GM’s 655-horsepower hybrid Corvette was a great missed opportunity.

Vernon, New Jersey
CNN
—

General Motors has made it clear that its engineers did not create the first hybrid Corvette, the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, to save gas.

That’s not what a Corvette should be. Instead, they wanted to create an all-wheel-drive Corvette, and the best way to do that was simply to attach a powerful electric motor to the front wheels. Meanwhile, a 6.2-liter gasoline engine mounted behind the vehicle’s two seats drives the rear wheels. With a total output of 655 horsepower, the E-Ray is the fastest-accelerating production Corvette ever.

Efficiency was an afterthought for GM, but for me, I couldn’t help but think about burning fossil fuels as I blasted down snow-free mountain roads along the New York/New Jersey border. Just a few years ago, the only time you could test drive such a fast and powerful sports car was during the late spring and summer months. Roads like this at this time of year were often slick and icy. In fact, as I drove past mountain resorts and vacation homes, the pavement looked as black as the day it was paved.

There is no doubt about it. The world has changed.

Every time the traffic in front of you clears, you press hard on the gas pedal and hear the big V8 growl, picking up speed from behind you and hurtling you towards the next tight curve as you grab traction and push through. I was able to gain that confidence. A digital screen showed how much power the electric motor was adding to the mix while the gas engine powered the Corvette’s extra-wide rear tires.

Like the regular gas-only Corvette, it has an eight-speed transmission with paddle shifters in case you want to shift the gears yourself. (The manual transmission option has been discontinued in the latest generation.)

Unlike the Toyota Prius and nearly all other hybrids, the E-Ray’s electric motor rarely powers the car on its own. There are several modes to choose from, and the electric motor can go for a few miles at very low speeds, but the car won’t shut down the gas engine as it is.

Instead, when less power is needed, the engine shuts down four of its eight cylinders and operates in “V4” mode. The same goes for the regular non-hybrid base model, the Corvette Stingray. But thanks to its electric motor, the E-Ray can go for a surprisingly long time on just four cylinders, even when climbing shallow hills, unless you press hard on the gas pedal.

The result of all of this technology is that the E-Ray has supercar-level speed and power, but has nearly the same fuel economy as the base Stingray. But the E-Ray also has 160 horsepower and all-wheel drive, something no Corvette has ever had before.

Obviously, the E-Ray’s fuel economy could have been worse than the base model if fuel economy had not been taken into account at least to some degree. Instead, the EPA estimates it’s about the same overall at 19 miles per gallon. (It’s 1 MPG worse in highway driving.) That’s very good compared to other high-performance sports cars, such as the much more expensive Lamborghini Huracan, which has a little less power than the E-Ray.

Still, GM could have moved the fuel economy needle a little further. It certainly wouldn’t have been in keeping with the Corvette’s traditional character. Corvettes have long been known as the perfect sports cars for road trips, thanks to their relatively good fuel economy considering their features, ample cargo space, and comfortable seats. (I tried it in the past and it was true.)

Just a few more miles per gallon means longer fuel stops and longer driving times. It could also show the world that GM knows how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without reducing the fun. Thanks to different driving modes that are actually just software changes, the engineer may not even need to reduce his E-Ray’s maximum horsepower. But let’s be honest: 655 horsepower is a lot of power. Even if you knock it off like 50, it’s still a very fast car, no need to apologize.

But let’s be honest: 655 horsepower is a number to brag about, but it’s rarely used in real life. The E-Ray isn’t really intended for track driving. To that end, GM is offering a lighter and more powerful Corvette Z06 with his high-revving 670 horsepower V8 engine and no electric motor. The E-Ray is intended as a more relaxed high-speed cruiser.

And while it’s certainly possible to enjoy this car’s quick acceleration and responsiveness, there’s little chance of unleashing 655 horsepower on the road without encountering immediate arrest or worse.

GM isn’t really interested in hybrids. There are currently no other hybrid models available. Instead, GM is focusing on all-electric technology, and we’ll likely see an all-electric Corvette before too long. However, hybrids are very important when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. GM could have made a statement to that effect with a (yet) nice hybrid Corvette that leans a little more toward not just performance but also helping the planet.