Driven: Corvette Grand Sport Is the OneZac PalmerChevrolet has consistently raised the bar with every C8 Corvette variant. It's such a phenomenal lineup that it hardly feels like we're missing out by the Grand Sport only launching eight years in. But the last C8 models have arrived, this time as a pairing:the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X, the latter (read the full review on the X here) effectively replacing the E-Ray and featuring the same electrically powered front axle.Goals for the new Grand Sport echo the lofty expectations set by the C7. The development team set out to split the difference between the Stingray and Z06 on both price and performance. The Grand Sport starts at $88,495, a significant discount over the Z06's $123,995 base price.Nobody is going to accuse the Grand Sport of lacking presenceZac PalmerReaching the base Stingray at the same time, a sledgehammer of a new engine gives the Grand Sport genuine credentials as a Z06 understudy; it gets GM's completely redesigned LS6 small-block V-8, now with a mighty 6.7 liters of displacement and rocking a sky-high 13.0:1 compression ratio, new cooling system, new lubrication system, new exhaust, and new high-velocity intake system. There's almost nothing carried over aside from the small-block's signature 4.4-inch bore spacing.Mike Kociba, assistant chief engineer of the small-block team, revealed that less than 30 part numbers (mostly fasteners) are shared between the 6.2 and the 6.7. And Kociba also made it abundantly clear that GM intentionally chose "409" stampings for the block instead of "6.7," breaking from more recent history.Mighty new V-8 looks the partChevroletThis monstrously large engine comes with equally monstrous output and sound. Chevy claims 535 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque, both peaks arriving lower in the rev range than they did in the 6.2. The bigger V-8's redline is still set at 6600 rpm, making it the low-down, torquey foil to the rev-happy Z06. Two new exhaust systems are available, the standard being a corner exit that retains the look of the LT2-powered Corvettes. The optional system (and the one you want) has a center-exit design that deletes an X-pipe, giving it a higher timbre and greater overall ear-shredding capabilities. It doesn't add any power, and you can select between multiple modes to either heavily muffle or fully unleash this pushrod V-8's thunder.From the moment I got the Grand Sport's throttle all the way to the floor exiting Turn 1 at Atlanta Motorsports Park for the first time, the extra torque was noticeable everywhere. Proving the adage that there's no replacement for displacement, the new V-8 is a clear step beyond what the 6.2 offered in terms of accelerative force at virtually any speed. The numbers tell the incremental-improvement story, too, with Chevy claiming the Grand Sport puts down a 2.8-second 0-to-60 time, or one-tenth faster than the Stingray with the Z51 pack before it.The color-split blue/ black interior looks awesomeZac PalmerExtra power is great and all, but the most important part of a Grand Sport is the chassis. And arguably, the C8 Grand Sport's handling shines even brighter than its engine. Before I shower too much praise, though, note that the new car's abilities will vary depending on how you spec it. The base car has a Touring Magnetic Ride Control suspension and all-season tires. It even has brake pads rated for street duty only. Step up to the Z52 Sport Performance package, and Chevy ups the ante with a stiffer suspension tune, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, and the base brake package from the Z06. The car that I spent almost all of my time in, however, was a Grand Sport with the Z52 Track Performance package. This is the most extreme version you can get, applying track-focused chassis tuning, carbon-ceramic brakes, Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, and a carbon-fiber aero package.To say the Z52 Track pack car felt locked in on a racetrack would be an understatement. The balance between power, tire, and chassis skews more toward total dynamic control than any other C8 variant. It has the edgy sharpness that the Z06's suspension and steering bring, only paired with an extremely flexible and forgiving powertrain. The near-slick Cup 2R tires were doing a lot of heavy lifting here, supplying copious grip and erasing mistakes before they end up costing time.Gotta have the stripesZac PalmerAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter continuing to prod at the Grand Sport's limits and finding them obviously higher than my own, I couldn't help but start cackling in the driver's seat. This car is an absolute missile. It was happy to brake from 120-plus with zero fuss, carry more speed than seemed possible toward an apex, and stayed disciplined when I got back early onto the throttle and let the brilliant PTM traction control sort everything out. Not that this last-mentioned system has to do a whole lot on a dry race circuit with 345-mm-wide chonkers on the rear end.Chevy also let me drive a car with the Z52 Sport Performance package for a short road loop to see what a less track-focused Grand Sport felt like. The answer: a total sweetheart. GM's Magnetic Ride Control gives even extreme cars like the ZR1 acceptable compliance on the road, and it works the same magic in the Grand Sport. This little stint did surface my first couple of complaints, though. For one, the steering is entirely too heavy and artificial in any setting outside of Tour. I didn't mind the heft on the track, but it was simply too much for the road. And secondly, the exhaust that was so perfect with a helmet on ripping around the track can actually become too loud on the road. This problem only exists in Track mode, though, as the slightly subdued Sport exhaust setting is total perfection.Center-exit exhaust brings the full furyZac PalmerYou need to option the regular Grand Sport up to $109,190 to get the all-important Z52 Track pack, bringing the price close to the 721-horse Grand Sport X that starts at $112,195. The hybrid, AWD goodies are tempting, though the X's chassis, aero, and tires aren't as extreme out of the box as the Grand Sport can be. Ultimately, the real comparison here should be Grand Sport to Z06. For an enormous discount, you get a car with handling comparable to a Z06 with the Z07 pack. And thanks to the LS6 being a rock star on its own, the buying decision could come down to whether you prefer classic American pushrod V-8 or exotic European supercar noises. It's actually impossible to go wrong.ChevroletYou Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State