- The 2027 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport joins the C8 family and introduces a new LS6 small-block V-8, and we just strapped our test gear to one for the first time.
- The new Grand Sport, wearing optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, hit 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and cleared the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds at 123 mph.
- For context, that splits the difference between the quickest LT2-equipped C8 Stingray (2.8 seconds) and Z06 (2.6 seconds) we’ve tested.
Welcome to Car and Driver's Testing Hub, where we zoom in on the test numbers. We've been pushing vehicles to their limits since 1956 to provide objective data to bolster our subjective impressions (you can see how we test here).
If the Grand Sport’s return to the Corvette lineup wasn’t exciting enough, it also marks the debut of GM’s sixth-generation small-block V-8. And this power couple is our first opportunity to test the beastly 6.7-liter version of that engine at the test track. Naturally, that’s big news, so we’re highlighting the 2027 Chevy Corvette GS’s acceleration times, with our $142,380 3LT-spec test car notably featuring the $10,995 carbon-fiber wheels and the Z52 Track Performance package ($20,695) that includes carbon-ceramic brakes, a more aggressive aero configuration, and ultra-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires.
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For the 2027 model year, both the Stingray and the Grand Sport share the same LS6 engine, with the naturally aspirated V-8 producing 535 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque. Those figures represent increases of 40 horses and 50 pound-feet versus the outgoing LT2 6.2-liter V-8. Once again, an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic feeds the rear wheels, with the Grand Sport alone inheriting a shorter 5.56:1 final-drive ratio from the racier 670-hp Corvette Z06. Like before, the GS also adopts wider bodywork from the most hardcore Vettes, and—unlike the Stingray—it can be equipped with the aforementioned Z52 Track pack.
So, what did all of this mean once we got the C8 Grand Sport to our test track? Well, the sprint to 60 mph took 2.7 seconds. Compared with a 2026 Stingray Z51 that we tested, the GS was two-tenths quicker to the mile-per-minute mark; it was also only 0.1 second behind a Z06 coupe with the track-spec Z07 package we tested. After a few more seconds of this new V-8 screaming, the Grand Sport completed the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds, with a trap speed of 123 mph. The quickest 495-hp Stingray needed 11.2 ticks at 122 mph, whereas the Z06 did the deed in 10.5 seconds at 131 mph.
It’s not news that Corvettes can stop on a dime and corner like the “Quad God” Ilia Malinin. Still, we run our full battery of tests on every new vehicle, whether it’s a humble Hyundai Venue or a new six-figure Grand Sport. The latter certainly benefited from its racetrack-ready rubber, which helped haul our 3688-pound test car to a stop from 70 mph in 144 feet and from 100 mph in 286 feet, in line with other C8s wearing Cup 2Rs. It also posted 1.18 g on our 300-foot skidpad, which is the best C8 cornering result we’ve measured, surpassing the Z06 (1.16 g), ZR1X (1.14 g), and ZR1 (1.13 g). For those of you who were wondering, a manual C7 Grand Sport with the Z07 package recorded a 123-foot stop from 70 mph and 1.18 g of max cornering grip in our testing.
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Since this is the first C8-generation Grand Sport, we don’t have a perfect apple-to-apples comparison for the Corvette’s new small-block V-8. However, as soon as we can get an LS6-equipped Stingray out to our test track, we’ll be able to better quantify how much quicker the new 409-cubic-inch mill makes the most affordable Vette.
