2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X First Look: Is This the Sweet Spot of Performance and Value?
Two new Chevy sports cars bundle a brand-new V-8 engine with go-fast parts from the Z06 at a more attainable price than recent Corvettes.
By [Your Name/Industry Expert Alias]
Published: [Insert Current Date], 2026
The Corvette team has been pushing the envelope for years, and they’re not slowing down. Even after delivering the 8,600-rpm Z06, the 1,064-hp ZR1, and the hypercar-slaying 1,250-hp ZR1X, the brilliant minds behind America’s sports car are still introducing new models. ZR1X deliveries have just begun, and already we’re seeing not one, but two new Corvettes.
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The 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X might not match the sheer power of the ZR1 siblings, but they aim to round out the Corvette sports car lineup with something special at a more accessible price point. If history is any guide, the Grand Sports will be driver’s cars that bridge the gap between the base Corvette Stingray and the Corvette Z06. And perhaps just as importantly as the cars themselves, the Grand Sports introduce Chevy’s new LS6 small-block V-8, a 6.7-liter naturally aspirated monster that produces 535 horsepower.
A Winning Recipe and a New Formula
Since the 2010 C6 Corvette, the Grand Sport has represented a sort of insider’s choice among Corvette enthusiasts—a road-focused machine that arguably balances performance and value better than any other ’Vette. True to that tradition, the 2027 Grand Sport combines the Corvette Stingray’s new 6.7-liter V-8 with the Z06’s wide body and several of its performance-enhancing options. This has been a winning formula in the past, and based on how every other version of the C8 Corvette performs, we have every reason to believe the Grand Sport will be a truly exceptional sports car.
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The first-ever Grand Sport X builds on this concept using the same formula (and several of the same part numbers) that the 1,250-hp ZR1X uses to dominate the 1,064-hp ZR1. A 186-hp electric motor positioned between the front wheels and a 1.9-kWh lithium-ion battery located in the tunnel between the driver and passenger transform the rear-drive Grand Sport into an all-wheel-drive hybrid. Combined with the mid-mounted 535-hp gasoline engine, the all-wheel-drive X produces 721 horsepower, a 66-hp increase over the 655-hp Corvette E-Ray it replaces. We predict 0–60-mph times in the low two-second range and quarter-mile runs in the low 10s.
Chevy’s Small-Block V-8 Grows Bigger
Chevy has named the Corvette’s new V-8 the LS6, a nod to the fact that this is only the sixth generation of the small-block. It’s worth noting that there have been more popes in the Catholic Church than Chevy small-blocks since 1955, so if you worship at the altar of the naturally aspirated V-8, let out a celebratory burnout and send up some white smoke because there’s a new king in town.
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The LS6 is the modern embodiment of the old saying, “There’s no replacement for displacement.” Chevy engineers expanded the Corvette’s heart from 6.2 to 6.7 liters by increasing the stroke from 92 to 100 millimeters. The bore and the 4.4-inch bore spacing, a signature of the small-block since its inception, remain unchanged. The longer stroke means torque has increased even more than horsepower. Compared to the Corvette Stingray’s outgoing LT2 V-8, the LS6 produces 40 more horsepower and 50 more lb-ft of torque. It generates more torque than any other naturally aspirated V-8 currently in production, with a peak of 520 lb-ft arriving earlier than before, at 4,600 rpm.
The new engine operates with a 13.0:1 compression ratio, up from 11.5:1, and features port fuel injection to improve particulate emissions. To handle the LS6’s higher stresses, the pistons and connecting rods are now forged, which will undoubtedly please the tuners who will inevitably push this new small-block even further.
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The engine emits a fierce bark at startup, a deep burble at idle, and a feral snarl as it’s revved. Chevy will offer two exhaust systems with the LS6. The standard setup splits four exhaust tips between the left and right sides of the ’Vette, while the optional system groups all four in the center of the car. Both systems feature active valves to control the engine note and volume, and there’s no difference in power output, but Chevy engineers assure us there’s a noticeable difference in their sound (we’ve only heard the car roar through the optional exhaust). Apparently, the center exhaust is the one to get.
What Makes a Grand Sport a Grand Sport?
The Grand Sport and Grand Sport X will be available as both targa-topped “coupes” and folding-hardtop convertibles. MagneRide dampers and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential are standard. Torque is delivered through the Tremec eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and a new 5.56:1 final drive ratio. This more aggressive gearing will enhance acceleration at the expense of fuel economy, and it will also be introduced to the 2027 Corvette Stingray with the optional Z51 package, which previously used a 5.13:1 ratio.
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The rear-drive Grand Sport will be offered with three distinct chassis setups. The standard touring setup is the softest and is paired with Michelin Pilot Sport All Season tires. The Sport Performance package features a stiffer suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, along with the Z06’s J56 brakes, which undergo a high-temperature ferritic nitro carburizing treatment to improve corrosion resistance. Finally, the Track Performance package mirrors the Z06’s Z07 upgrade with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, carbon-ceramic brakes, a carbon-fiber wing and dive planes, a unique chassis tune, and a center-exit exhaust. The standard forged wheels are available in four different finishes, and carbon-fiber wheels are optional on cars equipped with carbon-ceramic brakes.
The Grand Sport X comes standard with carbon-ceramic brakes to handle its formidable power. Similar to the Grand Sport, Chevy will offer a touring suspension on all-season tires or a Performance suspension tune with summer tires. However, there is no Track package or carbon-fiber aero kit for the X. When asked why, executive chief engineer Tony Roma simply advised us to stay tuned. All Grand Sports feature the requisite hash stripes on their fenders, though this time they’re located at the rear.
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Is This the Sweet Spot of Performance and Value?
The Grand Sport goes on sale this summer, with the Grand Sport X following this fall. Both versions will be offered in a Launch Edition for the initial model year, featuring a striking blue-dipped leather interior with red stitching and accents.
While Chevy hasn’t announced pricing yet, Roma let slip that the Grand Sport will start under $100,000. It’s virtually guaranteed to be a superb value compared to almost anything else available at that price point.
We have a very clear idea of where the Grand Sport will land in terms of pricing, performance, and market positioning. Based on every C8 that has preceded it, we can even anticipate how it will drive, which leaves us eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get behind the wheel. The Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X appear to be the best way to experience the essence of Corvette’s most exceptional models without the substantial investment required for a Z06, ZR1, or ZR1X.
