The Hybrid Corvette E-Ray Is For People Who Want The Best But Won't Use It

Jan. 22, 2023 2:32 PM ET byIan Wright Sports Cars /8 Comments

The E-Ray is a toned-down Z06 for rich people.

Corvette boss Tadge Juechter has confirmed that the new hybridChevrolet Corvette E-Rayhas a particular customer in mind - one that wants the most expensive model but would never use theCorvette Z06model's full capability. In other words, it's more of a daily driver and grand-touring model than a track car, despite its track-specific modes.

More specifically, Juechter is the Global Corvette Executive Chief Engineer and has an outstandingreputation for un-PR filtered straight talking. In this case, perJalopnik, he understands his customers and wants to make sure each type gets the right car for them.

"Historically, as you moved up the Corvette line, you got tomore and more extreme performance," Juechter said. "If you wanted to pay more for a Corvette, get a 'better' one, you always got pushed into the performance realm."

"So some of our well-heeled customers check all the boxes and end up driving a car on racing slicks, and they're just driving back and forth to work, they never intend to go to the track. We only had that single stream, that single dimension to differentiate the cars. And it always put us in a little bit of a bind - we want to do a car that's super capable on the track, but we don't want to make it completely unlivable on the road. There's a lot of compromises there."

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe Front Angle View

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe Rear Angle View

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe Side Skirt

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe Taillight

The answer for Juechter was to split the Corvette into two types of sports cars at the top end. The fire-breathing track focussed Corvette Z06 and the potent and capable yet pleasant-to-drive Corvette E-Ray.

"But there's another market for people who want a more well-rounded car. They want similar levels of performance - they're probably not going to go to the track, even though [the E-Ray] is perfectly track-capable," Juechter adds.

And it makes perfect sense as that kind of buyer is what creates profit at the high-end of sports cars, while enthusiasts andtrack day driversdon't necessarily need to know they're driving the most expensive version of the vehicle. They want a car they can exploit on a back road and at the track and brag about speed, not just money.

"If you've got the money to spend, you love the widebody look, but don't want to live with super high ride frequencies or those exotic tires, this is the machine for you." Juechter says. "Similar price point, the body styles are similar, but very different executions."

To us, that's a smart marketing decision and doesn't mean E-Ray drivers should be frowned upon, though. It would be a snobby view to take that a sports car needs to be hardcore to enjoy. That'swhy grand tourers exist. It's also the kind of model whose profits allow automakers to keep building hardcore versions of sports cars.