Demand for the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C8 has been so high that General Motors has had to stop orders for the 2021 model. Deciding which C8 Corvette to buy won't get any easier because there will be even more powerful variants to choose from in the future.

The next version of the mid-engine sports car will be the new Corvette Z06, which will use the C8.R race car's 5.5-liter flat-plane crank naturally-aspirated V8. Allegedly, this unit will produce around 615 to 625 horsepower. But beyond the Z06, Chevy is also plotting a new hybrid Corvette that will be called the E-Ray, which will slot between the Stingray and Z06.

Despite being positioned below the track-focused Z06, the E-Ray will be even faster. This revelation comes from the latest issue of Motor Trend magazine.

Powering the E-Ray will be the same 6.2-liter V8 as the Stingray, coupled with a front-mounted electric motor rated at 215 hp that will increase the output to 590 hp. It sounds like the V8 will be detuned in the E-Ray since it already produces 495 hp in the regular Stingray. Combined with an all-wheel-drive setup, the instant torque from the electric motor will make the E-Ray even quicker off the line than the upcoming Z06.

Acceleration times for the Z06 haven't been confirmed yet, but we know it will be quicker than the Stingray, which takes 2.9 seconds to do the 0-60 mph sprint. While the E-Ray will be faster in a straight line, the more expensive Z06 will still be able to set faster lap times thanks to its track-tuned chassis and naturally aspirated quad-cam V8.

The Corvette E-Ray is expected to go on sale for the 2023 model year and will replace the Grand Sport. Motor Trend describes the E-Ray as "sharper and faster than the regular model" but it will still be "affordable and accessible as a daily driver," so it should be worth the wait.