GM’s Reuss: Don’t laugh at the idea of a hybrid Corvette

Even a decade ago, the idea of a hybrid Corvette was about as plausible as a V8-powered Prius.

However, times have changed, and while an eight-cylinder Prius still probably isn’t in the cards, General Motors’ North American market chief says that a gas-electric version of Chevrolet’s sports car is no longer outside the realm of possibility.

 

Asked about the potential for a hybrid Corvette by the Los Angeles Times, Reuss said “actually, don’t laugh… I think it’s a very attractive idea.

 

“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.”

 

Though not exactly a confirmation that a hybridized ‘Vette is on the way, Reuss’ comments suggest that GM is at least thinking about the growing performance and fuel economy potential of hybrid technologies like the kinetic energy recapturing systems utilized by the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1.

 

Thanks to features like direct-injection, cylinder deactivation and a seven-speed manual transmission, the standard Corvette is already a fairly efficient machine relative to its 455-horsepower V8 punch, carrying an impressive 29 mpg rating in the EPA’s highway cycle. Even with strict fuel economy regulations looming just over the horizon, it may be a while before the need for increased mileage makes a hybrid Corvette a reality.

Photo by Andrew Ganz.<![CDATA[
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