Chevrolet brought the last piece of the C8 Corvette puzzle to the 2026 New York International Auto Show. The 2027 Grand Sport arrives with an entirely new naturally aspirated V8, a hybrid all-wheel-drive variant making 721 horsepower, and two concept cars that preview where Corvette goes after the eighth generation ends.
The displacement of the new LS6 engine is 6.7 liters, or 409 cubic inches. That number is not accidental. The original Chevrolet 409, immortalized by the Beach Boys in 1962, helped define American performance. Sixty-three years later, the number returns on a pushrod V8 that makes the most torque of any naturally aspirated production V8 engine ever built.
Key Takeaways
- New LS6 6.7L V8 produces 535 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque with a 13.0:1 compression ratio
- Grand Sport X hybrid pairs the LS6 with an electric front motor for 721 hp and standard AWD
- Confirmed as the final new C8 variant, completing the eighth-generation lineup
- Corvette CX concept previews a fully electric future with 2,000+ hp and four motors
- CX.R concept features a 15,000 RPM twin-turbo 2.0L V8 hybrid racing powertrain
- Grand Sport on sale summer 2026; Grand Sport X arrives fall 2026
- ZR1X Stars & Steel edition limited to 250 units; one sold for $2.6 million at Barrett-Jackson
The LS6: 409 Cubic Inches of Intent
The new LS6 is not a bored-out version of the outgoing 6.2-liter LT2. It shares the Gen 6 small-block architecture and 4.4-inch bore spacing, but the stroke grows from 92 mm to 100 mm while the 103.25 mm bore carries over. The result is 409 cubic inches of displacement feeding through a tunnel-ram intake design with high-velocity ports that are shorter and narrower than the LT2’s.
Output reaches 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque. The 13.0:1 compression ratio is the highest ever fitted to a Corvette. Forged pistons and forged connecting rods handle the loads. A 95 mm throttle body manages airflow. Redline sits at 6,600 rpm.
The engine pairs with the familiar 8-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the rear wheels. An available quad center-exit exhaust marks the first time a center exhaust configuration has been offered on a pushrod V8 in the C8 generation.
The LS6 will also become the standard engine across the 2027 Corvette Stingray lineup, replacing the 6.2-liter LT2. GM invested nearly $1 billion to prepare four US plants for small-block V8 production, a bet on pushrod engines at a moment when many manufacturers are walking away from them.
Grand Sport: Z06 Body, Pushrod Heart
The Grand Sport wraps the LS6 in the Z06’s widebody exterior with center stripes, fender hash marks, and Grand Sport-specific badges. Magnetic Ride Control comes standard alongside a Touring Suspension setup and Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tires.
Two performance packages sharpen the car for track use.
The Z52 Performance Package adds Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires and the Z06’s high-performance iron brakes. The Z52 Track Pack goes further with carbon-ceramic J57 brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, a carbon-fiber splitter, dive planes, underbody strakes, an upgraded exhaust, track-tuned chassis calibration, and a full carbon fiber aero kit including a rear wing.
The Grand Sport slots between the Stingray and Z06 in the lineup. It offers the widebody look and upgraded chassis at a lower price point, paired with the torque-rich pushrod V8 instead of the Z06’s 670-hp flat-plane crank engine. Chevrolet expects it to become the volume leader in the C8 range.
Grand Sport X: 721 Horsepower, All-Wheel Drive
The Grand Sport X replaces the outgoing E-Ray as Corvette’s hybrid all-wheel-drive offering. The rear axle gets the same LS6 V8 making 535 hp and 520 lb-ft. The front axle receives an electric motor borrowed from the ZR1X, adding 186 hp and 145 lb-ft. A compact 1.9-kWh lithium-ion battery feeds the front motor.
Combined output reaches 721 horsepower. The system can drive on electric power alone at speeds up to 50 mph for short distances.
For context, the E-Ray it replaces made 655 horsepower with the smaller 6.2-liter LT2 paired with the same electric front-drive concept. Car and Driver recorded a 2.5-second 0-60 time in the E-Ray. The Grand Sport X, with 66 additional horsepower, should improve on that figure. Official performance numbers have not been released.
Carbon-ceramic brakes and Magnetic Ride Control come standard on the Grand Sport X.
The Complete 2027 C8 Lineup
| Model | Engine | Power | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stingray | 6.7L LS6 V8 | 535 hp | RWD |
| Grand Sport | 6.7L LS6 V8 | 535 hp | RWD |
| Grand Sport X | 6.7L LS6 + e-motor | 721 hp | AWD |
| Z06 | 5.5L LT6 flat-plane V8 | 670 hp | RWD |
| ZR1 | 5.5L LT7 twin-turbo V8 | 1,064 hp | RWD |
| ZR1X | 5.5L LT7 TT + e-motor | 1,250 hp | AWD |
“This isn’t just the return of the Grand Sport model, it’s the final piece for the eighth generation of Corvette,” said Megan Dalley, Chevrolet Marketing Manager for Performance Vehicles.
Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder confirmed on The Gas podcast that the Grand Sport will “round out the eighth generation of Corvette for sure.”
Corvette CX: A 2,000-Horsepower Electric Vision
Alongside the production models, Chevrolet displayed the Corvette CX concept, which originally debuted at The Quail during Monterey Car Week in August 2025. The fully electric concept runs four motors making a combined 2,000-plus horsepower, one at each wheel, fed by a 90-kWh lithium-ion battery.
