GM trademarks “Corvette E-Ray” – hybrid muscle car on the way?

General Motors has reportedly filed a trademark application for the “Corvette E-Ray” name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The application suggests GM may be working on a high-tech Corvette with some form of electric/hybrid powertrain. This comes as no surprise as more performance cars are migrating to alternative fuel powertrain to increase performance as well as reduce fuel consumption.

Back in 2010, GM’s senior engineer, Karl-Friedrich Stracke also hinted at the prospect of a hybrid Corvette saying “You could keep a normal powertrain configuration for a small amount of very excited car enthusiasts and turn 80 to 90 percent of your sports car portfolio to hybridisation.”

While it is unclear at this stage what configuration the Corvette hybrid will take form, previous reports have suggested the engine could be paired with an electric motor powering the front wheels, essentially making the E-Ray an all-wheel drive – a first for the Corvette.

Source: Car & Driver