2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, Grand Sport X debut with new 6.7L V8

Rear view of the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport Launch Edition in Arctic White featuring available Carbon Aero.
Rear view of the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport Launch Edition in Arctic White featuring available Carbon Aero.
Rear view of the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport Launch Edition in Arctic White featuring available Carbon Aero.
Rear view of the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport Launch Edition in Arctic White featuring available Carbon Aero.
A wide overhead view of the 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport in Admiral Blue Metallic.

Chevrolet is reviving one of Corvette’s most storied racing names with the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport, and creating new legacy with the Grand Sport X. Both vehicles blend heritage-inspired design with a next-generation V8 engine that produces more torque than any other naturally aspirated V8 before it. The duo delivers a modern take on Grand Sport’s traditional role as a sweet-spot in the lineup, blending visceral V8 performance, distinctive style and everyday drivability.

Born in the early 1960s as a limited run of five C2 race cars that competed at tracks like Sebring International Raceway, Grand Sport has long stood for lightweight, track-focused Corvettes that look as fast as they drive. Road-going Grand Sport models have added to the formula of the name every generation by pulling features from the fastest cars in each Corvette generation, while maintaining heritage colors, distinct striping, and signature fender hash-marks that once served as ways to tell the original race cars apart.

Today’s Grand Sport lineup reflects the best of what the eighth-generation Corvette has to offer, including a wide, planted mid-engine stance, an interior that elevates driver cockpit design, and the benefits of either a removable-roof coupe or hardtop convertible. Plus, standard Magnetic Ride Control, available Performance Traction Management, and so much more.

“Grand Sport has always been the Corvette for drivers who want the spirit of a race car in a package they can enjoy every day,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet. “With the new Grand Sport and Grand Sport X, we’ve taken that formula into the mid-engine era, pairing a heritage-rich design with the most advanced Corvette technologies we’ve ever offered.”

“The Grand Sport model has historically acted as a high-volume player in the Corvette lineup. We expect the Stingray and Grand Sport lineup combined to account for the vast majority of Corvette sales.”

Next Generation 6.7L LS6 V8

Corvette LS6

At the core of every 2027 Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X is the next-generation LS6 6.7L V8, which now becomes Corvette’s primary engine – powering the 2027 Stingray as well. Launching General Motors’ next generation of V8s, LS6 raises the bar for performance thanks to engine architecture upgrades that will soon benefit other V8-powered Chevrolets.

Delivering 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque, this naturally aspirated engine sees increases in power and torque across the rev band compared to its predecessor. A larger 6.7L (409 cu in) displacement and 13.0:1 compression ratio sharpen response, while a 95-mm throttle body and tunnel ram intake with high-velocity ports move more air to unlock additional power.

A new lubrication system, forged pistons and rods, and revised exhaust manifolds ensure durability in extended high-load, high-temperature environments.

“There is no replacement for displacement! Our next generation LS6 engine pushes 409 cubic inches of jackhammer fury through the tailpipes,” said Mike Kociba, assistant chief engineer, Next Generation V8. “Combining large displacement, modern technology, and proven Small Block V8 heritage will deliver a bold new chapter in performance.”

An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission routs all this power to the wheels.

GM’s Flint Engine Operations in Flint, Michigan will assemble the LS6 with US and globally sourced parts, returning production to the city where the first Corvette V8s were built in 1955. Chevrolet’s unique capacity for advancing V8 technology has come with time and experience: LS6 represents the start of the sixth generation of Small Block V8s, extending a legacy more than 70 years in the making.  

Corvette Grand Sport: Purist, Rear-Wheel-Drive Performance

Chevrolet Introduces 2027 Corvette Grand Sport at Sebring

The 2027 Corvette Grand Sport is engineered for the purist, blending classic naturally aspirated V8 character with rear-wheel-drive dynamics for a focused sports car experience. Its LS6 6.7L V-8 delivers 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque with a deep, exhilarating exhaust note, amplified by an available quad center-exit exhaust – the first time a center exhaust has been offered on a pushrod V8 in the eighth generation of Corvette.