The CX’s party trick is a forward-hinged fighter-jet canopy that rises automatically when the driver walks up. Inside, Inferno Red ballistic textile seats are shaped for high-g cornering. GM lists the interior materials as silicone leather, milled aluminum, and forged carbon fiber.
Aerodynamic features include massive underbody diffusers, a deployable rear wing, and a fan-based ground-effect suction system similar to what McMurtry uses in the Spéirling, pulling the car toward the pavement.
The CX is a vision concept. It will not reach production. It will, however, be drivable in Gran Turismo 7.
CX.R: The 15,000 RPM Hybrid Racer
The CX.R takes a different approach to the same power target. A mid-mounted 2.0-liter DOHC twin-turbo V8 revs to 15,000 RPM on renewable e-fuel, generating up to 900 horsepower on its own. Three electric motors handle the remaining output: one for each front wheel plus a third integrated into the 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Total system output also exceeds 2,000 horsepower.
GM says both concepts will “inform Corvette design language for years to come.”
ZR1X Stars & Steel: America250 at $2.6 Million
Chevrolet also highlighted the ZR1X Stars & Steel America250 edition at the show. The package is limited to 250 total units across the entire Corvette lineup on 3LT/3LZ trims, available in Arctic White with Santorini Blue interior or Black with Adrenaline Red interior. American flag-inspired satin stripes, “250” flag graphics on doors and spoiler ends, and a numbered build-sequence plaque distinguish each car.
The Stars & Steel package costs $9,995 on top of the base model price. The ZR1X 3LZ Coupe starts at $218,395.
A one-of-one ZR1X Stars & Steel in hand-painted Dark Satin Steel finish sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale on January 24, 2026, for $2.6 million. Buyer Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Motorsports took home the car, with 100% of the hammer price going to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Pricing and Availability
Official pricing for the Grand Sport and Grand Sport X has not been announced. Industry sources estimate the Grand Sport will start under $90,000 and the Grand Sport X around $100,000. For reference, the outgoing 2025 Stingray 1LT starts at approximately $68,300 and the E-Ray at $112,150.
Pricing is expected to go live the week of April 20, 2026. Dealer allocations have already begun distribution. The Grand Sport goes on sale in summer 2026. The Grand Sport X follows in fall 2026.
Both vehicles are on display at the New York International Auto Show through April 12 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What engine does the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport have?
The Grand Sport uses the all-new LS6, a 6.7-liter (409 cubic inch) naturally aspirated pushrod V8 producing 535 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. It features a 13.0:1 compression ratio, the highest ever in a Corvette.
How much horsepower does the Corvette Grand Sport X make?
The Grand Sport X combines the 535-hp LS6 V8 with a 186-hp electric front motor for a total of 721 hp. It features standard all-wheel drive through the electric front axle.
Is the 2027 Grand Sport the last new C8 Corvette?
Yes. Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder confirmed the Grand Sport rounds out the eighth-generation lineup. The complete 2027 C8 range includes the Stingray, Grand Sport, Grand Sport X, Z06, ZR1, and ZR1X.
How much will the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport cost?
Chevrolet has not set a public MSRP. Industry estimates put the Grand Sport under $90,000 and the Grand Sport X near $100,000, with pricing expected the week of April 20, 2026.
When does the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport go on sale?
The rear-wheel-drive Grand Sport arrives summer 2026. The all-wheel-drive hybrid Grand Sport X follows in fall 2026. Dealer allocations are already being distributed.
What is the Corvette CX concept?
The CX is a fully electric vision concept with four motors producing over 2,000 hp, a fighter-jet canopy, and a fan-based ground-effect system. It previews future Corvette design direction but will not be produced. It will be drivable in Gran Turismo 7.
What is the difference between the CX and CX.R concepts?
The CX is fully electric with four motors. The CX.R is a hybrid racer with a 2.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that revs to 15,000 RPM plus three electric motors. Both produce over 2,000 combined horsepower.
How fast is the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport?
Chevrolet has not published 0-60 times. For context, Car and Driver clocked the E-Ray (655 hp) at 2.5 seconds. The Grand Sport X carries 66 more horsepower with the same hybrid AWD layout, so expect a quicker number.
What is the Stars & Steel America250 edition?
A limited-edition package celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, available across the Corvette lineup. Limited to 250 total units at $9,995 over base price. A one-of-one ZR1X version sold at Barrett-Jackson for $2.6 million benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Will the LS6 engine be available in other GM vehicles?
GM President Mark Reuss confirmed the next-generation small-block V8 program will power full-size trucks and SUVs, with additional applications to be announced later. GM invested nearly $1 billion to prepare four US plants for production.
Sources and Additional Reading
- Chevrolet Newsroom: Grand Sport Returns
- GM News: LS6 V8 Deep Dive
- Chevrolet: 2027 Corvette Grand Sport
Article Last Updated: April 12, 2026.
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Michael Kahn is the publisher of The Weekly Driver, serving as writer, photographer, and content creator. With a keen eye for storytelling and a passion for adventure, he specializes in uncovering the stories and experiences of automobile enthusiasts. Michael’s work is inspired by his love for off-the-beaten-path road trips, global exploration, and the pursuit of exceptional culinary experiences, all captured through the lens of a world traveler and automotive enthusiast.