



A real Chevrolet-built mid-engined Corvette won’t be elusive for long, but that didn’t stop Aria from building its dream car. Nor did Chevrolet seek to stop Aria, either.

Recent regulations that reduce the burden of crash testing on low-volume manufacturers have opened a niche for companies such as Aria to build and sell cars in very low volumes.

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As an homage to GM’s designer Ed Taylor aka “Fast Eddy” (who, not at all incidentally, is the father of Aria co-founder Charles Taylor), Aria decided to design and build the car it thinks Fast Eddy would drive today – the “elusive mid-engine Corvette .”

Aria Group, a design and fabrication company from California, said they wanted to step on nobody’s toes at the GM, so the design came out very unique despite its connection to the Vette.

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“We’re great friends with the folks at GM, and they know that we are doing this,” said Aria’s other co-founder, Clive Hawkins. When asked about trademark infringement, Hawkins said that Aria looked into styling and other aspects of how its car might step on Corvette’s toes; he doesn’t believe the car does that. If it does, though, GM’s lawyers will be in touch. Note that the crossed flags on the car’s nose have the letters “F” and “E,” not a checkered flag and a bow tie.

Unveiled at the LA Auto Show, the FXE boasts a powerful hybrid powertrain and eye-catching styling that can match it with hybrid hypercar lookers from the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and Porsche.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a mid-mounted 6.2-liter supercharged V8 and seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, combined with two front-mounted electric motors powered by a 10-kWh battery for a total output of 1150 horsepower and 1316 lb.-ft. of torque. Thanks to a carbon fiber monocoque, carbon fiber panels, and lightweight 3D-printed metals, weight comes in at 3450 pounds. This helps the FXE sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and top out at 220 mph, which would put it in the territory of McLaren’s P1 and Porsche’s 918.

It has only two seats – just as a proper supercar should. Aria says the seats will be specially molded to each individual customer, while the controls will be able to move forward and backward as needed to accommodate a variety of body types.

Less than 400 Aria FXE’s will be built, and pricing is only available on application as each vehicle will be a bespoke order.