New Corvette Grand Sport is Wild

TL;DR

The 2027 C8 Corvette Grand Sport debuts a new 6.7L LS6 small block making 535hp, with optional electric AWD from the ZR1X.

Key Points

• 1.The Grand Sport name has deep racing heritage. In the 1960s, Zora Arkus-Duntov created a stripped-out, lightweight Corvette to beat Shelby Cobras and compete at Le Mans without violating GM's self-imposed motorsport ban — the name has since been revived for C4, C6, C7, and now C8.
• 2.The 2027 Grand Sport runs a brand-new 6th-gen Chevy small block called the LS6. It displaces 6.7L (409 cubic inches), produces 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque, and is fully naturally aspirated with no forced induction.
• 3.The Grand Sport gets the widebody treatment with massive tires. It runs 275s up front and 345s out back, sharing the wide fenders of the Z06 and Stingray, and is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.
• 4.An optional electric front motor from the ZR1X adds AWD with 186 horsepower to the front axle. Chief engineer Tony Roma explained the Grand Sport's role is to reward faithful Corvette customers at the end of the lineup's development cycle.
• 5.Nolan drove a disguised yellow development mule alongside global vehicle performance manager Aaron Link, who holds the Z06 Nürburgring lap record; the car was still being fine-tuned with engineers monitoring dampers, the electronic limited-slip diff, and transmission calibration in real time.