A prototype of the forthcoming 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray has been destroyed by fire while hot weather testing in Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains.
A video shared to social media shows just how ferocious the blaze was, engulfing the entire car and leaving it a molten mess. It would have been sad enough if this was a customer-owned Corvette but the fact that it is a prototype means its destruction is even more costly.
GM Authority reports that the Corvette E-Ray was being tested by Bosch at the time and that the blaze started in the engine bay after an oil leak. While engineers stopped the car, the blaze quickly spread and reportedly ignited the battery pack.
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Given that the Corvette was being tested in quite a remote area, it comes as little surprise that local fire crews were not able to respond in time to save the expensive prototype. Indeed, all that is left is a pile of melted and twisted metals. The only giveaway that this was once a C8-generation Corvette are the remnants of the wheels.
While Chevrolet hasn’t released technical specifications for the new Corvette E-Ray, it is expected to combine a 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated LT2 V8 with an electric motor powering the front wheels. While we don’t know how much power it will have, the presence of all-wheel drive promises to have a dramatic impact on the handling and the overall driving experience.
At least one other hybrid variant of the Corvette is being developed. This model could be dubbed the Zora and may combine a unique 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with a hybrid system to deliver as push as 1,000 hp and 975 lb-ft (1,321 Nm) of torque, pushing the ‘Vette into hypercar territory.
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