The Environmental Protection Agency has published the fuel economy ratings for the 2024 model year Corvette. Most intriguing, the Stingray is one mile per gallon easier on dinosaur juice than before. On the other hand, the combined estimate remains unchanged at 19 miles per gallon (make that 12.4 liters of premium gas per 100 kilometers).
Designed for 93 octane, the LT2 small-block V8 uses direct fuel injection. It’s a common trait among LT engines, although there is an exception. Remember the C7-generation ZR1? That one sported the LT5, which runs both direct and port fuel injection for more power (755 horsepower) and torque (715 pound-feet or 969 Nm) at full chatter.
The Stingray’s naturally-aspirated V8 is further shared with the first-ever Corvette with a hybrid powertrain. Revealed in January 2023 for the 2024 model year, the E-Ray is good for 19 miles per gallon on the EPA’s combined test cycle as well. Not exactly surprising due to the hybrid system’s additional weight, the fuel economy rating for highway driving is 24 mpg (9.8 l/100 km) rather than 25 mpg (9.4 l/100 km) for the 2024 model year Stingray.
Advertised with an electric range of three to four miles, the E-Ray is 260 pounds (118 kilograms) heavier than the Stingray. Its high-voltage battery is tucked away within the center tunnel, right between the seats, because all C8s are transaxle.
Established by Richard Nixon in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency further lists the Z06 in two distinct configurations: Z06 and Z07. The latter is a performance package that includes aero bits and pieces for extra downforce. As opposed to 15 miles per gallon (15.7 liters per 100 kilometers) for the standard Z06, opting for the Z07 results in 14 miles per gallon (16.8 liters per 100 kilometers). The Z06 sure is thirsty!
Photo: EPA
Then again, the highest-revving production Corvette of all time is pretty special from a mechanical standpoint. Inspired by the world of endurance racing and the Prancing Horse’s V8-engined midships, General Motors developed a flat-plane crankshaft V8 for the Z06. Referred to as LT6, the 5.5-liter mill is the largest FPC V8 ever fitted to a production vehicle. By comparison, the Shelby GT350’s Voodoo rocks precisely 5,163 cubes.
As opposed to $66,300 for the Stingray and $102,900 for the E-Ray, the Z06 is advertised with a starting price of $108,100 at press time. Delivery adds $1,695 to the tally, whereas the gas-guzzler tax depends on the aero configuration. The standard Z06 is listed by the build & price tool with $2,600 to its name, whereas the Z07 levels up to $3,000.
More powerful than the Stingray, the Z06 plays second fiddle in terms of torque. It’s merely one mile per hour faster than the Stingray in terms of top speed, that speed being 195 miles per hour (314 kilometers per hour) or 188 mph (303 kph) for the Z07. As for outright acceleration, the E-Ray is the fastest-ever Corvette to 60 and in the quarter mile.
GM says 2.5 and 10.5 seconds, which is utterly insane for merely $102,900 (sans destination charge and optional extras). By comparison, the C7-generation ZR1 requires 2.85 and 10.6 seconds.
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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