2027 Corvette Grand Sport Packs A 535-HP V8 and More Grip Than The Z06

The Corvette Grand Sport name goes back to the 1960s, when Chevrolet built a lightweight racing version of the original Corvette. The badge returned in later generations, usually marking a car with extra chassis and aerodynamic hardware.

Now the name returns for 2027 on the C8, with a new 6.7-liter V8 and a clear focus on cornering.

Chevrolet gives the new Grand Sport the sixth-generation LS6 naturally aspirated V8. It produces 535 hp and 520 lb-ft (705 Nm), up 40 hp and 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) from the old 6.2-liter LT2. Car and Driver tested a $142,380 3LT with the $20,695 Z52 Track Performance package and $10,995 carbon-fiber wheels. The eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and rear-wheel drive help it reach 60 mph in 2.7 seconds with a one-foot rollout, or 2.9 seconds without one. It reaches 100 mph in 6.8 seconds and finishes the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds at 123 mph (198 km/h).

The skidpad tells another part of the story. With Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, the GS records 1.18 g of lateral grip. The Z06 records 1.16 g, the ZR1X 1.14 g, and the ZR1 1.13 g. The GS takes 144 feet to stop from 70 mph. A C7 Grand Sport Z07 from a decade ago also reached 1.18 g but stopped in 123 feet. Its lower weight helped, as the older car weighs more than 200 pounds less.

The 2027 Grand Sport therefore brings a familiar name back with a very different recipe. It keeps the naturally aspirated V8, adds serious track equipment, and puts a lot of attention on grip. The result could make the Grand Sport the most interesting middle ground in the current C8 range.