Automotive: GM Confirms that electrified Corvettes coming

Chevrolet’s iconic Corvette sports car range will expand with both electrified and fully electric variants, General Motors’ president Mark Reuss confirmed during an interview on Monday morning.

Speaking to Phil LeBeau on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Reuss said that an electrified Corvette C8 will arrive in 2023 followed by a full-electric version later on. He didn’t clarify if the sportscar will use a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid powertrain, nor when we are going to see the EV.

Chevrolet officially confirmed the news after the interview through a teaser video of the hybridized version – as evidenced by the ICE sound and exhaust pipes seen at 9 seconds into the clip. The electrified Corvette can be seen spinning both the front and the rear tires, hinting at all-wheel-drive.

Hybrid Corvettes have been spied testing at the Nürburgring for some time now. It is believed that Chevy could use the E-Ray moniker which GM has trademarked since 2015 for the hybrid model(s). Take this information with a grain of sale, but a leaked document from 2020 that was obtained by Hagerty claimed that a range-topping hybrid model under the ‘Zora’ nameplate (or codename) will combine a 5.5-liter turbocharged V8 with an electric motor producing 1,000 horsepower and 975 lb-ft.

GM President Mark Reuss Quotes

Some time ago we moved the Corvette team into the EV space in Warren, Michigan, and when we revealed the new mid-engine Corvette, I said there would be “more to come.” This morning I sat down with Phil LeBeau of CNBC and finally answered the question I’ve been asked countless times.

Yes, in addition to the amazing new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and other gas-powered variants coming, we will offer an electrified and a fully electric, Ultium-based Corvette in the future. In fact, we will offer an electrified Corvette as early as next year. Details and names to come at a later date.

In addition, we also announced today Ultium Platform’s energy recovery system, a patented onboard system that takes the heat generated by EV batteries and uses it to warm the cabin, create more efficient charging conditions, and even increase vehicle acceleration. And it can boost the vehicle’s range by about 10%. It’s a perfect example of how developing a ground-up EV platform like Ultium enables unique features not easily done with a retrofit.