The track-focused one 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport was introduced with a new 6.7-liter LS6 V8 – the largest displacement engine in the current C8 generation Grand Sport X Hybrid that replaces the E-Ray.
As reported in December, when the larger engine was spotted in a General Motors parts catalog, the Corvette Grand Sport will introduce the sixth-generation aluminum V8 in a production model.
Production is scheduled to begin in the US in mid-2026, with the new engine also replacing the 6.2-liter LT2 V8 used in current versions of the Corvette Stingray sold here, becoming the iconic sports car’s “main engine.”
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“At this time we have no announcements regarding future models for the ANZ region,” a GM Australia spokesperson said.
“The Grand Sport model has always played a major role in the Corvette lineup,” Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet, said in a statement.
“We expect the Stingray and Grand Sport lines combined to account for the majority of Corvette sales.”
GM’s announcement touted the Grand Sport as a “true driver’s Corvette” with its naturally aspirated V8 engine and rear-wheel drive.
The new 6.7-liter LS6 V8 (409 cubic inches or 6,702 cc) produces 393 kW and 705 Nm – the highest torque of any naturally aspirated Corvette V8 engine to date – surpassing the 369 kW and 637 Nm of the current 6.2-liter engine in the Stingray.
Key technical highlights of the LS6 include a 13.0:1 compression ratio – the highest of any Corvette – a larger 95mm throttle body, a tunnel ram intake with high-speed ports, direct and port fuel injection, and forged pistons and connecting rods.
There’s also a redesigned exhaust manifold, while an optional central exhaust outlet is available for the first time in a pushrod V8-powered C8 Corvette.
The LS6’s power – managed by an electronic control unit (ECU) that’s claimed to be 44 times faster – is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Chevrolet says the changes also result in a more linear torque curve for smoother power delivery and improved throttle response.
“There is no substitute for displacement! Our Next Generation LS6 engine pushes 409 cubic inches of jackhammer fury through the tailpipes,” Mike Kociba, Next Generation V8 deputy chief engineer, said in a statement.
“The combination of large displacement, modern technology and proven small-block V8 experience will open a bold new chapter in performance.”
Featuring a classic striped paint scheme reminiscent of previous Grand Sport models and available in a variety of colors, the Grand Sport rides on 20-inch Pearl Nickel front and 21-inch rear alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tires.
Magnetorheological dampers with Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) and touring suspension are standard, while an optional Z52 performance package brings a stiffer tune and upgraded “J56” brakes from the Corvette Z06.
The Z52 Track Performance Package goes one step further and includes carbon ceramic “J57” brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires and a track-focused suspension tune, as well as a carbon fiber splitter, diving surfaces, side skirts, a rear wing and skid plates.
The Grand Sport X replaces the Corvette E-Ray already sold in Australia, with the “X” standing for all-wheel drive.
It produces even more power than the E-Ray, combining a front axle electric motor with the new 6.7-litre V8 for a total output of 538kW, up from 488kW for the E-Ray. The hybrid super sports car also features carbon ceramic brakes as standard.
The 2027 Grand Sport range will include a limited introductory edition, including a Santorini Blue interior, custom stitching and embossed headrests with a top view of the Grand Sport.
In addition to the new V8, the entry-level Stingray will benefit from retuned MRC, while the optional Z51 Performance Package adds a shorter 5.56 final drive, new Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires and revised aerodynamic bodywork. For the first time, the Stingray will have a center exhaust.
The current C8 Corvette went into production in 2020, initially only in Stingray guise. In typical Corvette style, the product range was gradually completed.
First came the Z06 with its 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft and double overhead camshaft, followed by the 6.2-liter V8 all-wheel-drive hybrid E-Ray and the ZR1, which uses a twin-turbo version of the Z06 V8.
Finally, the ZR1X – the first time that name has been used – adopts the ZR1’s powertrain but adds an electric motor and all-wheel drive system like the E-Ray, resulting in a total system output of 932 kW, the highest output of any Corvette to date.
Currently only the Stingray, Z06 and E-Ray are offered in Australia. They are all built in right-hand drive at the same factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky in the USA that also produces left-hand drive Corvettes.
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