General Motors may be moving on from the Corvette E-Ray name, but that doesn’t mean Chevy’s electrified sports car is finished making headlines.
In fact, the hybrid Corvette has just earned one of Australia’s top automotive design honors, taking home a 2026 Australian Good Design Gold Award.
The E-Ray shared the spotlight with another General Motors product, the Cadillac Vistiq, which also received a Gold Award.
The recognition comes as Chevrolet prepares to replace the E-Ray name with Grand Sport X, emphasizing the Corvette’s performance heritage rather than its electrified powertrain.
Apparently, the Australian judges weren’t concerned about the name.
They were more interested in what the car could do.
As the first electrified, all-wheel-drive Corvette offered in Australia, the E-Ray combines Chevrolet’s naturally aspirated 6.2-liter LT2 V8 driving the rear wheels with a 119-kilowatt electric motor powering the front wheels.
Together, they produce 654 horsepower and 594 lb-ft of torque, giving the Corvette all-wheel-drive traction without sacrificing its traditional V8 character.
Greg Rowe, acting managing director of GM Australia and New Zealand, believes that combination makes the E-Ray particularly appealing to buyers Down Under.
“E-Ray brings a new dimension to the Corvette experience in Australia (and New Zealand),” Rowe said.
“It combines the V8 character and performance customers expect with the added traction, response and everyday usability of electrification.”
The judges apparently agreed.
In presenting the Gold Award, Good Design Australia praised Chevrolet’s ability to incorporate hybrid technology without sacrificing the Corvette’s unmistakable appearance or everyday practicality.
“The Jury recognises the Corvette E-Ray as a bold achievement in hybrid supercar design that successfully preserves the iconic mid-engine Corvette proportions while integrating electrified all-wheel drive for enhanced everyday usability on Australian roads,” the organization said.
Judges also highlighted the factory right-hand-drive configuration, along with the car’s interior space and cargo capacity.
While some Corvette purists may never fully embrace adding an electric motor to America’s sports car, the E-Ray has demonstrated that electrification can enhance performance without eliminating the V8 experience.
And now an international panel of design experts has recognized that accomplishment.
Source:
Australian Good Design Awards
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As with everyone else in the world, it’s a belated recognition that arrives far too late. GM should have fired its marketing department the moment “Corvette: Electrified” came off the press.
The E-Ray is terrific! And I like the “E-Ray” name. Those who complain about electrification are going to be slow. SSlllooowww.