CHEVROLET CORVETTE E-RAY COUPE

Overview

The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray Coupe is the first all-wheel-drive Corvette, pairing the familiar 6.2-litre LT2 V8 with a front-axle electric drive unit for a hybrid e-AWD system. Offered in New Zealand in a single 3LZ Coupe trim through GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV), E-Ray combines Stingray-based mid-engine performance with genuine wet-weather and all-conditions traction, plus a brief Stealth Mode capable of near-silent, all-electric running at low speed. It sits above the Stingray and below Z06 in GMSV's Australia/New Zealand Corvette line-up.

Variants

E-Ray is offered in a single configuration in New Zealand.

Engine & Performance

E-Ray retains the Stingray's 6.2L LT2 V8 (369kW/637Nm) at the rear and adds a single permanent-magnet electric motor (119kW/169Nm) driving the front wheels via a 1.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack that is self-charging through regenerative braking and engine load — there is no plug-in charging port. Combined system output is 488kW and 806Nm. GMSV's Australia/New Zealand figures quote 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds and a 300km/h top speed, both quicker than the Stingray. A dedicated Stealth Mode allows brief all-electric driving of roughly 4-6km at up to 72km/h, intended for quiet low-speed use.

Dimensions & Weights

E-Ray shares the Stingray Coupe's body dimensions:

Published kerb-weight figures for the hybrid E-Ray Coupe vary by source (roughly 1,750-1,890kg) reflecting the added battery, front motor and AWD hardware over the standard Stingray Coupe's approximately 1,527kg; GMSV has not published a separate New Zealand-specific figure, so treat the weight above as approximate.

Exterior Colours

E-Ray is offered in the seven-colour palette confirmed for the Australia/New Zealand 2026 line-up:

Features & Technology

Safety & ADAS: automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist, side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, HD front and rear cameras.

Infotainment & Connectivity: three-screen digital cockpit — 12.7in centre touchscreen, 14in reconfigurable driver display, 6.6in front-passenger auxiliary display — head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless phone charging, Bose premium audio, Chevrolet Connected Services with an 8-year complimentary trial (built-in Google Maps and Google Assistant, over-the-air updates).

Comfort & Interior: leather-trimmed performance seats with heating and ventilation, heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, E-Ray-specific interior trim and badging.

Exterior: E-Ray-specific wheel design, unique badging, LED lighting, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres sized for AWD grip.

Performance: Performance Traction Management with a Wet mode tuned for the AWD system, standard Magnetic Ride Control, Performance Data Recorder with side-by-side video analysis, launch control optimised for AWD launches, Stealth Mode all-electric low-speed operation.

Shipping Considerations

This car's right-hand-drive configuration is genuinely factory-built, not an aftermarket conversion — GM Specialty Vehicles remanufactures each Corvette to factory-standard RHD as part of a programme that supplies both the Australian and New Zealand markets. IPAS sources this vehicle ex-works from New Zealand, with export shipments departing the Port of Tauranga. Given the added weight and battery pack, standard sports-car handling precautions apply for loading (low-angle ramps or lift-on/lift-off cradle) and enclosed container shipping is recommended over open RoRo. Allocation under GMSV's ANZ programme is limited, so lead times can extend beyond standard passenger-vehicle shipments.

Warranty & Service

This vehicle is sourced from New Zealand, with export shipments departing the Port of Tauranga. While registered new in New Zealand under GMSV's retail programme, the Corvette E-Ray carries GMSV's voluntary bumper-to-bumper warranty of 3 years or 100,000km (whichever occurs first), covering engine, transmission, interior/exterior components and corrosion, plus extended coverage on the propulsion battery pack and its internal components of 8 years or 160,000km (whichever occurs first), serviced through GMSV-authorised New Zealand dealers. This manufacturer warranty is tied to the original New Zealand retail purchase and ownership record — it is not transferable to a vehicle that is exported and re-registered in another country, and IPAS does not represent or claim any continuation of GMSV's factory warranty coverage for exported units. Buyers should budget for warranty and servicing arrangements in the destination market after import.