Happy Holidays, all ye faithful Corvette fans. General Motors has just shipped out a present: a juicy trademark filing for what could be a new Corvette model.
Our spy-photographer pal Chris Doane hipped us to a U.S. trademark for “Corvette E-Ray” filed last week, and of course we’re thinking what you’re thinking. A hybrid/plug-in-hybrid Vette must be coming?maybe not next year, or the year after, but soon.

It’s the first we’ve heard of such a thing since we blew GM’s surprise for the mid-engined next-generation Corvette, which still may debut by the end of 2016. But while none of the Corvette’s direct competitors are yet electrified, the next Nissan GT-R will be, the BMW i8 exists, and Porsche confirmed a four-door EV with a powertrain that could trickle into its sub-$200,000 sports cars. Over the summer, GM also registered “Corvette Manta Ray.” Make of that what you will. But we don’t necessarily think a potential E-Ray will be part of the still-unconfirmed mid-engined C8 generation of Corvette. For more on a hybridized C7, here’s Car and Driver technical director and Corvette guru Don Sherman: “The notion of an electrified Corvette got me wondering: What?s the best way to hybridize today?s C7 Stingray" I?d do it by rearranging components behind the rear axle.
“Hanging a motor/generator onto the rear of the differential would be the way to go. The added electric machine would capt...