Over the last couple of weeks, we have noticed that Chevrolet seems to have dropped the ability for Corvette customers to search Chevrolet’s Live Inventory Tracker to find dealers who have the 2025 and 2026 Corvette E-Ray’s in-stock. This happened despite the fact that we know that there are several hundred examples of Chevrolet’s first performance hybrid available at dealers across the country.
My primary thinking on this was along the vein of why would Chevrolet hide the E-Ray from customers when there are units available? We reached out to our contacts at GM (twice!) and have yet to receive an answer. Yet, looking at individual dealer websites, we see them offered for sale and often at a discount.
And now, I think we know exactly what is happening. Chevrolet may be in the process of a rare rebranding of the E-Ray as we inch towards 2027 and the reveal of the C8 Grand Sport.
Photo Credit: Grok via X.com
But first, here’s the current situation that we find ourselves in.
The E-Ray and its 655 hp LT2 V8 hybrid with front e-axle AWD had a strong year in 2025 with the model accounting for about 12% of total production (3,153 units), but in 2026 we have seen production sharply curtailed with it down to just 4.5% (816). This move by GM appears intentional as many of those E-Rays in 2025 were allocated as dealer stock units which caused them to sit longer on showroom floors. Meanwhile, Chevrolet appears to have moved on from the E-Ray by prioritizing the hotter (and much more expensive) ZR1 model which has remained ahead of the E-Ray’s production totals
And then the 2026 Corvette ZR1X and its 1,250 hp LT7 twin-turbo hybrid AWD powertrain was revealed and so far it has been a massive hit as the latest reviews are praising the top-dog Corvette for its power, handling and its ability to out-perform the non-hybrid ZR1 at the Nürburgring. By naming the ultimate C8 with an “X” instead of an “E” clearly sends the message that it’s the ZR1’s enhanced hybrid model but without the negativity of it being related to an EV.
And finally, with the reveal of the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport reveal expected at any moment, rumors point to the new 6.7L LS6 naturally aspirated V8 in a widebody setup, and slotting between the Stingray and Z06 as it did in both the C6 and C7 generations. Rumors and internal documents suggest the LS6 will also be extended to the Stingray and potentially the E-Ray as well.
Ask any E-Ray owner about their experience with this car and you will most likely receive very positive feedback about the first AWD Corvette and how much fun it is to drive. The car has the ability to extend Corvette season to year-around, and just one launch of the car and feeling that 2.5 second sprint from 0-60 mph would make you a believer as well.
But unfortunately, most Corvette enthusiasts haven’t had that opportunity, and we’ve heard that many believe the model has “failed” because of those EV branding issues, softer demand, and now the cuts in production. But with the upcoming Grand Sport, Chevrolet has an opportunity to realign the branding by leveraging the heritage Grand Sport name while also creating additional consistency in the model lineup.
Photo Credit: Grok via X.com
Auto manufactures frequently refresh or rename vehicles as way to reset perceptions and tie those models to better-selling siblings. We saw Ford do it with the Mach-E and Toyota has repositioned some of its hybrids to its traditional ICE vehicles in recent years as well. Chevrolet could be next and there are some strong PROs for doing it.
The first outcome in the rebranding fixes the primary problem with the E-Ray’s name. It has polarized buyers and the lack of demand shows. Dropping the “E” for the Grand Sport X or GSX immediately removes the EV connotations to appeal to more traditional buyers.
Secondly, it creates the perfect symmetry in the C8 Corvette lineup. As the highly expensive ZR1 and ZR1X gain notoriety and become the halo cars of the C8 generation, the lesser priced Grand Sport or Grand Sport X mirrors that lineup and position’s the “X” models as the “enhanced AWD” versions without the EV distractions.
Two Grand Sports were recently spied. What if one of them was the Grand Sport X?
Third, the Grand Sport has massive appeal among Corvette enthusiasts and so tying the existing E-Ray to the 2027 Grand Sport’s reveal lets Chevrolet market the two models as a pair. This provides the E-Ray with a fresh start and might even boost residual values for those already produced. A rebrand tied to the Grand Sport turns the E-Ray from a “slow-selling hybrid” into the “AWD Grand Sport X” which for Chevrolet is both cheaper and quicker than doing a full redesign of the car, and it capitalizes on the success of the Corvette ZR1X.
