C7, it will be quite something to see how the hybridisation takes over the future Corvettes and all other future GM sports cars.