ONE LIKE NONE: VIN 001 E-Ray Corvette With V8 Power and eAWD Will Benefit America’s Classrooms at the Palm Beach Auction
March 21, 2023
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Chevrolet has a long history of selling its VIN 001 Corvettes at Barrett-Jackson’s auctions to benefit a host of worthy causes. The Palm Beach Auction in particular has hosted some incredible charitable Corvette sales with Chevrolet: In 2013 the company brought the first 2014 model-year Corvette convertible, followed by the first 2015 Z06 Corvette coupe during the 2014 auction, and last year Chevrolet sent the first retail production 2023 Corvette Z06 convertible across the Palm Beach Auction block. Each of those sales brought in $1 million dollars on the auction block, with 100% of the funds going to charity.
The tradition continues this year with the first retail production 3LZ VIN 001, which is selling with No Reserve at Barrett-Jackson’s 2023 Palm Beach Auction, April 13-15 at the South Florida Fairgrounds. 100% of the hammer price will benefit DonorsChoose, whose mission is for anyone to help a classroom in need, moving closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences essential for a great education.
Chevrolet really broke the Corvette mold when it released the C8 for the 2020 model with its mid-engine platform. The Bowtie brand is continuing to push the boundaries of the Corvette further by turning America’s favorite sports car into an all-wheel-drive hybrid with the addition of the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ.
To be clear, the E-Ray is not an all-electric Corvette or a plug-in hybrid. At its heart is a 6.2-liter LT2 small-block V8 backed by an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, only now there’s a front-mounted electric motor that powers the front wheels via a 1.9 kWh battery pack, which is located between the seats. In total, the first electrified, all-wheel-drive Corvette produces a combined 655 horsepower.
Not only does this eAWD, as Chevrolet likes to call it, increase all-season capability, the intelligent controls dynamically adjust in real time to provide front-axle assist for stability and balance – providing nimble control. Additionally, electrification enhances the drive experience, making the E-Ray a sure-footed Grand Tourer with the quickest 0-60 and quarter-mile times in Corvette history.
The amount of electric assist varies among the six selectable drive modes: Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode and Z-Mode. There’s also a hybrid-only function called Charge+ that can be activated to maximize the battery’s state of charge. Another perk to the electrification of the Corvette is the addition of “Stealth Mode,” which only works up to 45 mph or until the driver activates the gas engine with the throttle. The main benefit of Stealth mode is the ability to quietly enter or exit neighborhoods without calling attention to the Corvette’s rumbling exhaust.
All that performance comes with great style. The 2024 E-Ray shares its wide-body with the Z06, making it 3.6 inches wider overall than the Stingray. It also comes from the factory on a set of lightweight alloy twisted five-spoke star design wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport all-season tires, Magnetic Selective Ride Control and carbon-ceramic brakes.
Other design highlights include four different aluminum wheel finishes and a choice of 14 exterior colors, which include the new-for-2024 Riptide Blue, Seawolf Gray and Cacti. Among the many other options are an E-Ray-exclusive Electric Blue body-length stripe package, carbon-fiber ground effects and optional carbon-fiber wheels. The E-Ray also introduces the all-new Artemis Dipped interior, featuring deep green tones on nearly every interior surface and only available on 2024 Corvettes. Additional interior options include two carbon-fiber trim packages, three seat choices, seven interior colors and more.
The first retail production 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ VIN 001 is sure to continue to push the boundaries of the Corvette further with its electric all-wheel-drive hybrid capabilities. With the sale benefiting a worthy cause, it will help push the boundaries of what can be done in America’s classrooms, too. This one is sure to fly by – register to bid today.