E-Ray charges into more expensive Corvette range
BY MIKE STEVENS | 14th Oct 2024
NEARLY two years since it was unveiled, the Corvette E-Ray has arrived in Australia as the brand’s quickest variant Down Under, its 2.9-second run to 100km/h outpacing the flagship Z06 by a slim 0.4 seconds – at a $60,000 discount.
Priced from $275,000 before on-road costs, the E-Ray enters above all but the Z06, which asks a mean $336,000 + ORC.
An even tougher hero was unveiled in July – the 793kW/1123Nm ZR1, the first turbocharged Corvette – but it remains unconfirmed for an Australian debut.
The E-Ray boasts some firsts of its own, being the only all-wheel-drive Corvette to ever enter production, and the first to add such significant electrification to its powertrain.
CATCH UP: E-Ray detailed as deliveries begin
In Chevrolet’s words, the now surprisingly diverse Corvette line-up can be viewed as such: “Stingray is the ultimate everyday supercar, Z06 is the track-focused flagship and E-Ray combines traditional power and modern electric assistance to create an all-season grand touring vehicle”.
That philosophy comes with changes to the Corvette’s price tag, with the four Stingray models not only $7000 dearer than last year, but nearly $40,000 more than when they launched in 2021.
The range now starts from $182,000 for the 2LT Coupe and $197,800 for the 3LT version, while the 2LT Convertible and 3LT Convertible models are priced from $199,500 and $214,500 respectively.
Upgrades to the range include Forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and lane departure warning, auto high beam assist, and low-speed autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, along with a soft-close bonnet.
Powertrains in the regular combustion models range from the 369kW/637kW 6.2 V8 ‘LT2’ to the 475kW/595Nm 5.5L ‘LT6’ of the Z06.
For the E-Ray, power is produced by a petrol-electric combination that sees a familiar midship 369kW/637Nm 6.2-litre V8 driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, while an electric motor up front adds 119kW and 170Nm for combined outputs of 488kW and 806Nm.
As a hybrid, the E-Ray adds a 1.9kWh lithium-ion battery to its petrol-electric powertrain, charged through regenerative braking and coasting to recharge. This system enables short bursts of electric-only driving in “Stealth Mode” – for up to six kilometres at speeds below 72km/h.
“The Corvette is a true icon of the performance car world and now that story is entering a new era with the arrival of our first ever electrified supercar, the Corvette E-Ray,” said General Motors Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala.
“With the surety of all-wheel drive, E-Ray isn’t only the quickest Corvette yet, but it’s the ultimate all-weather, all-condition supercar.
“The E-Ray’s arrival means we now have a Corvette to suit every driver.”
2025 Chevrolet Corvette pricing*:
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Corvette Stingray 2LT Coupe (a)
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$182,000
|
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Corvette Stingray 3LT Coupe (a)
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$197,000
|
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Corvette Stingray 2LT Convertible (a)
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$199,500
|
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Corvette Stingray 3LT Convertible (a)
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$214,500
|
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Corvette E-Ray Coupe (a)
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$275,000
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Corvette Z06 3LZ Coupe (a)
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$336,000
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*Pricing excludes on-road costs.
