When the latest generation of Chevrolet Corvette arrived, it was the first new mid-engine sports car from GM since the Pontiac Fiero. More importantly, the mid-engine Corvette arrived in 2020 with the successor to the LT1 generation V8 engine, the LT2. The naturally aspirated LT2 debuted with 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque and dry sump lubrication, and it's a bit of a beast for a base model engine.But soon, we'll be saying it was a bit of a beast, because the LT2 is being retired as of the 2027 model year. With the reveal of the new Corvette Grand Sport, Chevrolet has announced that the LS6 6.7-liter V8 will replace the LT2 entirely. According to Chevrolet, the LS6 "now becomes Corvette’s primary engine – powering the 2027 Stingray as well." Enter The Next Generation 6.7-liter LS6 V8 Chevrolet Interestingly, the new engine for the Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X isn't an LT designation, it's an LS. Traditionally, the LT has been the more technologically advanced of GM's small-block V8s while the LS is the more versatile and reliable option – hence the popularity of swapping smaller engines for an LS V8 in the tuning community. The LS6 V8 will drop in the base model Corvettes with 535 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque, with GM also promising increases in power and torque across the rev band compared to its predecessor.And there's still more to come."There is no replacement for displacement! Our next generation LS6 engine pushes 409 cubic inches of jackhammer fury through the tailpipes. Combining large displacement, modern technology, and proven Small Block V8 heritage will deliver a bold new chapter in performance."– Mike Kociba, assistant chief engineer, Next Generation V8Clearly, there is a replacement for displacement because the hybrid Grand Sport X, the all-wheel-drive model, makes 721 hp with the L6 V8 when "combined with the 186 horsepower from the eAWD electric drive unit." In other words, the replacement for displacement here is an electric motor. Still, when it comes to the sweet spot in the Corvette range, the ones that will be bought by enthusiasts and driven regularly and hard, an LS engine looks like the correct move forward whether hybrid or not. A Future In Trucks And SUVs Too More power is always better in a Corvette, and the LS line of V8s are (mostly) legendary for reliability and being able to take a beating. To that end, the latest LS V8 gets a new lubrication system, forged pistons and rods, and revised exhaust manifolds with the aim of improving durability in "extended high-load, high-temperature environments." We're going to translate "high-load, high-temperature environments" to mean on the track or extended runs out in the back roads.But Chevrolet isn't developing this generation of small-block V8 just for a few Corvettes. No, the real money spinners justifying its existing will be GM's full-size trucks, and GM's $579 million significant investment in a new V8 was always touted to benefit models like the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado, at least in 1500 form.Chevrolet By extension, we also expect the new 6.7-liter, or a related new motor, to replace the old 6.2 in the Chevy Suburban/Tahoe twins, the GMC Yukon, and the Cadillac Escalade. Power outputs may vary, application depending, but expect this motor - or variations thereof - to become ubiquitous in the GM lineup. Where Does This Leave The Corvette Z06? But the unanswered question is what will happen to the Corvette Z06? Those who know their Grand Sport 'Vettes will know they typically combine the chassis of the Z06 with the powertrain of the Stingray, but they generally don't tread on the Z06's toes. This time, things are different. Extrapolating on the confirmation that this motor will find its way into the Stingray, we can assume that it will either work its way into the Corvette E-Ray, too, or the E-Ray will be killed off with the Grand Sport X effectively taking its place. The latter is most likely, and has been hinted at to us by Chevrolet insiders.Regardless, that means a Grand Sport will now have an extra 51 hp over the Z06. That's the definition of stepping on toes right there.Chevrolet It's extremely unlikely Chevrolet will replace the Z06's high-revving flat-plane 5.5-liter V8 with this more traditional small-block, but it does leave us questioning whether the Z06 will get more power soon, or whether this will be the first time in recent memory that the Z06 doesn't top the Grand Sport range for power.Of course, the Z06 is an entirely different beast, focused on track driving with an emphasis on reduced weight, improved handling, and a nimbleness aided by the 5.5-liter V8's visceral free-revving nature. Power is not the be-all and end-all here. Could Chevrolet finally be adopting a more Porsche-like stance by not giving its track-focused models supreme power over the 'ordinary' models? Time will tell.Chevrolet