Grand Sport offers a broad spectrum of capability. Magnetic Ride Control is standard, paired with a Touring Suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tires that make the car as at home crossing the country as it is carving a favorite back road. A new braking package is designed for low brake dust and a corrosion-resistant appearance, helping Grand Sport look as sharp as it drives.

For drivers seeking more edge, the available Z52 Sport Performance Package is tuned around a stiffer suspension, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tire1 and borrows high-performance J56 iron brakes from the Corvette Z06 for confident stopping power on road and track. The Z52 Track Performance Package goes further, mating carbon-ceramic J57 brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires with track-focused chassis tuning. Paired with a carbon-fiber splitter, dive planes, rockers and wing, plus underbody strakes, this is most track-capable Grand Sport to date.

Corvette Grand Sport X: Powerful, Poised, All-Wheel Drive

Chevrolet Introduces 2027 Corvette Grand Sport at Sebring

The Corvette Grand Sport X expands the Grand Sport formula with the addition of all-wheel drive, creating a chest-compressing 721-hp2 express. It pairs the LS6 V8 at the rear axle with a front-axle electric motor and compact battery pack from the record-setting Corvette ZR1X to create an eAWD Corvette that is as confident in challenging weather as it is on a dry track.

Just as with ZR1 and ZR1X, the naming of Grand Sport and Grand Sport X will provide consistency and clarity in Corvette’s badging, with X being representative of eAWD.

Grand Sport X’s high-voltage battery is low and centered in the car to preserve the agility of the mid-engine platform. The addition of a front motor is a performance enabler: Grand Sport X leaps from a stand-still with near-instant access to 145 lb-ft of torque on the front axle. And thanks to an intelligent controls system, the car combines the agility typical of a rear-wheel drive car with the corner-exiting traction only all-wheel drive can provide.

Similar to ZR1X, Grand Sport X puts the driver in control on track by letting them choose a strategy for how to use available power:

  • Endurance – Engaging the Charge+ button adjusts the battery’s energy storage strategy for extended lapping and consistent eAWD output for a full tank of fuel
  • Qualifying – Optimum power strategy for the ultimate lap time
  • Push-to-Pass – Max available power on-demand

Magnetic Ride Control, carbon-ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport All –Season 4 tires are standard. The available Performance Package adds Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, benefitting track performance and backroad precision.

For moments that call for subtlety, Grand Sport X offers electric-only Stealth mode through 50 mph and Shuttle mode for non-street use up to 23 mph, allowing the car to move quietly on its front electric axle when needed, without engaging the V8. 

Grand Sport Heritage, Modern Execution

Chevrolet Introduces 2027 Corvette Grand Sport at Sebring

The original C2 Grand Sports were purpose-built race cars, and the bold liveries and stripes they wore still influence today’s design. Signature Grand Sport hash marks, seen on the front fenders of C4, C6 and C7 models, now move to the rear of the car for the first time – a visual nod to the V8 engine’s position behind the cockpit in the current Corvette generation.

The color palette reaches into the archives by reviving Admiral Blue Metallic, a signature hue from the C4 era – enabling the iconic blue body, white center stripe and red hash Grand Sport appearance.

The 2027 Grand Sport lineup will feature a Launch Edition interior that is curated to feel like a one-of-one option for each owner. Launch Edition cars will receive a Santorini Blue-Dipped interior, where nearly every surface is Santorini with red stitching and accents. Headrests are embossed with a unique Grand Sport exterior plan view outline, also seen stitched into floor mats. The leather-wrapped hood over the driver information center receives special red accents down the center, lining up with the center mark on the steering wheel. Launch Edition, waterfall speaker plaque, and a Grand Sport steering wheel badge complete the package, which is available with multiple exterior colors.

Hash marks and center stripes are available in a variety of colors and hundreds of combinations, allowing each owner to tailor their own track-inspired look.

