Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.There's a lot of numbers I could throw at you to kick this thing off. Power, torque, a higher top speed, 0-60, and even the number of electric motors are all headed in new directions within the 2027 Corvette lineup. Instead, what's much more important to know is that the newest, illest Corvette has a bigass engine, goes real damn fast, and sounds sweet doing it, all for less than a new 911. This series of very American facts is perhaps the only way to make a skeptic feel nationalism. That, or smashing the Turn 8 curb at Atlanta Motorsports Park.Newer, Bigger, BetterView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThe new LS6 V8 is very new. A 409-cubic-inch monster, the LS6 now puts out an eyebrow-raising 535 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque. It's more, it's better, it's loud. I've already got tinnitus (thanks, guitars), but when Chevy fired up the new Grand Sport in the hotel car park, it probably got a little worse. Power figures improve, though, rising by 40 horsepower and 50 pound-feet, figures and decibels you'll immediately feel from the driver's seat if you've ever been in a C8-generation 'Vette before.The new noise is thanks to a new active center-exit exhaust (that'll be about $2,000), which should quite easily set off some car alarms if parked close enough. Rest assured, a "quieter" cornet exit exhaust still delivers on the V8 bellow you ought to expect from a Corvette.More Than Ever, The Wait For The Grand Sport Pays OffChase BierenkovenView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleFor the first time ever, the Grand Sport lineup is expanding. Now, it includes a new Grand Sport X, subbing in for the Corvette E-Ray that so recently bit the dust. The idea's the same: Grand Sport, but with some juice. Piled onto the front axle of the Grand Sport X lives an electric motor, spinning the front wheels and making 186 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Combined with the aforementioned LS6, that means a supercar-like 721 horsepower.Chase BierenkovenThe Grand Sport ethos gets applied to this model, which means lots of Z06 bits to sharpen things up. Like the "lesser" Grand Sport, that means a wide body, Magnetic Ride Control dampers, Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4 tires, and a shorter final drive ratio. There's also Cup 2 tires offered as part of a Track Performance package for the Grand Sport, while Grand Sport X models can also be had with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber with the Performance Package.AdvertisementAdvertisementGrand Sport X models even get carbon brakes and a cool Stealth mode that allows for all-electric starts so you aren't traumatizing the neighbors in the mornings. Further drive modes allow drivers to take advantage of the new hybrid system. Endurance prioritizes longer track sessions, Qualifying puts all available resources into the perfect lap, and Push-to-Pass gives you an F1-like boost for overtaking.The Grand Sport Drives Like A Dream And Sounds Like ArmageddonSpeaking of trauma, that about sums up what it feels like to launch the Grand Sport X. Chevy allowed me time to drive both Grand Sports on the road and track in Atlanta, and both feel unbelievably vicious from a dig. The experience is violent, and it took me a beat to realize I'd subconsciously avoided going full throttle on my first launch in the Grand Sport X. I think I was bracing myself against what was surely a violent experience. The Grand Sport is similarly raucous, but not quite as violent owing to its slightly less powerful rear-drive configuration. Grand Sport X models also deliver an ear-splitting faux electric whir when you bury the throttle, which only distracts from the V8 behind you.View the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAt speed, the two feel very similar, and it's only in a corner when you'll begin to notice the all-wheel drive system on the Grand Sport X working to pull you through the corners. My fastest time set during our day at Atlanta Motorsports Park was in the Grand Sport X, I suspect in no small part thanks to the added push down the straights and the higher corner exit speeds.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the chassis department, though, the two are effectively Z06-lite Corvettes. That means some of the sharpest steering I've felt in a modern sports car, predictable, capable brakes, and a nearly magic ride and chassis. I've seldom driven a sports car at any price point that feels as composed as the Corvette does. The mag ride system is incredible, delivering plush commuting and track-ready focus the second you need it.Chase BierenkovenSimilarly, the 8-speed dual-clutch is one of the best on the market, rivaling even Porsche's famed DCT. Ask me tomorrow, and I might even tell you it's better. I was told the car's automatic modes are faster and smarter than I am (what machine isn't?), but I confess to having never tried them. That big "M" button on the shifter is the way to go, and shifts are sharp, immediate, and visceral even when the flawed sack of meat and water is the one pulling it all together.No matter which, the experience in the newest Grand Sport is still wholly dominated by its engine. I'm a sucker for a car that's more engine than anything else, and even though the Corvette is a very complete package, the item that makes the experience is the LS6. Immediate torque, a comparatively high 6,500 rpm redline, and that lusciously loud exhaust all make for something special and increasingly rare in today's world. I'm starting to see why you can't enter a major American city without seeing a handful of C8s.Grand Sport With The Track Performance Package: The Way To GoChase BierenkovenWhat those guys don't have (yet) is a Grand Sport, but in particular, I feel the need to call attention to the optional Track Package, which we were allowed to sample in its intended environment. The options package has a price tag that would make Porsche embarrassed, but if you're serious about tracking your Corvette, and you should be, this is a seriously enticing option, and one that somehow manages to make the super sports car even more competent on a race track.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor a whopping $20,695, which is enough to buy you a nice C6, by the way, you'll get carbon-ceramic brakes, more aggressive aerodynamics, and seriously grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires.I spent my first eight laps believing the Grand Sport X was about as fast as Corvettes got, thanks predominantly to its grippy all-wheel drive system and extra power. Then I dipped into the magical cheat code that is Cup rubber. While I ran my best time in the Grand Sport X as the day ended, I firmly believe the Cup tires make up for the nearly 300 horsepower separating the two in the right hands. Or even my own, if given a few more tries at it. The added grip, unbeatable rear-drive balance, and practically fade-free brakes make this the only way to experience the track in your Corvette.Final Thoughts: Saving The Best For LastView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleTypically, the Grand Sport arrives as a precursor to the end of the Corvette's current generation. I imagine the C8 will be no different. To put it lightly, the Grand Sport is an incredible bargain. For decades, the idea behind the Corvette has been that you don't have to spend supercar money to get supercar speed. Thanks to the new LS6, lots of wizardry from GM engineers, and some seriously competitive pricing, that has never been more true. While the Grand Sport X represents the best of electrification and V8 power combined into a laughably quick Corvette, you can send me home with the "lesser" Grand Sport and I'd be quite happy to never see a 911 again.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.