It’s a automotive our very personal Scott Newman described because the Corvette Stingray turned as much as 13 when he drove it at Melbourne’s Sandown Raceway, and to be sincere, that’s a tough truth to argue in opposition to. The E-Ray is a hybridised supercar, and it’s genuinely superb.
Draped in Seawolf Gray with twin Edge Blue racing stripes spanning nostril to tail, the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray is the model’s first all-wheel drive variant, together with being its solely electrified mannequin.
Beneath the cover of this mid-engine monster, hidden beneath an elective crimson engine cowl, is a LT2 6.2-litre V8 with variable valve timing and energetic gas administration, paired with an electrified propulsion system.
The bundle is nice for a mixed (and barely insane) 488kW and 806Nm. Neither an EV or a conventional hybrid, the 3LZ Coupe makes use of an electrical drive unit on its entrance axle, delivering extra energy, extra torque, and quicker acceleration.
The setup takes the usual 3LT Stingray from 369kW and 637Nm, and juices it up. That electrical drive unit is paired to a self-charging 1.9-kWh lithium-ion battery capable of quickly replenished through regenerative vitality from regular driving, coasting and braking.
The mixture unlocks an exhilarating dash to 100km/h in round 2.6 seconds, due to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, with each computerized or driver-focused guide mode. Carbon-ceramic brakes present the stopping energy.
In Australia, it’s additionally fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, efficiency suspension with magnetic experience management adaptive dampers, and a taller spoiler wicker for monitor use. It additionally will get huge carbon-ceramic brakes (398mm and 391mm discs entrance and rear).
These ship distinctive stopping energy in actual world situations, and are half of what’s just about an distinctive driving expertise. On the street, its customary floor results and spoiler contribute to aerodynamics.
Just like the Stingray, the Corvette E-Ray is supplied with drive modes to swimsuit virtually any situation, with Tour, Sport, Monitor, Climate, MyMode and Z-Mode. The final of those is really one thing fairly particular.
To clarify it, first you need to put your self within the headspace of Hollywood blockbuster film Gladiator. Now, for many who’ve seen it, suppose again to the purpose the place Russell Crowe says, “at my sign, unleash hell”.
Pushing the Z-Mode button does just about that. Consider it as M mode in say an M3 or M4, for instance. It’s the turned as much as 13 choice that allows you to fantastic tune engine, transmission, steering, and suspension settings to your actual preferences.
When you’ve personalized Z-Mode by the infotainment system, urgent the devoted button on the steering wheel prompts your chosen settings. In our check car, that had been configured for max assault, paired with most occupant consolation.
It’s sheer grin-inducing and brings the 21-inch x 13-inch rear wheels shod in 345/25 tyres and 20-inch x 10-inch fronts wrapped in 275/30 rubber to life – making a driving expertise that’s each full of life and composed all on the similar time.
The opposite drive modes unlock efficiency and ship cosseting consolation. The E-Ray additionally sports activities Stealth Mode, which permits drivers to make use of electrical energy for 4 to 6 kilometres at speeds of as much as 72km/h. It means near-silent begin up and take-off in suburban streets.
An in-car efficiency app can also be included. Externally, the E-Ray shares its wider exterior proportions with the Z06 and delivers a low, large stance that calls for consideration. It actually will get loads of that.
All over the place (actually) we took the automotive, folks snapped photographs, or stopped for a glance. We randomly discovered ourselves in one of many NSW Central Coast’s vacationer spots when a younger lad on a mountain bike rode previous.
The poor teenager did a large double take as he pedalled on by, and almost had a crash. He was heard to utter “holy f*$okay, it’s a Corvette”. And that’s the extent of attraction this automotive attracts, just about anyplace you’re taking it.
Inside, you’ll discover a actually magnificent trying inside, with a mix of Rigidity Blue and Twilight Nappa leather-based, together with a complete host of carbon fibre, in what is certainly a certainly one of a form design.
There are sharp but gentle leather-wrapped edges all over the place, and it seems critically cool. The large financial institution of buttons down the center of the centre console provides to the weird design and takes a good bit to get used to.
Expertise comes within the type of an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An distinctive 14-speaker Bose sound system delivers the tunes, and there’s a cord-free charging house.
It’s hidden behind a flip-down door between the motive force and passenger seats on this two-seat supercar. There’s some contortionist stage strikes concerned in getting your machine in there, however you may decide to plug-in in the event you favor.
The gymnastics continues with regards to the seats themselves too, and whereas the heated and vented bucket seats really feel nice to take a seat in, and grip your physique like these you may discover in a race automotive, that’s a part of the difficulty. They are often fairly harsh on the physique.
That was no less than on this author’s case, or perhaps yours actually is simply outdated. The car’s sheer closeness to the bottom may also discover you having to bend your knees approach too far and contort your approach out (in the event you’re north of 180cm tall – our shorter passenger had no points).
Each characteristic 8-way energy adjustment and our check car got here with the elective detachable carbon fibre roof. Security-wise, there’s loads of goodies, together with a digital rearview mirror, entrance and rear cameras, rear cross visitors alert, and rear park help.
You additionally get blind spot monitoring, lane maintain help with a lane departure warning, ahead collision alert with low pace autonomous emergency braking, entrance pedestrian braking and excessive beam help. There’s a carry package that can assist you stand up driveways and the like.
Priced at $275,000 plus on-roads, it’s asking a number of the financial institution stability. What you get in return although is an insanely cool supercar that delivers an exhilarating on-road efficiency and a powerful soundtrack, with just some shortcomings.
Backed by a 3-year or 100,000km guarantee, the 2025 Corvette E-Ray is on the market in 14 colors, together with Black, Crimson Mist, Carbon Flash, Amplify Orange, Hypersonic Gray, Speed up Yellow, Sea Wolf Inexperienced, Cacti Inexperienced or Silver Flare.
You can even go for Fast Blue, Ceramic Matrix Gray, Riptide Blue Metallic, Torch Crimson and Arctic White. Yow will discover out extra by visiting the GMSV web site, or by speaking to your native dealership.
To get a low fee finance quote in your subsequent car buy, speak to Australia’s finest reviewed automotive finance dealer; Credit score One. To see an awesome vary of automobiles on the market, take a look at OnlyCars.com.au.
Our check car was supplied by GM Australia for impartial evaluate functions. Photos courtesy of Andrew E Hempsall.
