“Contrasting answers to electrification” Comparing the McLaren Artura and Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray

McLaren ARTURA COUPE

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Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray

Corvette’s first hybrid powertrain

McLaren Automotive announced the brand’s first mass-produced hybrid, the Artura, in 2021. The car is equipped with a high-performance hybrid that combines a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine and a thin-type axial motor on the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), which thoroughly pursues lightweighting.

The Corvette E-Ray, which will be released in 2024 as the first electric model of the Corvette, the super sports car boasted by Chevrolet, General Motors’ (GM) flagship brand, will be equipped with eAWD, which uses a 6.2-liter V8 engine to drive the rear wheels and a motor to drive the front axle.

Both cars use a mid-engine layout, but the Corvette E-Ray is 146mm longer and has an 85mm longer wheelbase. The Artura, which uses a carbon fiber monocoque tub, is an impressive 250kg lighter (DIN value).

McLaren Artura

Body size = Length 4539 x Width 1913 x Height 1193 mm

Wheelbase = 2640 mm

Vehicle weight = 1560 kg (DIN)

Tire size = 235/35R19 (front), 295/35R20 (rear)

Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray

Body size = Length 4685 x Width 2025 x Height 1225 mm

Wheelbase = 2725 mm

Vehicle weight = 1810 kg

Tire size = 275/30ZR20 (front), 345/25ZR21 (rear)

Small displacement and high power “Artura”

The Artura combines a 3.0-liter V6 “M630” twin-turbo engine with a motor, producing a maximum system output of 700 PS. The Corvette E-Ray is equipped with a large-displacement 6.2-liter V8 naturally aspirated “LT2” engine, typical of American cars, and a front-axle motor, producing a maximum system output of 664 PS. The Corvette achieves an impressive 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 2.5 seconds, even though this is a shorter distance than the 0-100 km/h acceleration.

McLaren Artura

Engine type = V6 turbo + hybrid

Displacement = 2993cc

System maximum output = 700PS / 7500rpm

System maximum torque = 720Nm / 2250-7000rpm

Transmission = 8-speed DCT

Drive system = RWD

Top speed = 330km/h

0-100km/h acceleration = 3.0 seconds

Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray

Engine type = V8 OHV + motor

Displacement = 6156cc

Maximum output = 502PS / 6450rpm

Maximum torque = 637Nm / 5150rpm

Motor output = 162PS

Motor torque = 165Nm

Transmission = 8-speed DCT

Drive system = AWD

0-60mph acceleration = 2.5 seconds

The Corvette E-Ray will be a limited-edition electric model

The interior of the Artura, which pursues simple functional beauty, is centered around a 10-inch meter display, with a vertical 8-inch touchscreen next to the steering wheel for controlling the air conditioning and navigation.

The Corvette E-Ray features a center console layout that surrounds the driver. In addition to a 14-inch driver information display and a 12.7-inch center console display, a 6.6-inch touchscreen auxiliary display has also been introduced for the 2026 model year.

The Artura, equipped with a 7.4kWh lithium-ion battery, has a range of 33km in EV mode. It can also reach a speed of 130km/h on electric motor alone. The Corvette E-Ray, with a 1.9kWh lithium-ion battery mounted in the center tunnel, has a maximum range of 6.4km in Stealth mode, where it runs on the front motor alone, and its top speed is limited to 74km/h.

Considering the price difference of nearly 10 million yen, the Corvette E-Ray with its sufficient driving performance seems to have the advantage, but the Artura not only has a full-fledged hybrid system but also a luxurious carbon fiber chassis reminiscent of a racing car. Despite being equipped with a heavy battery, it weighs less than 1.6 tons, giving it a “light and nimble” feel that can only be experienced with a McLaren.