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Specifications
Specifications
2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Coupe
Vehicle Type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door targa
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $88,495/$142,380
Options: Z52 Track Performance package (includes carbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, center-exit exhaust), $20,695; 3LT trim (includes heated and ventilated seats with lumbar and bolster adjustments, leather-wrapped dash and door panels, 14-speaker Bose stereo, performance data recorder, head-up display), $11,750; carbon-fiber wheels, $10,995; engine-appearance package, $1895; level 1 carbon-fiber interior trim, $1795; white center stripe, $1295; carbon flash hash marks, $995; red brake calipers, $795; microfiber-wrapped steering wheel, $695; stealth interior trim package, $695; red engine cover, $595; red seatbelts, $595; competition sport seats, $595; red-leather seat stitching, $495
ENGINE
pushrod 16-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement: 409 in3, 6698 cm3
Power: 535 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque: 520 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/control arms
Brakes, F/R: 15.7-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc/15.4-in vented, cross-drilled carbon-ceramic disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R ZP
F: 275/30ZR-20 (97Y) TPC Spec 3124
R: 345/25ZR-21 (104Y) TPC Spec 4033
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 107.2 in
Length: 184.6 in
Width: 79.7 in
Height: 48.6 in
Passenger Volume: 51 ft3
Cargo Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 3688 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 2.7 sec
100 mph: 6.8 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.0 sec @ 123 mph
130 mph: 12.4 sec
150 mph: 19.4 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.2 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 1.9 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.3 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 180 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 144 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 286 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.18 g
Interior Sound
Idle: 54 dBA/7 sone
Full Throttle: 96 dBA
70-mph Cruising: 78 dBA/41 sone
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 17/15/23 mpg
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si.
Facts Only
The 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport features a 6.7-liter LS6 small-block V-8 engine.
The LS6 engine produces 535 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque.
The vehicle uses an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with a 5.56:1 final-drive ratio.
A tested 3LT-spec model cost $142,380, including a $20,695 Z52 Track Performance package and $10,995 carbon-fiber wheels.
The test vehicle weighed 3,688 pounds.
Acceleration measurements recorded 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds and a quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds at 123 mph.
Braking distance from 70 mph to 0 mph was 144 feet; from 100 mph to 0 mph was 286 feet.
The vehicle recorded 1.18 g of lateral acceleration on a 300-foot skidpad.
EPA fuel economy is rated at 17 combined, 15 city, and 23 highway mpg.
The 2027 Stingray model also utilizes the LS6 engine.
Executive Summary
The 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport introduces the sixth-generation LS6 small-block V-8, delivering 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque. This represents a performance increase over the previous LT2 engine. Positioned between the Stingray and the Z06, the Grand Sport utilizes a shorter final-drive ratio and wider bodywork to optimize acceleration and handling.
Equipped with the Z52 Track Performance package—which includes carbon-ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires—the Grand Sport demonstrates elite track capabilities. It achieves a 0-60 mph time of 2.7 seconds and a skidpad result of 1.18 g, the latter of which surpasses previously measured C8 variants including the Z06 and ZR1. While the Grand Sport's acceleration is slightly slower than the Z06, its cornering grip represents a new benchmark for the C8 family. Detailed comparisons between the LS6-powered Grand Sport and the LS6-powered Stingray remain pending.
Full Take
The narrative presents a high-performance vehicle through the lens of empirical validation. The strongest version of this account is that it provides objective, reproducible data (times, distances, G-forces) to justify the vehicle's placement within the Corvette hierarchy, effectively bridging the gap between the entry-level Stingray and the track-focused Z06.
This is a classic "spec-sheet" narrative. It relies on the assumption that incremental gains in measurable metrics—tenths of a second or hundredths of a G—translate directly into meaningful value or "excitement." The framing utilizes a "performance ladder" logic, where the vehicle's worth is defined by its proximity to the Z06. While the data is precise, the narrative is designed to validate a high price point ($142,380) by associating it with "beastly" power and "racetrack-ready" components.
Patterns detected: none
The underlying paradigm is the "quantification of prestige." By reducing the driving experience to a battery of tests, the narrative shifts the conversation from subjective enjoyment to competitive benchmarking. This echoes the historical obsession with "win on Sunday, sell on Monday," where technical superiority is the primary driver of consumer desire.
The second-order consequence is the continued normalization of extreme performance specifications for road-legal vehicles, where the "cost" is shifted from the driver's skill to the engineering of the tires and aero packages.
Bridge Questions:
1. Does the marginal increase in lateral grip (1.18g vs 1.16g) provide a perceptible difference in real-world driving, or is it a statistical victory?
2. How does the removal of the manual transmission option in this generation alter the long-term value and legacy of the Grand Sport brand?
Counterstrike Scan: A coordinated campaign to manipulate buyers would use "manufactured scarcity" or "fear of obsolescence" regarding the outgoing engine. This content does not match that pattern; it is a standard technical evaluation.