Update: Our spies dropped us some new photos this morning, showing the cars on-track at the Nordschleife. Per Nurburgring rules, all hybrids and electrics on track must have the yellow sticker you see on the Corvette's engine cover. This confirms that all mules are in fact hybrid cars. Based on that, we expect the new hybrid Corvette to have a minimum 5 kwH battery, as that is the minimum required for the federal EV tax credit for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).
This may very well be our first real look at the new hybrid Chevrolet Corvette. With the C8 Z06 out, there's not exactly much left in the model range for Chevy to wrap in camo. Unless it's planning a four-cylinder eco supercar. Kidding. Either way, these shots from our CarBuzz spies show the new C8 E-Ray hybrid testing in the heart of Germany at the Nurburgring.
According to the spies, GM brought three test mules over to the famous Green Hell. We've known this car was coming for a while now. Chevrolet itself shared a teaser video of the hybrid Corvette E-Ray back in April.
Regardless, here's how the progress sits at the moment. This is, of course, all subject to change. The E-Ray (or whatever it'll be called) will arrive in 2023, and we're thinking it'll show with GM's 6.2-liter V8. It won't be the screaming V8 found in the Z06, but it won't need to be either. Two electric motors may sit up front, spinning the front wheels. That'll make this not only the first electrified Corvette, but the first AWD Vette as well.
Power outputs are a total mystery. For now, all we know is that this will slot in under the Z06's performance level. How could it not? GM won't cannibalize its own halo car. Additionally, the 'Vette has a new camo livery, as compared to the one we saw in the April teaser.
Speaking of, it appears that GM won't risk upstaging the styling of the Z06 either. Sure, there's some camo here, but it looks like this car will be far tamer than the Z06. No big wing, for starters. Right now, the car doesn't have any features on it that immediately identify it as a hybrid. Normally, these test cars will have stickers to alert first responders to the presence of high-voltage circuitry, which we don't see here.
Our spies could only catch the cars while on the move, which means no interior shots either. Frankly, that shouldn't change much apart from AWD torque split and charging indicators on the cluster. There is no need to revamp the whole interior of the 'Vette just because it now has a new powertrain.
For now, we will just have to wait for more details as they come. It's tough to determine when that'll be, but these hybrid Vettes could be at the 'Ring for a while. Perhaps we'll have some new shots and info soon.