---
title: "The Corvette C7-Based Electric Genovation GXE Is as Quick as a C8 Z51"
description: "It hit a top speed of 211.9 mph and is about as quick as a C8 with the Z51 package."
date: "2020-09-15"
modified: "2020-09-15"
authors:
  - name: "Máté Petrány"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/mate-petrany"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/36427/the-corvette-c7-based-electric-genovation-gxe-is-as-quick-as-a-c8-z51"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Chevrolet"
  - "Corvette"
  - "Corvette C7"
  - "Coupe"
  - "Electric Cars"
  - "Electric Corvette"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "EV"
  - "Genovation"
  - "Genovation GXE"
  - "Randy Pobst"
---

# The Corvette C7-Based Electric Genovation GXE Is as Quick as a C8 Z51

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/09/GENOVATION_THUNDERHILL-11.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The Genovation GXE has been under development for over five years now, and while it remains an ultra-quick novelty item starting at $750,000 and limited to only 75 samples, it's also a preview of what General Motors can do when it's [time to launch an all-electric Corvette](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/35419/did-joe-biden-just-blow-the-lid-on-a-200-mph-electric-corvette>).

Of course, GM will have to start its high-end electrification by launching a high-performance hybrid first, [possibly badged as the ZR1](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31170/chevrolet-corvette-c8s-zr1-variant-will-be-a-900-hp-hybrid-with-awd-report>), but while we all wait for that, Genovation took the opportunity to break the standing EV speed record by [driving the C7-based GXE to a healthy 211.9 mph](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3A0fvAEo-w>) at the Space Shuttle Runway of the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds in Florida. That's fast, alright, but an electric Corvette also needs to perform through corners.

That's where two-time 24 Hours of Daytona class winner and now [Tesla-taming Pikes Peak challenger](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/36080/tesla-model-3-crashed-on-friday-rebuilt-on-saturday-driven-to-second-in-pikes-peak-on-sunday>) Randy Pobst comes in. With the GXE's dual-speed compression shocks and active tilting rear wing, the racing expert spent a day helping to fine-tune the suspension, steering, and aero, so the team could achieve the best time possible around Thunderhill West.

https://youtube.com/embed/2dknvzX4bMs

The Genovation GXE may be an electric sports car aiming for 220 mph in a straight line, but with the bigger wing on, it also has to perform on track while sporting the most luxurious Corvette interior since [Pratt & Miller's 8.2-liter C6RS in 2006](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/35951/how-pratt-miller-made-the-ultimate-c6-corvette-with-an-8-2-liter-v8>). Having found the correct settings, Pobst drove the GXE around Thunderhill Raceway in 1:21.16.

On paper, that makes the combination of a tuned C7 chassis, a 60 kWh battery pack, and two electric motors about as quick as a C8 with the Z51 package. For *R&T*'s 2020 Performance Car of the Year, Editor-in-Chief [Travis Okulski drove the C8 to 1:22.72](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJy68_pzCpY>), which wasn't a perfect lap since it was his first day ever at Thunderhill West. The GXE is still improving week after week, but it's more than likely that the [upcoming flat-plane crank C8 Z06](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/35805/listen-to-what-may-be-the-corvette-z06s-flat-plane-crank-v8>) will beat it in track performance.

Does that matter? Absolutely not. Some first adopters and other tech-focused collectors will be happy to pay whatever Genovation is charging for all the work put into the GXE idea, and when it comes to pioneering EVs, anything lapping a track as quickly as Chevy's first mid-engine Corvette is plenty quick in my book. Proving my point is Mr. Pobst on his hot lap with the 800-horsepower Genovation GXE:

https://youtube.com/embed/1M_46jQxUC4

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## Author
As a fan of old cars, new cars, trains, planes, buses, and you-name-it, Máté can sometimes be seen driving an Autobianchi around Budapest, much to the amusement of the children, mostly. When not time-traveling, he continues to report from the future to his American colleagues, often talking about Lotus, Ozzy Osbourne, or both.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/mpetrany>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/petrany>)