The E-Ray isn't the most powerful series-production Corvette of them all. That title goes to the C7-generation ZR1, and come summer 2024, said title will go to its long-awaited successor. GM's Chevrolet division quotes 655 horsepower from the rear-mounted small block and front-mounted electric drive unit, whereas peak torque is estimated at 592 pound-feet or just under 803 Nm.
How much of those ponies and pound-feet reach the wheels? The Jotech Motorsports all-wheel-drive dynamometer says 568 horsepower and 619 pound-feet (839 Nm), 562 horsepower and 620 pound-feet (841 Nm), and finally, 560 horsepower and 611 pound-feet (828 Nm) for the final pull. As you can tell, Chevy's quickest series-production Corvette is actually torquier than Chevrolet says it is.
Regarding the wheel horsepower, 562 is 94.93 percent of the advertised 655 ponies. The numbers are seriously impressive, and the instant peak torque of that electric drive unit only adds to the straight-line jollies. The pictured vehicle is the C8 E-Ray of Jesse Iwuji, who you might know from the world of stock car racing. He's also an officer in the United States Navy Reserve, and his Corvette is painted in a color that Chevrolet dubs Cacti Green.
Not that long ago, Jesse clocked 10.6-second passes at the Texas Motorplex with nothing more than drag radials out back. Specifically, 305/35R20 ET Street S/S drag radials from Mickey Thompson. Pictured with forged aluminum wheels in black, which is a $495 option over the standard Pearl Nickel finish, the C8 E-Ray can be made quicker still.
Roshan Poptani of Boost District Superchargers took the world's first twin-turbo C8 E-Ray to the Texas Motorplex as well. His best run was 9.741 seconds at 152.99 miles per hour (246 kilometers per hour) on the optional carbon-fiber wheels with the factory-issue Michelin rubber shoes.
Photo: Jesse Iwuji on YouTube
There's plenty of room for improvement, of course, and Chevy knows it as well. But rather than strapping a couple of turbos to the E-Ray's 6.2L small block, General Motors did exactly that to the Z06's 5.5L engine to create a monster of a twin-turbo V8 for the all-new ZR1. To be revealed sometime in the summer of 2024 as a 2025 model, the ZR1 likely exceeds 800 crank ponies.
General Motors recently teased the newcomer, which shoes quite a few Z06 influences in terms of exterior styling. It's bigger on aero, though, and this extra downforce certainly affects the car's top speed. In the C7-generation ZR1, the big wing of the ZTK package resulted in a 10-mph penalty over the standard configuration. According to Chevrolet, the 755-horsepower monster (that was produced for the 2019 model year only) is good for 212 or 202 miles per hour (341 or 325 kilometers per hour).
General Motors won't be stopping there. Because the C8 platform was developed with electric assistance in mind, hearsay suggests that a hybridized ZR1 will mark the end of this generation. Supposing the Zora combines the 800-or-so-horsepower engine of the ZR1 and the 160-horsepower electric drive unit of the E-Ray, we could be in for approximately 1,000 ponies.
Absolutely insane, and what's even more insane is that General Motors won't stop making V8 engines anytime soon. Back in January 2023, the Detroit-based automaker confirmed an investment of $854 million for four manufacturing sites in preparation for the Gen VI small-block V8 engine family. GM's press release does mention full-size trucks and SUVs, but given that a C9 is certain to happen, the Gen VI small-block V8 is expected to serve in the next-generation Corvette as well.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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