The only downside we see are for those existing 2024-2026 E-Ray owners who may feel left out from the realignment. But again, most of them (us) are very happy with the performance and ride capabilities already and no doubt there would more than a few who would swap out the E-Ray’s external badging for the Grand Sport X badges. There may also be a slight chance of the Grand Sport X eating into the new Grand Sport’s sales but that’s where Chevrolet has to price the car accordingly as the “pure” RWD version while the GSX becomes the all-weather AWD powerhouse.
We’ve done a complete 180-degree turnaround on this and now believe that rebranding the E-Ray as the Grand Sport X or GSX is a low-risk, high-reward move by Chevrolet to salvage what is a fantastic and fun car to drive, while bringing the C8 Corvette lineup into alignment with the ZR1 and ZR1X models. It’s a way for members of the Corvette team to be praised for correcting course rather than admitting defeat and possibly doing even more damage to any pure-EV Corvette that may still be on the way.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on this potential realignment for the E-Ray and why you think it may or may not work.
Related:
[SPIED] Is this the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport Filming for its Reveal Video?
Another GM Parts Book Leak Confirms Grand Sport Specific RPO Codes
Twice Confirmed: GM Parts Book Leak Shows 2027 Grand Sport LS6 V8 to be 6.7 Liters!
Subscribe Now:
![[VIDEO] Bartender Wins a New Corvette Stingray Given Away by Jay Leno on Wheel of Fortune](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/uploads/2026/05/051926_3-218x150.jpg "[VIDEO] Bartender Wins a New Corvette Stingray Given Away by Jay Leno on Wheel of Fortune")
The fact that the Z06 out sold the Eray 5 to 1 and even the ZR1 outsold the Eray it clearly was not appreciated. Most people (Corvette people) I talked to assumed it was all electric and instantly hated it.
I think making it an all wheel drive version of the Grand sport would be brilliant marketing.
How could this be anything less than a win win! GSX will be a smashing success and I’m sure the LS6 will boost that notion. I sure hope GM gives it the upgraded FWD system the ZR1X has (upping it from 160hp to 186hp). Combined with the LS6 would boost power about 76hp. More importantly would be the added TORQUE up from 125ft/lbs to 145ft/lbs and probably about 50-60ft/lbs from the LS6. Up 80 ft/lbs total… Good times indeed!
BTW Keith, thanks for the outstanding breaking news! You rock!
I think GM really missed the boat on the E-Ray name, and their marketing of it as an “all weather” Corvette was off-base as well. This is the perfect opportunity to reset all that and bring consistency to the naming and line-up. As Clark mentions, hopefully they include the 186HP front motor, so total output would be around 736HP.
I believe the ZR1 also can’t currently be filtered out on the inventory search tool and that option disappeared at the same time that the E-Ray filter did. Not denying that GM will probably rebrand the E-Ray but people are already citing this article as “confirmation” when it is nothing more than a guess.
If the E-Ray name goes away, here is how I look at it: The E-Ray was the pioneer for Corvette hybrid AWD technology. It paved the way for the technology and was a proof of concept for it in the ZR1-X and GS-X. I think that take gives the E-Ray a respectable place in Corvette history, even if it was misunderstood by many people. If people come to gravitate towards the ZR1-X and GS-X, it stands to reason that the E-Ray will be appreciated more over time. The second generation Acura NSX (which also has hybrid AWD power for performance reasons only that have nothing to do with green energy) has had a similar trajectory. It is appreciated now far more than it ever was when it was new.
If the newly re-branded GSX gets the new LS6, which makes sense, that move would definitely NOT help resale (residual) values of the current ERay…Quite the opposite.
Good. As a Corvette owner, I thought it was a big mistake. Maybe it will make those out there collectables. But expensive ones. When is the manual trans coming back?
A win-win for sure. Eray is a bad name for such a great car, give it the X designation it deserves.
The GS would slot below the Z06 but the GSX would then be above the Z06. So they need to up the Z06 to 725 or so HP. Unless a Z06X is coming. That would be fantastic.
