2024 Chevy Corvette

Chevrolet is wasting no time winding up the Corvette purists. First it introduced the radically altered current-generation Corvette with its mid-engine layout and wild cockpit design. Now four years later, Chevy's made it a hybrid. OK, not exactly. But the 2024 Corvette has joined the march of progress by adding an electric motor to supplement its signature V8 muscle, a motor that sends more than 100 horsepower to the front wheels and effectively makes the Corvette a 600-plus-horsepower, all-wheel-drive sports car. In a final dash of cheek to the naysayers, Chevy has called it the E-Ray.

The E-Ray's electric motor is powered by a small battery pack that recharges itself during deceleration and braking. Rather than real hybrid efficiency, the electric motor simply augments the performance of the primary 6.2-liter V8 power source behind the front seats. Chevy says the E-Ray will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, which would make it one of the quickest cars on sale today. The electric motor does offer one handy benefit for early-rising commuters, though. The battery can power the E-Ray in EV-only Stealth mode at speeds up to 45 mph, meaning you won't have to worry about the V8 waking the neighbors as you make an early escape for some empty backroads. The Corvette E-Ray will also come standard with Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, useful for fade-free braking if you decide to sign up for a local track day.

Competition is understandably fierce when it comes to the Corvette. For a similar mid-engine balance, the Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster are exceptional alternatives, especially if you opt for the six-cylinder engines. The BMW M4 is a more conventional front-engine coupe that offers more in the way of practicality, while the new Ford Mustang delivers comparable levels of V8 Americana. Overall, the Corvette is one of our favorite sports cars on the road — be sure to read our Expert Rating below for our full deep dive — and the new E-Ray looks to make it even better.

Edmunds bought a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, and so far we've driven it more than 26,000 miles. We love its performance and comfort, and surprisingly for a V8-powered sports car, its average mpg. We've kept track of its maintenance costs and share what we think of its technology and what it's like as a daily driver. For complete details and for several videos, make sure to check out our Corvette long-term road test.