The editors at MotorTrend are currently in the middle of their deliberations for their annual Performance Vehicle of the Year Award, and one of the cars invited to participate is the new 2024 Corvette E-Ray.
The C8 Corvette era has had great success previously with the C8 Corvette Stingray being their 2020 Car of the Year and the Z06 winning last year’s Performance Vehicle of the Year award, so will the E-Ray also make it to the finals? According to MotorTrend’s E-Ray PVOTY review, its chances don’t look that good.
MT’s editors refer to the E-Ray as the “middle child” which makes sense as it does slot between the Stingray and Z06 in Corvette’s lineup, but it doesn’t feel like that’s a compliment. Its 655 horsepower and 592 lb-ft of torque offers the ability for four-season driving and the E-Ray does offer several firsts for the 71-year-old sports car in that its the first All-Wheel Drive Corvette as well as the first electrified Corvette.
In testing the new Corvette, the editors say, “the E-Ray proved to be every bit the match of the Z06 in straight-line 0–60 and quarter-mile times and came up just short of the Z06 in our at-the-limit handling exercises—despite being as much as 261 pounds heavier.”
Despite this performance, the E-Ray left the editors wanting more:
“Somewhat disappointing that the first hybrid Corvette, and the first ’Vette of any kind with powered front wheels, doesn’t feel that way,” deputy editor Alexander Stoklosa said about the lack of noticeable traction benefits. Features editor Scott Evans also noted something felt missing: “Maybe it’s bias, maybe it’s the feel of it, maybe it’s just the engine note, but it just doesn’t feel as special as the Z06.” Associate editor Billy Rehbock also questioned whether the E-Ray moved the Corvette forward as a performance vehicle: “I’m not sure how this really pushes the envelope in terms of excitement or engagement.”
Unfortunately, we’ve heard the same arguments from Corvette enthusiasts as well, with many still not buying into the concept of an electrified performance hybrid ‘Vette. Of course, the Z06 and its incredible engine continues to be the focal point so far for performance junkies, but we still find it surprising that the first All-wheel drive Corvette is being treated like some sort of novelty.
As for the E-Ray moving forward in MotorTrend’s 2024 PVOTY contest, it looks like the editors have already made their decision. The final word on the E-Ray’s review isn’t even about the E-Ray: “Maybe the coming ZR1 will have what it takes next year.”
To quote a line from classic Star Trek, “It’s dead, Jim.”
MotorTrend will reveal the finalists for the 2024 Performance Vehicle of the Year on Tuesday, and the winner will be revealed on Monday, July 15th.
Source:
MotorTrend
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“MotorTrend will reveal the finalists for the 2024 Performance Vehicle of the Year on Tuesday, and the winner will be revealed on Monday, July 15th.”
I’m confused. This article is dated today, July 11. Tuesday will be July 16th. It seems unlikely that the winner will be revealed a day BEFORE the finalists are revealed.
Maybe you meant to say that “MotorTrend revealed the finalists . . .”, as the linked MotorTrend article, also dated today, July 11, makes it clear that the E-Ray did not make the list.
i don’t even know why this is a discussion – Tadje has repeatedly stated the the E-Ray is the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ and the the Z06 is the ‘scalpel’. it’s not a “performance” variant that needs to compete as one – it’s an all around driveable Corvette. If it doesn’t win, I don’t care! Motor Trend should recognize it as such and move on!
I wonder if an AWD ICE C8 could be made. Imagine the Z06 with power to all wheels, all the time, more power than the E-Ray and lower weight. Just sayin’……..
This proves nothing other than the judges are inherently biased. Not only is the ER what you get when the SR goes to finishing school. Not only is the ER what you get when you want lady on the streets but a freak in the sheets. Not only is the ER probably the best cross-country road-trip version of the C8 that will be made. Not only is the ER the cheapest performance hybrid on the market by an order of magnitude.
No, the only thing that matters to the biased editors are things that are not considered practical or daily-driver friendly. Refinement and a shocking increase in the envelope of performance–simultaneously–matters not to these people.
10 years hence, this myopia will ring hollow in their track record as the ER acquits itself in the most sublime fashion.
@Michael Genzale
No. The M/E layout of the C8 cannot in any way, shape or form be converted into mechanical AWD. It would require a completely different chassis. Possibly some crazy aftermarket enthusiast may try it–but GM cannot nor will they even try.
Worse, you wouldn’t get lower weight. You would get nearly the same weight, with far lower performance. Why? Parasitic loss from the drivetrain coupled with the power delivery that the ICE is constrained to (torque curves). Hybrid drive has been tuned to provide extremely high torque well before any ICE would be delivering it (relative to the RPM). Add in the weight of the driveshaft/torque-tube, differential, etc–and you are no better off than the existing ER layout.
What I think is nice about an E-Ray is that you get similar performance to Z06 with better fuel economy. Fuel economy isn’t just about the price of gas. It’s also about range and the nuisance of having to refuel so often – even if just driven around town. I see the E-Ray as an initial stepping stone/learning curve to get to the Zora.
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