Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray has just launched in the UK, but there's confusion over why it's double the price
Published on Jul 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM (UTC+4)
by Callum Tokody
Last updated on Jul 28, 2025 at 9:19 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The Corvette E-Ray has arrived in the UK as a hybrid Corvette with a price that pushes it into high-end performance territory.
It starts at £153,440 ($206,000 USD), and there is only one version available to buyers.
This single configuration is the top 3LZ trim, loaded with features and built to meet UK requirements.
The cost has led to plenty of discussion, but it reflects a specific mix of decisions and technical demands.
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Why it costs this much
Chevrolet Europe has only brought over the 3LZ version of the Corvette E-Ray.
In the United States, that trim starts at $119,745, which is already well above the $106,900 base price.
There are no lower-spec options in the UK, so buyers are getting a fully specced car by default.
Adapting the hybrid Corvette for the UK market adds further expense.
The E-Ray is built in left-hand drive, so converting it for right-hand drive markets involves structural changes to the steering, dashboard, and several electronic systems.
These adjustments require engineering effort and don’t scale well for low-volume cars.
In addition, Chevrolet Europe must ensure the car complies with UK and EU standards for emissions, crash testing, and lighting.
Each of these elements demands separate validation and adds to the cost of making the car road legal in this region.
With only 1,417 Corvette E-Ray units built globally in 2024, there is little room to reduce those costs per vehicle.
The UK price also includes VAT, import duties, shipping costs, and dealer overhead.
These are standard for imported cars, but they have a bigger impact on performance models like this, where margins and pricing are closely tied to spec and scale.
What makes the Corvette E-Ray matter
The Corvette E-Ray is the first model in the lineup to feature both a hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive.
It uses a 6.2-liter V8 to drive the rear wheels, while an electric motor powers the front axle, delivering a total of 643 horsepower.
That setup allows the E-Ray to reach 60mph in just 2.5 seconds, making it the quickest Corvette offered for UK sale so far.
The hybrid Corvette is not designed for electric commuting.
Its small 1.9-kWh battery can provide short bursts of electric-only movement up to 45mph, but its real purpose is to support acceleration and traction.
The system is built to improve performance rather than range or efficiency.
Chevrolet Europe has positioned the E-Ray as its first official Corvette sale since 2019, when tighter emissions rules pushed the C7 generation out of the region.
The return with a hybrid Corvette reflects the changes in both regulation and buyer expectations.
According to Dataforce, Chevrolet Europe sold 338 E-Ray units across the continent during the first half of 2025.
That makes it the brand’s top performer in the region, ahead of the electric Cadillac Lyriq.
The UK price of the Corvette E-Ray reflects more than a premium badge.
It represents a combination of high spec, technical conversion, and compliance work required to bring a hybrid Corvette to UK roads.
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Callum Tokody is a content writer at Supercar Blondie, where he covers the latest in the automotive world with a focus on design and performance. Callum has a background in automotive journalism and has contributed to a range of publications in Australia and the UK. Outside of work, he’s a design enthusiast with a soft spot for anything with a V8 and a good story.
