2027 Corvette Grand Sport: Return of an Icon with the New LS6 V8

On June 8, 2026, the assembly line at GM’s Bowling Green, Kentucky plant began producing the 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, one of the most celebrated nameplates in American performance history, returning after a nine-year absence. The announcement was not quiet. The Grand Sport name has appeared on some of the most significant Corvettes ever made, from the five hand-built racers that shocked Sebring in 1963 to the wide-body C7 version that closed out a generation in 2017. Its return for 2027 is not a trim package. It is a new powertrain, a new hybrid variant, a new chapter in the C8 story, and the debut of General Motors’ sixth-generation Small Block V8 engine.

At Starling Chevrolet in St. Cloud, we carry the full Chevrolet lineup and will receive 2027 Corvette Grand Sport allocation when units begin arriving from Bowling Green. This guide covers everything confirmed about the Grand Sport and Grand Sport X, specs, pricing, positioning in the C8 family, and what makes this the most significant Corvette update since the mid-engine revolution of 2020.

What’s New About the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport

The 2027 Grand Sport is not a styling exercise. The nameplate has historically been reserved for a specific kind of Corvette: one that takes the Stingray’s accessible foundation and elevates it with enhanced handling hardware, wider bodywork, and a more driver-focused character, positioned above the Stingray but below the track-focused Z06 in the hierarchy. For 2027, that formula is executed with the brand-new LS6 6.7L V8 as the foundation, the Z06’s wide-body exterior architecture, Magnetic Ride Control as standard equipment, Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 tires as standard, and an available Performance Pack with upgraded brakes, stiffer chassis tuning, and carbon fiber aero components.

Two configurations define the 2027 Grand Sport lineup: the rear-wheel-drive Grand Sport with the LS6 V8 alone, and the Grand Sport X, the hybrid AWD variant that pairs the LS6 with an electric front motor for 721 combined horsepower and replaces the outgoing E-Ray in the C8 hierarchy. Understanding both, their positions in the lineup, and their differences from each other and from the cars they replace is the foundation for evaluating what the 2027 Grand Sport means.

Production Starts June 8, 2026 in Bowling Green

Production of the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport began on June 8th, 2026, at the GM Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky, the exclusive Corvette production facility since 1981. GM Authority confirmed the start of regular production on that date, noting that nearly the entirety of the 2027 Corvette lineup is now rolling off the line: the Stingray, Grand Sport, Z06, ZR1, and ZR1X. The lone exception is the Grand Sport X, which will enter production later in 2026, Chevrolet has confirmed the hybrid variant will arrive before the end of the calendar year, with production expected in the third quarter. Chevrolet dealers began accepting orders for the 2027 Grand Sport on April 16th, 2026. The Grand Sport starts at $88,495 and the Grand Sport X at $112,195.

Two Models: Grand Sport and Grand Sport X

The standard Grand Sport is a rear-wheel-drive, naturally aspirated V8 Corvette with the Z06’s wide-body exterior, Magnetic Ride Control, and standard Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 tires. It positions between the Stingray and Z06 in capability and price, offering a wider track, more aggressive rubber, and sharper chassis tuning than the Stingray without the Z06’s high-revving flat-plane V8 and race-oriented character. The Grand Sport is available in both coupe and convertible configurations at launch. A Launch Edition is offered in the first model year, featuring a Santorini Blue interior with red contrast stitching, a Grand Sport overhead embossment in the headrests, and exclusive floor mat stitching.

The Grand Sport X is the hybrid all-wheel-drive variant, and it is genuinely remarkable. By combining the LS6 V8 with a front-axle electric motor, it produces 721 combined horsepower, surpassing not just the E-Ray it replaces (655 HP) but also the Z06 (670 HP), making the Grand Sport X the most powerful Corvette in the lineup outside of the ZR1 and ZR1X. It comes standard with carbon-ceramic brakes, Magnetic Ride Control, Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tires, and the Push-to-Pass and Stealth/Shuttle drive modes that give the hybrid system its own distinct character. The X designation identifies all Chevrolet eAWD performance models, the ZR1X was the first, and the Grand Sport X continues that naming convention.

