Chevy doesn’t give us much to do, but we can make some educated guesses based on the short teaser video.
Chevy
Almost synonymous with big V8 power, the Corvette defines the legendary sound of the Chevrolet racing cars that have graced racetracks from Lime Rock to Le Mans since the ’60s. Now, hot on the heels of the mid-engined C8, Corvette’s biggest rethink in history, its powertrain is about to restart on its own.
Chevrolet confirmed Monday that an “electrified” Corvette is coming, followed by an all-electric version. What is the difference? Electrified means some form of hybridization, possibly a plug-in hybrid system with the ability to travel a short distance in all-electric mode. All-electric means completely battery-powered and emission-free.
That’s all the details we have for now, but Chevrolet released the above teaser video of the Corvette performing a hard launch and drifting some on what appeared to be salt flats. Look closely and you can see the thing turning all four wheels. And the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that the front wheels spin first.
If I had to guess, that means we’ll see electric motors powering the front wheels and the rear wheels powered by a V8, much like the Acura NSX. That should make for an incredibly powerful setup that’s even better in low-grip conditions.
As for the fully electric version? At this point, no one can imagine what kind of configuration will follow, but if all of this is a little too advanced for you, fear not. Chevrolet has also said that traditional, gas-powered Vettes aren’t going anywhere. At least not yet.
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