10-spoke forged aluminum wheels are a clean, strong and lightweight design unique to the Grand Sport lineup, and are available in four finishes: Pearl Nickel, Gloss Black, Carbon Flash with Bright Polished Surfaces, and High Polished. Five-spoke carbon-fiber wheels are available in visible, Carbon Flash-painted, and visible with red stripe, and reduce mass at each corner.

Pitch Gray Metallic, a new dark gray exterior color, will be available alongside Admiral Blue Metallic for all 2027 Corvette models. An Asymmetrical Santorini Blue / Jet Black interior will be available as well, building on the introduction of the Asymmetrical Adrenaline Red / Jet Black interior in 2026. 

Stingray Refreshed

Chevrolet Introduces 2027 Corvette Grand Sport at Sebring

In 2027, Corvette Stingray will upgrade to LS6, the most powerful standard engine ever offered on Corvette. Stingray buyers can also select an available center-exhaust for the first time in mid-engine era.

Engineers took this opportunity to integrate knowledge learned from more powerful variants back into Stingray. Updated calibrations for the available Magnetic Ride Control suspension provide better body control, optimizing performance. The track-capable Z51 Performance Package is enhanced with a shorter 5.56:1 final drive ratio for more immediacy on throttle, adjusted aerodynamics for performance, and the car sits on a newly developed Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tire.

The Heart of the Lineup

The 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray in Torch Red and Arctic White positioned side by side.

Corvette Stingray is an everyday supercar. Both Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X are driver’s cars first, whether the day calls for a long highway stretch, a favorite canyon road, or a session at the track. With the new Grand Sport lineup and the refreshed Stingray powered by a next-generation V8, the Corvette line-up’s most attainable models are stronger than ever.

GM’s Bowling Green Assembly will build the Stingray and Grand Sport lineup with US and globally sourced parts beginning this summer.

1Do not use summer-only tires in winter conditions, as it would adversely affect vehicle safety, performance and durability. Use only GM-approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the vehicle’s performance characteristics. For important tire and wheel information, go to chevrolet.com/support/vehicle/driving-safety/tires-wheels/tire-types or see your dealer.
2535 horsepower from the LS6 6.7L V8 engine, plus 186 horsepower from the eAWD (electric drive unit).

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the founder of Motoring Chronicle and an FIA accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following motorsport and the global automotive industry. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered Formula 1 races and automotive events at venues around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every race report, car review, and industry analysis he writes. His work spans the full breadth of motoring — from the latest EV launches and road car reviews to the cutting edge of motorsport competition.

Leave a Comment

More in News

Avoidable Driving Mistakes That Double Your Risk After Dark

Night driving accounts for a mere 25 percent of all ...

The W16 Mistral ‘Caroline’: an ode to a beloved daughter, by Bugatti Sur Mesure

The Bugatti W16 Mistral represents the pinnacle of open-top hypercar ...

All-new 2027 INFINITI QX65 blends sporty fastback design, luxurious interior and spirited, rewarding performance

INFINITI today accelerated the next chapter of its product renaissance ...

Acura Celebrates 40 Years of Precision Crafted Performance

Acura today celebrates 40 years since debuting in America on ...

Lamborghini Urus SE Widetrack by Urban makes joint debut in UK and USA

A Lamborghini Urus SE Widetrack by Urban Automotive, the latest ...

Trending on Motoring Chronicle

Mercedes-Maybach S 680 Edition Emerald Isle debuts at Pebble Beach [Photo Gallery]

Exclusive model inspired by California’s Central Coast, limited to 25 ...
Pack vital medication to avoid breakdown emergencies

Pack vital medication to avoid breakdown emergencies

Drivers should take essential medication with them even on short ...

SHEdrives a Lambo returns for an exclusive Palm Springs retreat

Automobili Lamborghini hosted over 30 female owners from across the ...
Mat Armstrong Ferrari 296 GTB Build

Ferrari Stop Mat Armstrong From Rebuilding His 296 GTB

In this video, Mat Armstrong attempts to restore a damaged ...

Why Does My Car Overheat in Traffic But Not on the Highway?

A car overheating in traffic but not at highway speed ...