The All-New 6.7L LS6 V8 Engine

The LS6 is the headline of the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport and the reason the car matters beyond the nameplate. It is a new engine, not a revised LT2, not a bored-and-stroked existing V8, but a new sixth-generation Small Block architecture that debuts in the 2027 Grand Sport and will flow through the rest of GM’s performance and truck lineup in the years ahead. The 6.7-liter displacement is not accidental, it is 409 cubic inches, a number that connects to the legendary Chevrolet 409 of 1962, immortalized by the Beach Boys and defined in American performance history. Sixty-three years later, the number returns in an engine designed from the ground up to lead GM’s next performance era.

The LS6’s engineering advances over the outgoing LT2 are measurable and significant. A 13.0:1 compression ratio versus the LT2’s 11.5:1. A larger 95-millimeter throttle body. A tunnel-ram intake manifold design. Forged pistons and forged connecting rods. Revised exhaust manifolds for improved flow. A new lubrication system. The cumulative result is an engine that produces more power, more torque, and more character than the engine it replaces, and does so while serving as the foundation for a naturally aspirated V8 that GM President Mark Reuss has cited as delivering approximately 10 percent better efficiency than the previous generation’s equivalent outputs.

535 Horsepower and 520 lb-ft, Naturally Aspirated

The LS6 produces 535 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque in naturally aspirated form, the configuration used in the 2027 Grand Sport. These are significant numbers in the context of what naturally aspirated engines can produce. The 520 lb-ft figure is notable: Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder has confirmed that the LS6 produces the most torque of any naturally aspirated production V8 engine ever built. For context, the outgoing LT2 produced 490 pound-feet. The LS6 adds 30 pound-feet of torque, more than displacement alone explains, through the combustion improvements, intake design, and compression ratio increase that define the new architecture. The 535 horsepower figure represents the highest output ever offered in a base naturally aspirated Corvette V8.

The Grand Sport with the LS6 carries Chevrolet’s standard 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as the exclusive gearbox. The wide-body Z06 exterior dimensions, Magnetic Ride Control, and the Michelin Pilot Sport tires create a vehicle that Corvette engineers describe as the most capable everyday Corvette ever built, meaning the Grand Sport is designed to do what no previous grand-touring Corvette has fully achieved: genuinely excellent everyday drivability paired with the kind of performance that makes European exotics at twice the price look over their shoulders.

First of GM’s New Gen 6 Small Block Family

The LS6 in the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport is the first production application of GM’s sixth-generation Small Block V8 family, the architecture that will power not just the Corvette lineup but the next generation of Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks, full-size SUVs, and performance applications across GM’s brands. The Gen 6 engine family represents GM’s most significant investment in its most important engine architecture in over a decade, with production facilities investment confirmed at $579 million at the Flint Engine Plant alone and over $854 million across the full Gen 6 production network.

The significance for Chevrolet buyers beyond Corvette: the same LS6 architecture and engineering advances that debut in the Grand Sport will eventually power the 2027 Silverado 1500, the Tahoe, the Suburban, and the broader GM lineup as the Gen 6 family rolls through the product range. The Corvette’s traditional role as the first production application of GM’s new engine technology, which dates to the original 1955 V8, continues with the LS6. The engineering team that built the Grand Sport’s engine is the same team whose work will show up in the next generation of America’s best-selling trucks.

Grand Sport X: 721 HP Hybrid AWD

The Grand Sport X is the most significant new performance Corvette since the C8’s mid-engine debut in 2020, a genuinely novel configuration that takes the Grand Sport’s LS6 V8 foundation and adds all-wheel drive through a front-axle electric motor to create a hybrid AWD Corvette that outpowers the Z06, reaches the Grand Sport’s first 0-60 run significantly below 2.5 seconds, and introduces driving modes that no previous Corvette offered. It is not the E-Ray with a new engine badge. It is a more capable vehicle by every performance measure, built around a hybrid system significantly more powerful than what the E-Ray carried.

