2023 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray hybrid spied in right-hand drive

The upcoming 2023 Chevrolet Corvette hybrid (rumoured to be badged E-Ray) has been spied testing in the US – and the sighting of a right-hand-drive version places an Australian launch one step closer.

A group of four heavily-camouflaged Corvette prototypes were snapped testing in the ‘States by our spy photography partners – and while there’s no direct confirmation the pack of cars are the much-anticipated E-Ray hybrid, the presence of a Honda NSX hybrid supercar registered to Chevrolet for benchmarking is a strong indicator of electrified power.

Included in the five-car group is one right-hand-drive prototype, suggesting an official Australian launch through General Motors Specialty Vehicles could be on the agenda – though it’s unlikely to reach local showrooms before 2023 or 2024, given the ‘standard’ Corvette Stingray will arrive here no earlier than the end of 2021, and that the hybrid model has yet to be revealed in full.

The camouflage on the prototypes makes specific design details hard to discern, but close-up photos indicate a unique front fascia for the hybrid, with sharp bodywork pointing towards the centre of the car’s nose, and radiators hiding behind.

Two different alloy wheel designs were spotted behind plastic wheel covers (designed to keep them from prying eyes), with the all-season tyres wrapping around them measuring 275mm wide up front, and 345mm at the rear – 30mm and 40mm broader than the Stingray respectively, indicating the hybrid ‘Vette will benefit the same ‘widebody’ treatment as the upcoming Z06 halo.

A set of quad exhaust tips carried over from the regular Stingray indicates the current car’s 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine will form the basis of the hybrid model’s powertrain – though the jury remains out on how many electric motors will be fitted, and how much power the vehicle will produce.

The latest report from Muscle Cars & Trucks suggests a figure around 484kW with the front wheels driven exclusively by electric motors, branded as an ‘E-Booster’, augmenting the 369kW V8 behind the passengers.

With all-wheel drive and the Stingray’s eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission carried over, the outlet claims 0-60mph (97km/h) times could be as low as 2.0 seconds – backed up by between 40 to 56 kilometres of electric driving range, thanks to a battery mounted through the vehicle’s ‘spine’.

It’s not clear whether the new hybrid Corvette – rumoured to wear the E-Ray name, after it was trademarked in 2020 – will require a plug to charge its battery, though the publication’s sources claim the car will use some form of regenerative braking to charge.

Muscle Cars & Trucks claims the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray hybrid will make its public debut in 2023, aligning with the 70th anniversary of the Corvette nameplate.

Such a timeline would suggest an Australian launch as far away as 2025 – assuming the E-Ray is confirmed for Australia, which the online publication suggests it will be – given the gap between the Stingray’s global unveiling and local launch. 

As right-hand-drive Corvette production is slated to kick off in the final months of 2021, a local arrival for the hybrid ‘Vette is likely during 2024.