Corvette hybrid hits the UK as a £153k Ferrari 296 rival

The 634bhp hybrid Corvette E-Ray has been launched in the UK for £153,440 in the latest phase of General Motors' plan to revive its business here.

Right-hand-drive E-Rays will be sold in a broader range of dealers than the Stingray and Z06 models currently are. GM will start with the Arnold Clark franchises in Manchester and Glasgow, Lumen Automotive in Shrewsbury and the Cambria Group in Birmingham, with more to follow in due course.

This will prime GM for the imminent relaunch of Cadillac, which is set to bring the Optiq and Lyriq electric SUVs to the UK, following their arrival in continental Europe.

It also gives the industry titan an infrastructure for the rollout of more right-hand-drive Corvette derivatives or mainstream models from the wider Chevrolet brand, such as the Equinox and Blazer EVs – though the company has yet to hint at any such plans.

In the meantime, the E-Ray will be GM's flagship model in the UK.

It packs a 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 and a single front-mounted electric motor. The mid-mounted engine sends 475bhp to the rear wheels while the 159bhp e-motor powers the front axle, giving a combined 634bhp and four-wheel drive. 

This allows the E-Ray to cover 0-62mph in 2.9sec, matching the vastly more expensive Ferrari 296 GTB and Maserati MC20.

A 1.9kWh battery pack is nestled between the Corvette’s front seats, enabling it to drive under electric power alone at up to 44mph and for up to four miles.

When the battery is depleted, the E-Ray can still hit 62mph in 3.4sec.

The hybrid also gets Brembo carbon-ceramic brake discs and magnetorheological dampers as standard and is 91mm wider than the Stingray.