We Test Chevy’s New Small-Block V

- 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. For Sale Near You See all results for new 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray / Grand Sport for sale near 55455 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. For Sale Near You See all results for new 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray / Grand Sport for sale near 55455 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. ➡️ Skip the lot. 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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.