Your whole story is a joke. You’ve taken a few scattered “facts“ and apparently ask AI to create a story for you instead of doing any research. Even when you talk about production numbers, you didn’t take the time to actually list those numbers. I have never seen a more lazy article trying to justify itself as newsworthy.
How about this suggestion. Ray production was cut because they aren’t selling. And GM like any other US manufacture is no longer forced to manufacture hybrids or EV‘s by federal government regulations and the Biden White House New green force act. All of those “rebates“ are lost income for the federal government which had to be made up someplace else and it was people like myself when I bought both of my zero sixes paid a higher penalty which artificially raised my cost so GM in this case could move more of the hybrids and EV‘s as required by the “green New farce deal
. Thank God we have a president that came in and said that the program was a joke. And very simply that’s why the car will quietly go away. I have Austin suggested the ray as a good drag race car because it’s in an engine. because it’s in a engine has had the code broken on it but what held it back is the electronics of the hybrid part were so sophisticated that there was no way to take advantage of the EV motor.
I hope this GS and GSX projection is correct. Makes a lot of sense. I’ve wondered if the mis-naming of the E-Ray had anything to do with Harlan’s tragic firing.
First, I do appreciate your visit to my site and as for your comments, they prove my point about the confusion in the marketplace by Chevrolet marketing this as an electrified Corvette as opposed to the front electric motor being a power-adder to the tune of 160 additional horsepower plus the added advantage of AWD. The E-Ray was actually developed during the first Trump administration and it has nothing to do with the previous administration’s trying to force EV mandates on the population (which I am against btw), because it uses its front electric motor for power, not range, and it has zero effect in helping GM raise its overall fuel economy numbers. It’s a great GT Touring car and even some of the instructors at Spring Mountain would take it over a Z06 on a smaller track. It’s a shame that some Corvette enthusiasts seem to go into a rage whenever its discussed.
Rick Conti gave a hint a few day ago that something special is in line for the 2027 Eray, but couldn’t say what it was. We already know about the 6.7, so you could be right about a name change.
Article was word salad, gave me a headache.
I LOVE my 2025 Eray. I have had previous Corvettes and NOTHING drives/rides like an Eray in all weather and gives you that driving confidence. I agree that GM did not market the Eray correctly and on that I will blame GM if value does not stay strong. I also blame NOW the ICE “purists” who have NEVER driven an Eray and resist the concept.
Been saying for the last 6 month that a 2027 E-Ray with the new 6.7L engine & especially with the X’s front propulsion system would absolutely be the “Sweet Spot” of the C8 Corvettes & it’s coming true looks like.
This is exciting. I would consider it if it is priced right. I agree that it should be branded as gsX.
I think that in the realm of g-zillion speculations this tallies to very good speculation.
Thank you for putting it together.
With the introduction of the C8 GS Corvette will have 5 different models.
Not options, not packages but 5 models.
Puts alot on the manufacturing plant to maintain the high build quality that the C8 has achieved.
Also represent a challenge to production aspect at the plant.
Unprecedented in Corvettes history.
I wonder if Suzuki’s trademark on GSX will have any impact?
Knowing GM, the GS-X will cost 10% more than the e-Ray.
Makes total sense, Keith! And it would be a great way to “re-invent” the concept of the E-Ray without the negative connotation of electric. I’m a big fan of this setup, but would be in the crowd of not wanting a fully electric Corvette.
I will disdain anyone who wouldn’t consider an E-Ray, but now wants a GSX. If the name change makes that much difference to these people–they are every bit the troglodytes I imagine them to be.
There is nothing wrong with the E-Ray moniker. Electric rays use electricty on their prey, the same way that stingrays use poison on their prey. It’s a coherent and rational name. The only blame here is that GM marketed it as “electrified”–rather than “a Stingray, but turned up a couple extra notches”.
Lastly, I highly doubt GM will offer the drive motor from the ZR1X in the ER. SavageGeese’s interviews touched on this. The change in drive ratio and power is due to the ER’s motor being somewhat underpowered for the torque monster that is the LT7 engine. Even with an LS6 adding more power over the LT2, there is no way it will necessitate that migration. Everything about the ZR1X motor was tweaked to perfection for that application. Mouth-breathers with a lack of engineering expertise may think this is an easy, inevitable thing to offer in the ER. But the reality is that it would likely be a suboptimal fit (despite the power), as it wasn’t intended to pair with the LT2 or the LS6 (which are half the power of the LT7).
