While the Corvette Team continues to ready the 2023 Corvette Z06 for the start of regular production later this summer, some Corvette enthusiasts are already looking ahead to the eventual electrification of America’s Favorite Sports Car. Today, we got news from the top levels of General Motors that an Ultium-based Corvette is coming and it’s going to be here sooner than you think.
GM President Mark Reuss did an interview Monday morning on CNBC where he shared the news about an electrified Corvette being offered as early as next year, and a fully electric Ultium-based Corvette coming sometime in the future. Along with that announcement, we see a video of the hybrid-electric Corvette testing in the snow was shown. Although Reuss didn’t say whether next year’s release would be a hybrid, we’re calling it a hybrid as you can hear the engine in the video:
Reuss also said that in addition to this summer’s release of the 2023 Corvette Z06, other phenomenal gas-powered variants are in the pipeline.
It’s long been rumored that Chevy is working on a hybrid-electric version of the C8 Corvette and GM’s trademark of “E-Ray” has also added fuel to the fire. Last year, a group of Chevy engineers was spied testing a prototype “E-Ray” alongside the Acura NSX hybrid sports car. One of the photos showed a General Motors “Regen on Demand” button used to capture braking energy to recharge the batteries.
Some Corvette enthusiasts are excited about the new hybrid technology in the Corvette which effectively adds an E-AWD system to the car for what we think will be some incredible launches and fast 0-60 MPH and Quarter-Mile times. However, others have expressed doubts that any electric-powered Corvette would be considered a “legitimate” extension of its 70-year history for the car. Seeming to address these concerns, GM says that “every Corvette has been better than the one before it and this will be no exception. We will continue to focus on all the things that have made and will make Corvette revolutionary.”
Update
Here is the video of the interview with CNBC:
Mark Reuss Statement released by GM:
Some time ago we moved the Corvette team into the EV space in Warren, Michigan, and when we revealed the new mid-engine Corvette, I said there would be “more to come.” This morning I sat down with Phil LeBeau of CNBC and finally answered the question I’ve been asked countless times.
Yes, in addition to the amazing new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and other gas-powered variants coming, we will offer an electrified and a fully electric, Ultium-based Corvette in the future. In fact, we will offer an electrified Corvette as early as next year. Details and names to come at a later date.
In addition, we also announced today Ultium Platform’s energy recovery system, a patented onboard system that takes the heat generated by EV batteries and uses it to warm the cabin, create more efficient charging conditions, and even increase vehicle acceleration. And it can boost the vehicle’s range by about 10%. It’s a perfect example of how developing a ground-up EV platform like Ultium enables unique features not easily done with a retrofit. https://bit.ly/3xRP9Qu .
Big news day at GM!
Source:
CNBC.com
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Can’t wait to see it! The future awaits….
Very cool!
If an E-Ray hybrid does as much for the C8 Corvette as the Power Boost Hybrid has for the Ford F-150 get in line now! An F-150 PB that is faster then the Raptor Sport Truck from Ford indicates a C8 Hybrid Will boldly accelerate faster then any factory Corvette has gone “Before!”
HEY EVERYBODY, MR. REUSS WANTS ALL OF US TO EXPECT A NEW ELECTRIC CORVETTE, EVEN THOUGH THE ASSEMBLY PLANT CAN NOT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND RIGHT NOW FOR PREMIUM GASOLINE POWERED STINGRAYS AND FUTURE Z06 CORVETTES.
WHAT DID MR. REUSS HAVE IN HIS COFFEE THIS MORNING?
THE ONLY COOL CONCEPT OF THE VIDEO IS SLIDING ON SNOW – IN CONTROL!
WHEN YOU WATCH THE SNOW VIDEO, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE CORVETTE SIDE
VIEW AS THE DRIVER HITS THE THROTTLE, THE FRONT TIRES WILL START SPINNING FASTER AND LOOKS LIKE A HIGHER RPM THAN THE REAR TIRES ARE DOING AT PROBABLY FULL PEDAL TO THE METAL FOR THE CAMERA FROM THE DRIVER. GRANTED THERE IS POTENTIALLY MORE WEIGHT AT THE REAR AXLES WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANNY, BUT THE AMOUNT OF REACTION TIME BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR TIRES WAS VERY COOL TO WATCH OVER AND OVER.
MR. RUESS AND MS. BARRA – PLEASE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS HELD SACRED, AFTER 70 YEARS TO ALL OF US AND THE WORLD, DO NOT USE THE NAME “CORVETTE” FOR YOUR PROPOSED ALL ELECTRIC ULTIUM DRIVETRAIN WHEN EVER THE YOUR ENGINEERS GETS AROUND TO BUILDING THIS VEHICLE. AND THEN BUILD THIS NEW CONCEPT IN DETROIT, NOT BOWLING GREEN.
BUILD A DIFFERENT BODY STYLE, PERHAPS THAT HAS A BACK SEAT, A NORMAL TRUNK, 2 FRONT DOORS ONLY, A CLOTH CONVERTIBLE TOP, 500 MILES RANGE PER CHARGE, AND CAN BE SOLD UNDER $30,000 MSRP AND NAME IT A CHEVELLE. BUT NOT A CAMARO OR CORVETTE. I WOULD BUY AN EVERYDAY ELECTRIC DRIVER WITH A CONVERTIBLE AND BACK SEATS FOR $30,000 THAT LOOKS COOL, LIKE A CHEVELLE DID.
