A Brief History of the Corvette
The first generation of Corvette was introduced late in 1953. Originally designed as a show car for the 1953 Motorama display at the New York Auto Show, it generated enough interest to induce GM to make a production version to sell to the public. The first production was on June 30, 1953. The 1953 Corvette was powered by an OHV I-6 engine with 150 horsepower and 223 lb.-ft. of torque.
Today’s 2016 Corvette
Fast-forward 63 years later. The all-new ultra-limited production 2016 Corvette Z06 has the auto world spinning. GM continues the Corvette’s sleek sexy look of their design.
The Corvette Power
The Z06 is powered by an LT4 supercharged 6.2L aluminum V8 engine delivering 650 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. With a choice of transmissions as well as Direct Injection, Active Fuel Management™ and Continuously Variable Valve Timing, Z06 is a powerful, efficient sports car.
The 2016 Corvette is the First to…
Z06 is the first 650-horsepower supercar available in both coupe and convertible as well as automatic or manual transmission. Since Z06 was developed from the start to be an open-top vehicle, coupe and convertible share the same aluminum frame structure, and are designed to reduce drag and keep the vehicle firmly planted to the road.
Possible Electric Variant for the Corvette?
There have been talks about Chevrolet planning an electric variant of the Corvette sports car has popped up again following confirmation General Motors has trademarked the name ‘Corvette E-Ray‘. The United States Patent and Trademark Office is reporting that GM has filed to trademark both the “Corvette E-Ray” and “E-Ray” monikers. Both filings concern automobiles and play on the word “Stingray”, which adorns the entry-level Corvette C7.
It seems likely that, if Chevrolet were to create a version of the Corvette complete with some form of electrification, it could be dubbed the “E-Ray”. It’s therefore not surprising that many consider this indirect confirmation of an all-electric Vette being in the works, but there’s also a chance it could point towards a plug-in hybrid Corvette. Given GM’s experience with electric powertrains, it wouldn’t be all that difficult for it to create an electric or hybrid Corvette, potentially offering more performance than the range-topping Z06 and rumored but unconfirmed ZR1.
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