Are people just generally stupid? GM told you the E-Ray was a hybrid and not an EV. Do your research…….idiots!
Well to me this sounds very interesting. I have noticed Rick Conti said in a couple of videos that he could not get E-Rays for customers and had tried to get them from other dealers. So they have been in short supply and it makes since if GM is changing the E-Ray they would slow production before a change in the line up. Also the E-Ray sits in the Grand Sport pricing spot between Stingray and Z06. Also with the ZR-1 and ZR-1X this would make a lot of since. I think you are on the something here. It all adds up. My only concern about the E-Ray was that somewhere I heard that you could not track it because some tracks don’t have the equipment to put out a fire on an EV Battery. Can’t remember where I heard that and it may not be true but you may want to check your local track if you plan to do that with an X.
Hey, Man O War! Please choke and go away. That goes for your extended family too!
Was never fond of the electric car offerings. Especially when it came to the Corvette. I have owned Vettes for many years. The vette is a true american sports car. Now at one time there was some talk of a four door vette. Another bad move. I own a C7. I searched for one with a manual trans. Few that came to be at the time. I enjoy this car, although I had to do some investigating of the rear suspension because of a car that liked to rear end wander after hitting a bridge crack. Fixed now. So for the short, thumbs down for the electric vette.
Glenn,
Same thing that Alan said for Man O War, I wish upon you.
And stop calling it “the electric vette”. It makes you look biblically retarded.
Wow Keith, you hit a nerve for a few people with this update. Please keep it up. Now, as far as the E-Ray, it is a great Vette saddled with a really stupid name. It was dead to a lot of people as soon as they heard the name. GM changing the name to Grand Sport-X in 2027 is the right decision and will result in more GSX sales as compared to 2024-2026. I am looking forward to seeing the 2027 GS and GSX during the Bash, that is unless GM decides to screw all of us again this year like they did in 2025 (“We can’t discuss 2026 model information yet.”). What BS GM.
Disappointed that GM came out early on after C8 was released saying they weren’t doing a GS and now they come out with it. After of course I settled for a 2022 Stingray Z51. Granted my car is loaded, has the high wing, gets lot of looks and compliments but is lacking that wide body look I really wanted. Just glad I bought it used in 2024 with very low miles so I didn’t pay over sticker like the original owner did. I bought it right so I guess I’ll wait now for some one to order a new GS to my spec and then buy it after they get board of it in a few years.
Sounds like an intriguing idea and would make sense for GM. Unfortunately, to Corvette buyers, anything with an “E” or any hint of “electric” in its name usually turns off a large number of potential buyers from the very beginning. They want high horsepower V8 ICE’s. Also, while the vast majority of owners never track their Vettes, they are impressed by the numbers, despite most never getting the chance to get anywhere near them. I had been looking for a Z06, but when I compared the Eray’s capabilities to the kind of driving I would be doing, it clearly came out on top. I drive almost exclusively curvy mountain roads, some of which could easily be compared to the Tail of the Dragon. So for me it was all about handling, breaking and acceleration. The way the Eray accelerates out of a turn is very impressive. Top end wasn’t a consideration, as it shouldn’t be for anyone not tracking it. And GM did themselves a disservice with the reported 0-60 numbers. Z06 and Stingray drivers hardly ever match them. On the other hand, many Eray drivers have reported 0-60 times consistently faster than the reported 2.5 seconds.
Too bad about GM cuddling to the Fuddy Duddies out there. E is not a four letter word! When I bought my E-ray I was not looking for horse power what excited me was the all wheel drive for handling corners. Amazing! GM should be proud of what they accomplished with the electrified front drive and calling it an E-Ray says it loud and clear, GM be proud of what your engineers developed, don’t hide under an X? GM if you are really ashamed of developing an electrified front drive Corvette , and want to hide, you can always call it a GS EX , and appease the ones still worried about not having round tail lights on their corvettes. The E-Ray is Exhilarating, Exciting, and Exceptional ! I hope I don’t need to point out that in all cases the E not the X comes first!
Comments are closed.