2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 hybrid teased – all-electric variant to follow
The C8 Corvette to receive a hybrid powertrain, teaser gives us our first official look
The new mid-engined C8 Corvette has already ruffled the feathers of traditional European rivals by entering the supercar space, but Chevrolet is now gearing up to rival the latest hybrid and all-electric supercars with an imminent adoption of electrification. Over two years since we first spied prototypes, Chevrolet has released an official teaser film of its new hybrid Corvette, set to launch as early as 2023.
Details are few and far between at this stage, but the film does confirm the use of all-wheel drive for the first time in a Corvette, suggesting it might utilise an electrified front axle. The current lineup consists of the 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 Stingray and new Z06, the former producing 495bhp and 470lb ft of torque for a 3.2sec 0-62mph time. The Z06 utilises a naturally-aspirated flat-plane crank 5.5-litre unit, producing 670bhp and 470lb ft of torque for a quoted 2.5sec 0-62mph sprint.
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Given the potent straight-line performance of the current rear-drive only lineup, the use of all-wheel drive will likely provide a further performance boost, potentially offset by the extra weight associated with both the additional electric motors and battery pack.
An as yet unconfirmed specification table that was leaked online suggests the C8 range might be topped by an iteration that pairs a hybrid module to the Z06’s 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V8 powertrain, capable of producing up to 838bhp and a staggering 922lb ft of torque – these numbers lead us to believe it could be the range-topping, track-oriented ZR1. For now, though, we expect the 2023 model to be a cooler electrified variant with a similar power output to the current 495bhp pure-combustion C8.
Chevrolet has also confirmed that it’s working on an all-electric Corvette that will follow the hybrid models to market. It’ll be poised to rival cars like the Maserati MC20 Folgore and upcoming all-electric Lotus sports car.
While we don’t know much about what the new hybrid Corvette will look like, its wider bodywork, wheels and brakes might be shared with the new Z06, but we’d suggest there will be design variations to highlight its electrified status. Chevrolet says it will launch the first of its hybrid models as early as 2023, with the all-electric and high performance hybrid models to follow. And with the supercar playing field being evened up thanks to a widespread adoption of hybridisation, Chevrolet might just sweep in with a supercar that'll now lead the pack, rather than one that’s always catching up.