The Grand Sport X is available in coupe and convertible configurations, like the standard Grand Sport. Its production at Bowling Green follows the standard Grand Sport, with Chevrolet targeting a third-quarter 2026 start and dealer arrivals before the end of the 2026 calendar year. At $112,195, it is priced above the Z06’s starting point, and justifies that positioning with combined output that exceeds the Z06 and all-weather capability that the rear-wheel-drive Z06 cannot match.

Front Electric Motor From the ZR1X

The Grand Sport X’s front-axle electric motor is borrowed directly from the ZR1X, Chevrolet’s 1,064-horsepower hypercar that introduced the X designation for eAWD Corvette models in 2026. In the ZR1X, that front motor operates alongside a twin-turbocharged V8 to create an entirely different performance envelope. In the Grand Sport X, the same motor unit is paired with the naturally aspirated LS6 to create a hybrid AWD system that produces 186 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque at the front axle, combining with the LS6’s 535 HP at the rear to yield 721 combined system horsepower. The compact 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery that supports the front motor enables brief EV-only operation at speeds up to 50 mph in Stealth and Shuttle modes, though the battery is sized for performance delivery rather than electric range.

The AWD system’s primary practical benefit is launch traction: at full throttle from a standstill, the front motor provides immediate torque to the front wheels while the LS6 and rear tires build to maximum grip, eliminating the traction limitation that constrains the E-Ray’s already-impressive 2.5-second 0-60 run. The Grand Sport X’s official 0-60 figure has not been published at the time of this writing, but every source has noted the expectation that it will better the E-Ray’s time. Push-to-Pass mode temporarily increases the front motor’s output for overtaking maneuvers. Stealth mode runs the Grand Sport X on the front electric motor alone at low speeds for noise-free parking and neighborhood exits.

The Replacement for the C8 E-Ray

The Corvette E-Ray was the first hybrid AWD Corvette, introduced for 2024 as a 655-horsepower combination of the LT2 V8 and a front-mounted electric motor. It was a significant vehicle in Corvette history, the first production AWD Corvette ever, but it was also a vehicle whose production story was troubled. Owner forum data and automotive media coverage documented that the E-Ray was produced in far smaller numbers than demanded across its 2024, 2025, and 2026 model years, the result of supply constraints and GM’s prioritization of other production needs. The E-Ray’s relative rarity made it a sought-after vehicle that many buyers could not actually obtain.

The Grand Sport X replaces the E-Ray entirely. It is more powerful, 721 HP versus 655 HP. It uses the more capable ZR1X front motor rather than the E-Ray’s original electric unit. It debuts with the LS6 rather than the outgoing LT2. And its production is intended to reach the volumes that the E-Ray consistently fell short of. For buyers who wanted an E-Ray and could not get one, the Grand Sport X is not a consolation, it is a meaningfully better vehicle at a similar price point, arriving with the expectation of more normalized production availability than its predecessor managed.

Exterior Design and Wide-Body Styling

Both the Grand Sport and Grand Sport X wear the Z06’s wide-body exterior architecture, a significant distinction from the Stingray, which uses narrower body panels and a smaller tire footprint. The Z06’s wide-body design accommodates wider front and rear tracks, larger wheel and tire packages, and the more aggressive stance that the Grand Sport’s chassis upgrades demand. The visual difference between a standard C8 Stingray and a Grand Sport is immediately apparent: the Grand Sport’s flared fenders, wider lower fascias, and broader rear haunches create a presence that the Stingray’s cleaner profile does not replicate.

The Grand Sport’s distinctive exterior touches include the return of the hash mark design, moved to the rear fenders for the first time in the Grand Sport’s history, departing from the traditional hood placement of previous generations. The Launch Edition’s Santorini Blue exterior is one of the new 2027 color options introduced with the Grand Sport, alongside Admiral Blue Metallic which has already been sighted in Bowling Green. Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 tires are standard on the Grand Sport, with the available Performance Pack upgrading to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires for maximum track performance. Both Grand Sport and Grand Sport X are immediately available in both coupe and convertible body styles.

