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Chevrolet Corvette Hybrid Is Definitely A Yes
Just when the world thought it was only European performance car makers that were jumping into the hybrid drivetrain bandwagon GM President, Mark L Reuss has proved otherwise or at the very least, wants to. And what better car to turn into hybrid than America's beloved Chevy Corvette.
Mr. Reuss was in Los Angeles recently where he spoke exclusively to The Los Angeles Times. One question asked by the daily was about the possibility of a hybrid Corvette and the response from Reuss was positive.
"Actually, don't laugh." He continued, "I think it's a very attractive idea, actually," Reuss said. "I think it would be really fun to do, I think it would build capability inside our company and I think people would love it."
In its current avatar, Stingray, the Corvette is powered by a 6.2 liter V8 with 455 horses and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Corvette is a remarkable machine that provides Americans with the performance of a German built performance machine for a lower price.
While subsequent versions of the Corvette have only gotten more powerful there is a limit to how much performance one can extract without increasing the size of the engine. But since reducing emissions is the ultimate goal a larger engine is not an option.
The obvious direction to take is hybridation of powertrains. A development path Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche have already taken. Adding an electric motor not only reduces emission and increases fuel economy, but also adds power while the engine size remains the same.
"It's exciting stuff, I mean it is," Reuss said. "It's cool." Cool enough not to laugh at. So there you have it. Corvette fans should brace themselves for a more powerful and clean next gen Stingray.
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