2027 Corvette Grand Sport Teased With New V8—Full Reveal This Week
Chevrolet confirms the next-generation small-block for the Grand Sport, with all the details coming March 26.
Chevrolet on Saturday gave race fans at the 12 Hours of Sebring their first glimpse of the C8-generation Corvette Grand Sport. Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, the Grand Sport sounds like a Greatest Hits model of this generation, packing the best bits of the C8 into one semi-affordable package. Oh yeah, and it might just feature a larger V8 engine.
To be fair, Chevy simply said the C8 Grand Sport, which debuted with the iconic Admiral Blue paint, white center stripe, and red hash marks, will feature "the next generation of GM V8 technology." Yet rumors persist the Corvette's base engine, currently used in the Stingray and—with an electrified assist—E-Ray, will grow to displace 6.7 liters. Yes, that's the return of the 409 for those of the cubic inch inclination.
Like the C6- and C7-generation models, the C8 Grand Sport will be a regular production car starting from 2027. It will borrow the widebody kit used by the E-Ray, Z06, and ZR1 and also swap in black wheels.
Speaking of the E-Ray, that model could be up for a heart transplant, too, and a name change. The rumored Grand Sport X would adopt the naming convention used for the ZR1X, which adds the electric front motor to the ZR1 for added oomph and traction. The talk is of 720 total horsepower, placing Chevy's "entry" electrified option above the existing Z06 and its flat-plane crank V8. That suggests a horsepower figure between 530 and 550 for this new V8 engine.
We won't have to wait long to find out. The Bow Tie brand has confirmed the 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport will debut this Thursday, March 26. Stay tuned.
AutoGuide's Take
It's about time. Like the Porsche 911's GTS trim, the Grand Sport designation has functioned as a 'Vette sweet spot for multiple generations, blending the handling hardware and looks of higher-performance models with the base engine for a relatively affordable package.
\If the whole lineup is netting a new, larger-displacement base motor, that's another win for the C8, too. Variations of GM's V8 engines have served America's sports car for almost two decades at this point; as the Mustang GT has inched closer to 500 horsepower and the latest Charger is now rocking 550 hp, the Corvette has to reassert dominance as America's last remaining sports car.
Plus, a 409 badge is going to be money for the New Balance-rocking, fold-out chair-sitting car show folks.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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