The Chevrolet Corvette C8 has never stood still for long, but what’s starting to come out of GM dealer meetings feels like a real shift in how this lineup is about to evolve. For the 2027 model year, multiple reports and insider leaks are pointing to the return of a familiar name, along with a major change to one of the most talked-about versions of the current car.At the center of it all is a potential replacement for the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. Introduced as the first electrified Corvette, the E-Ray brought all-wheel drive and instant torque to the platform, but it may not be sticking around in its current form. Instead, GM is rumored to be repositioning that hybrid performance into something that carries more weight within Corvette history.That’s where Grand Sport comes back into the picture. And if these reports are accurate, it’s not just coming back as a familiar trim level. It’s coming back with more power, a new identity, and a much bigger role in the lineup than anyone expected. GM Might Replace The E-Ray With A Grand Sport X ChevroletThe biggest takeaway from these leaks is that the E-Ray name may be on its way out. In its place, GM is reportedly preparing to introduce a Grand Sport X, a hybrid performance model that would effectively take over the E-Ray’s position in the lineup. “E-Ray” clearly highlighted the car's electrified side, but it never fully connected with Corvette’s legacy naming structure. Grand Sport, on the other hand, carries decades of weight. It’s a name tied to lightweight performance, track focus, and some of the most respected variants in Corvette history.Adding the “X” changes the meaning again. Just like the Corvette ZR1X, the badge signals electrification, but it does it in a way that keeps performance front and center. It doesn’t feel like a science project. It feels like the next step.If this move happens, it tells you exactly where GM’s head is at. Electrification isn’t going away, but it’s being reframed. Less about efficiency, more about speed, traction, and outright performance. The New LS6 Hybrid Setup Could Push Past 700 HP According to multiple reports, the Grand Sport X would pair a new 6.7-liter LS6 V8 with a front-mounted electric motor, creating a hybrid setup that pushes output to around 720 horsepower. That’s a good jump over the current E-Ray, which combines a 6.2-liter LT2 V8 with an electric front axle for a total of 655 horsepower. The new setup doesn’t just add power, but also refines how that power is delivered, especially with instant torque from the front motor and a more aggressive V8 doing the heavy lifting in the rear.Based on the numbers being discussed, the electric motor could contribute somewhere between 160 and 186 horsepower. That would put the V8 itself in the range of roughly 530 to 560 horsepower. Right in line with what you’d expect from a next-generation small-block designed to carry the mid-tier of the Corvette lineup. This Changes Where Grand Sport Sits In The Lineup Via: ChevroletIf these rumors hold, the Grand Sport is no longer just the balanced middle ground between the Stingray and Z06. It becomes something much more central to the Corvette lineup. There will likely still be a standard Grand Sport, positioned as a more accessible performance option with upgraded handling and aero. But the Grand Sport X changes the conversation entirely. With around 720 horsepower, it would leap past the current Corvette Z06, which produces 670 horsepower from its naturally aspirated flat-plane crank V8.That creates an interesting situation. A traditionally mid-tier model potentially outperforming a higher-tier car. It also raises questions about what comes next. If the ZR1X represents the extreme end of hybrid performance, and the Grand Sport X fills the middle, there may be room for even more electrified variants to slot in between.More than anything, this shows us where Corvette is heading. Hybrid power isn’t being treated as an alternative anymore; it’s becoming the foundation for the next phase of performance. And if GM is smart about how it uses names like Grand Sport to carry that transition, it’s going to feel a lot more natural than people might expect.Sources: Corvette Blogger, Motor1