THEN GO COMPETE WITH TESLA OR FORD OR VOLVO.
DO NOT TURN THE CORVETTE INTO AN ALL ELECTRIC SPORTS CAR!
THANKS FOR LISTENING.
GO CORVETTES ALL THE TIME – BUT ONLY WITH PREMIUM 93 OCTANE UNLEADED GASOLINE!
No thank you.IN my 30s, No need for A Electric or Hybrid Vette, I don’t want virtue signaling, Barras Has ruined GM. Obama/Biden’s buddy took over and since then GM has gone downhill now they followed The Debacle of Mustang and want to Electrify The Corvette. Rest IN Peace Corvette.
So this IS the ZR1!
I want an electric Corvette almost as much as I want cancer. No, no, a thousand times no.
hell yea ,,,, i can’t wait …. I’m getting on some list Tomorrow !!! To JT , it is amusing how I can get cars you cry babies can’t. I bought my 2th one last Tues and am expecting 3rd in June and 4th in August …. You might should try getting off your butt and working the dealers….duh huh
You bought your tooth? Idiot!
Doesn’t the plant have to be open to make Corvettes?
The Corvette is unfortunately headed in the wrong direction.
I love reading the emotionally based comments from corvette enthusiasts… The polarity is hilarious!.
@ Jeff: 1) it is no coincidence how the corvette pulls up to the strip 1/2 of snow and ice length wise. It’s an educated guess they (engineers) want to calibrate for a torque vectoring Launch from side to side. Moreover in the video are some perfect slides probably enhanced by the same vectoring algorithms. Now the cheapest way to achieve vectoring is application of 4 channel ABS on the brake disks. However this process is energy DEFICIENT by friction. For the front wheels (at least) it is better to have independent electric motors to provide true energy vectoring with no loss. The rear transaxle/diff probably has clutch disks stacks for side to side vectoring.
2) Still on the hybrid platform they filmed (a) calibration with front wheels spinning first as a the second clue: Bimodal operation. Electric only (FWD) vs combined EV + IC (4WD). Why this deduction? Future Federal mandate for minimum EV range only. BTW to get maximum Launch acceleration instantaneous 4WD is required as demonstrated on 911 turbo, Lambos, etc…
E-ray prediction the IC =LT2
3) @ Frank…. Recent Patent for tremec 8 speed dual clutch with co-axial input shafts for future IC engines mated with electric motor. Corvette team has disfavoured factory Turbos historically so I am predicting the ZR1 to be the E-ray where the IC is the LT6+ 3rd electric motor right behind followed by the NEW coaxial Tremec. Zr1 total power? At least 400 HP from electric motorS alone.
4) a C8 EV only? nope reserved for the C9….
Hybrid sounds decent but all electric, hope they have a towing option to tow a generator to keep it charged.
Can’t wait!!!
Hey, the GM hyptsters can’t fill the demand for C8’s, then the Z06 now the E-Vette? Unobtainium machines with GM providing more BS than product. Limited run of Z06’s and e-Vettes will go to the Leno types, charity auctions, and GM insiders, etc. Maybe you will see one in the showroom in 2025/2026? Keep dreaming and getting blown off by dealers who want to trade you over to a truck or maybe down to a Bolt for electric types….Bye….got to sign the papers for my E-Hummer or E-Silverado or whatever they are called….keep on dreaming…j
I have been a corvette fan since I was 7 yrs old (so 43 years come this weekend) Mostly because of my uncles 67′ convertible which he stored in our garage and the fact I got to work on it with him in my teens. There have been some traditions and styling cues that have followed the car through each iteration…And I can definitely understand the kick back when some of those things change. The pop up head lights, the circular tail lights, NA vs. forced induction Z06, the 427. Most recently the mid engine and no manual transmission. And now we are talking about electrification and /or all electric Vette.
And in thinking about these changes, I think, we have to remember one tradition above all that concerns the Corvette. And that is it has always been a HALO car of Chevrolet. It has been the car to show the world what Chevy can do. Mag ride suspension, performance at an insane price vs the competition, showing the world that a pushrod can and does compete with the heavier and more complex DOHC. (even in that scenario it was about performance and not necessarily the fact that it was a pushrod…it was about power density and having lower center of gravity) The car has always been the testbed for improving performance and new technologies. Even the new LT6 although DOHC is such an amazing engine considering it is N/A. The mid engine design has been pushed and experimented with since Duntov. So why not electrification?
One thing in the fan boy arguments always made when fighting with the 911 Turbo crowds was the argument on the RWD vs AWD of the Porsche. 911 fanboys always touted their 0-60…Corvette always said well sure it isn’t apples to apples because the 911 was AWD. Etc. Etc. Same thing when talking about a ton of other cars costing at least 3 times the cost of our beloved Corvette. So now we want to shun the car that could make all those arguments go away and keep the BIGGEST tradition of the Corvette alive??? That the Corvette has always been about performance first. The other stuff, while important and endearing to us, are secondary traditions to try to incorporate if it makes sense to…(ie pop up headlights screw up the drag, so it doesn’t make sense to keep)
If you want to consider electrification a cop out to PC Green technology pressure…well I get it…But there is no denying the performance that electrification has added to other cars. And I prefer to look at it as keeping the greatest tradition of Corvette, which is pushing the boundaries of performance and technology, while providing it at a price level far below it’s competitors.
JMO
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