Interior, Launch Edition, and Driver Tech

The Grand Sport’s interior builds on the C8’s established cockpit-style layout with Grand Sport-specific appointments that distinguish it from the Stingray below. The Launch Edition is the most visually distinctive configuration at introduction: a Santorini Blue interior with red contrast stitching throughout, a Grand Sport overhead view embossed into the headrests, and the same design motif carried into the floor mats. This is not simply a color package, it is the kind of model-launch distinction that typically appreciates in collector value for vehicles with significant nameplate histories.

Technology in the Grand Sport follows the current C8’s established digital architecture: the 8-inch instrument cluster display, the 12-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the available performance data recorder with lap timer and track mapping. Magnetic Ride Control, standard on both Grand Sport and Grand Sport X, is the real driver-focused technology differentiation, using magnetorheological fluid in the dampers to adjust suspension stiffness in milliseconds based on road conditions and selected drive mode. In the Grand Sport’s context, with the wider track and Z06-sourced body structure, the Magnetic Ride Control’s performance envelope is broader than in the Stingray, enabling the Grand Sport to feel genuinely settled on rough public roads while remaining sharp on a track surface.

2027 Corvette Grand Sport Pricing and Order Timeline

The 2027 Corvette Grand Sport starts at $88,495 before destination charge, a premium over the Stingray’s $70,000 entry that is justified by the LS6 engine upgrade, the Z06 wide-body exterior, the standard Magnetic Ride Control, and the Performance Pack availability that the Stingray does not offer. The Grand Sport X starts at $112,195, positioning it above the Z06 and below the ZR1 in the C8 lineup. Both prices represent the base vehicle before options, packages, and destination.

Key pricing and ordering context: Chevrolet dealers began accepting orders on April 16th, 2026. The 2027 order guide was published the week of April 13th, and MSRP pricing went live the week of April 20th, 2026. Dealer allocations have been distributed and are subject to the same demand pressures that typically affect desirable performance Corvette variants. The Launch Edition, with its exclusive Santorini Blue interior and first-year-only appointments, is expected to command premium transaction prices above sticker in a market where Corvette demand has consistently outpaced production availability.

Reserve Your 2027 Corvette Grand Sport at Starling Chevrolet GMC St. Cloud

At Starling Chevrolet in St. Cloud, we are positioned to receive 2027 Corvette Grand Sport allocation and can assist buyers who want to reserve their place in line for one of the most significant Corvettes in recent history. The Grand Sport is in production now at Bowling Green, units are rolling off the assembly line today and will begin arriving at dealers in the weeks ahead. The Grand Sport X follows later in 2026 when its production begins in the third quarter.

For Orlando metro area buyers who want to experience the LS6 V8 and what the Grand Sport represents, our dealership at 1001 E Highway 192 in St. Cloud is the local Chevrolet source. Whether you are a current Corvette owner considering the Grand Sport as a step up, a performance enthusiast tracking the C8’s final chapter before the expected C9 arrives, or a first-time Corvette buyer who has been waiting for the right model, the Grand Sport is a compelling reason to act. Contact our team to discuss allocation, pricing, and the order process.

Conclusion

The 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport marks the return of one of American performance’s most meaningful names with substance behind the nameplate: the debut of the Gen 6 LS6 6.7L V8 producing 535 HP and 520 lb-ft of naturally aspirated torque, the most torque of any naturally aspirated production V8 ever built, in a Z06 wide-body chassis with Magnetic Ride Control as standard. The Grand Sport X adds 186 HP from a ZR1X-sourced front electric motor for 721 combined horsepower, AWD, and the hybrid performance modes that make it the E-Ray’s more capable replacement and the most powerful Corvette below the ZR1 tier. Production began June 8, 2026. The nameplate is back, and it earned its return.

Visit Starling Chevrolet at 1001 E Highway 192 in St. Cloud to discuss your 2027 Corvette Grand Sport reservation.