Big news for fans of the C8 Corvette in the UK: GM has confirmed that the electrified E-Ray model will be officially sold here in right-hand-drive form, after making its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. The model The car will be offered in both coupé and convertible formats, with UK deliveries set to begin in September. Prices start from £153,440.
At its heart is the familiar LT2 6.2-litre V8, mounted behind the driver and delivering 482bhp to the rear wheels. Up front, a compact electric motor adds 161bhp and 165lb ft of torque via a 1.9kWh battery. That’s a combined total of 643bhp, which is enough for 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds – the quickest Corvette ever sold in the UK, although not quite as fast as the US-only twin-turbo 1064bhp ZR1.
The E-Ray is intended as a year-round road car, with Michelin all-season tyres as standard, a new suite of driver assistance systems, and real-time eAWD control that constantly adjusts torque distribution for maximum grip. The system is entirely self-contained, rather than being a plug-in model. A new Stealth Mode enables up to four miles of electric-only running at speeds up to 44mph, allowing the E-Ray to depart quietly from urban areas before the V8 wakes up.
The electric motor also enhances track performance, filling in torque at corner exit or boosting straight-line sprints. Drivers can tailor the car’s behaviour through six driving modes – including a Charge+ setting that maintains battery charge during hard driving.
Though derived from the Stingray, the E-Ray adopts the wide-body chassis of the Z06 to accommodate the wider track, larger brakes and hybrid drivetrain. Overall width increases by 91mm, with staggered 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels, and an optional carbonfibre wheel package saving over 18kg of unsprung mass. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 come as standard.
The E-Ray gets new wheel designs, a choice of ten exterior colours and optional racing stripes. Inside, the driver-focused cabin features a new infotainment interface includes three hybrid-specific display layouts showing torque deployment, battery charge and system efficiency.
For more info, see chevrolet.co.uk
