We get General Motors’ logic with the switch to an electric hybrid, but somehow we think “E-Ray” just doesn’t sound nearly as cool as “Manta Ray.”
Five years ago, GM began pursuing trademarks for “Manta Ray” and “Corvette Manta Ray” in the U.S. and Canada.
In fact, the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted “notice of allowance” to GM for both those names, with full approval being delayed until GM proved that it actually intended to use the names on a real-world automobile with the United States by filing a “Statement of Use” with the office.
The Patent and Trademark Office forces companies to file such a statement to prevent what’s known as “trademark squatting,” or just applying for a trademark solely to prevent a competitor from ever using the same name.
Apparently, GM won’t be using the Manta Ray name, though, because GM Authority says sources tell them that Chevy will be using the name “E-Ray” instead.
Since GM won’t reveal future products, rumor has it that the E-Ray will be the new name for what has been known as the Grand Sport in past Corvette generations.
The E-Ray is rumored to use the same 6.2-liter engine as the 2020 Stingray, but with the addition of an electric motor in the front, horsepower could rise to the neighborhood of 600 compared to the 495 put out by the LT2 alone.
It’s also believed that the E-Ray will make use of a widebody, to further differentiate it from the base Stingray, and will be the first of several C8 variants that will feature progressively higher-performance Z06, ZR1, and Zora models.
The original Manta Ray made its debut back in 1969 as the second of two 1965 Mako Shark concepts and now resides in Sterling Heights, Michigan as part of the GM Heritage Center Collection.
Source:
gmauthority.com
Related:
GM Trademarks the Mid-Engine Corvette Name of ZORA Across the World…Including China!
Speculation of an Electric Corvette Grows After GM Trademarks ‘Corvette E-Ray’
GM Registers a Trademark for ‘Corvette Manta Ray’
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Manta Ray and Mako Shark still sound better than E-Ray. Also a shame that GM never offered the iconic 2-tone blue-grayish white as a color option. But, I know a wrap shop that can do it on my ’21 when I get it.
“E-Ray” just sounds so hokey. Manta sounds great. E-Ray sounds like something from Apple. And Brian, I couldn’t agree more on the two-tone color option. It looked great. The C8 does’t really have a body crease that lends itself to two-tone though.
Since the C7 generation, I’ve thought that Mako Shark would be a great name for a higher performance Corvette variant.
That’s great Manta Ray name should be saved for a car option that will last . A Corvette that a real owner will be proud to drive. A corvette with massive handleing and a standard transmission. The Hybrid Vette will come and go just like the Volt and the 4 wheel steering pickup trucks.
GM seems to forget what Electric really means, instead of hp. Why GM isn’t publishing MPG ?
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