2027 Corvette Grand Sport X Is a Big E-Ray UpgradeChevroletReplacing the E-Ray in the Corvette lineup, the all-wheel-driven Grand Sport X sits alongside the new Grand Sport, but drives and behaves quite differently. Its party piece remains the same as the E-Ray's, using an electric front motor to power its front wheels. Only this time, the electric motor, battery, and control system around it are all pulled from the bonkers ZR1X.Like the rear-driven Grand Sport and the 2027 Corvette Stingray, the Grand Sport X has been upgraded to the new LS6 6.7-liter Small Block V-8, this now making 535 hp and 520 lb-ft in its own right. This works in conjunction with a new electric motor now capable of supplying up to 186 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels, improvements of 26 hp and 20 lb-ft over the E-Ray. Peak system output rises to a nausea-inducing 721 horsepower, up 66 hp on the E-Ray.I can attest to the nausea, courtesy of riding right seat as ex-IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand drove hot laps in the Grand Sport X at Atlanta Motorsports Park, a stomach-flipping experience. Chevy doesn't have acceleration numbers to share yet, but you can bet it'll improve everywhere.Zac PalmerTurning the E-Ray into the Grand Sport X involved upping its handling cred, too. While the hybrid Vette had the same gorgeous widebody as the Z06, its driving character was always much more GT-like than other C8 variants. Chevy changed this with the Grand Sport X by tweaking its chassis tuning to hew closer to the regular Grand Sport's.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe only real performance upgrade you can spec on the X is a performance tire package that swaps out all-seasons for Pilot Sport 4S summer rubber. Carbon ceramic brakes come standard, but you can't option the regular Grand Sport's aero package, track suspension tuning, or sticky Cup 2R tires. When queried on the lack of said tire option, Corvette chief engineer Tony Roma said that if demand turns out to be there, Chevy might oblige one day.Zac PalmerI drove the Grand Sport X back-to-back with the regular Grand Sport, but not having equal rubber to attack Atlanta Motorsports Park in both versions resulted in what I'd classify as some strange results. For one, my lap times were consistently around one to two seconds slower in the Grand Sport X than the Grand Sport, this despite the 186-horsepower gulf between the cars. And even though the X has the benefit of an electric motor pulling the front out of corners, it felt significantly jumpier and was more eager to get sideways on corner exit than the regular Grand Sport. I suspect a proper set of track tires would quell both those problems, but that's the out-of-the-box reality.What was most fascinating of all is how the electric motor's effect varied, sometimes being obvious, at other times almost unnoticeable. The Grand Sport X plays a little sound over the speakers every time the front motor is supplying power, and while the improved acceleration is a dead giveaway, the effect the extra urge has on the steering is, too, tugging and muddying sensation from the front end. This is something I didn't notice when driving the ZR1X on the street.Zac PalmerBut while I preferred the regular Grand Sport's more natural steering, activating the push-to-pass via the X's cruise control switch was the perfect, laugh-inducing method to forget steering complaints. This mode gives the full electric motor power for as long as the battery has energy, and the difference in lap time is immediate—to the point that my lap times using push-to-pass were quicker than those without.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's a little counterintuitive, but the regular Grand Sport is the purest, focused version of the two when it comes to track duty. Meanwhile, the Grand Sport X is the option that shines brightest on the street. That's in large part thanks to the level of acceleration it's able to provide, ready at a moment's notice. On the track, the 6.7-liter is always rocking with its revs up, but the Grand Sport X's electric motor does a lovely fill job on initial takeoff, making every dip into the throttle feel effortless.The Grand Sport X inherently has all sorts of benefits to daily driving duties, some even improved over the E-Ray. Electric-only driving in "Stealth" mode now has a maximum speed of 50 mph, up from 45 mph thanks to the more powerful electric motor. Assuming the battery is mostly charged, it'll travel under electric power for a few miles, which should be plenty to sneak out of your neighborhood before firing up the obnoxiously loud V-8.Being able to use regenerative braking in addition to the massively capable carbon ceramics will make those brakes last an extremely long time. Chief engineer Tony Roma said the rotors themselves are practically impossible to kill, and thankfully, the brake pedal has no weirdness from it being a hybrid. Every Corvette has brake-by-wire, though, so the tuning is dialed in.ChevroletOne of the best parts of the E-Ray transitioning to the Grand Sport X name might be the design inside and out. The Grand Sport hash marks—now on the rear fenders due to the mid-engine placement – are iconic, and combined with Admiral Blue Metallic, this is a Corvette design that will stand the test of time. You can go even harder with the Launch Edition's Santorini Blue and red-accented interior (seen above), but that's a spec for the bold.AdvertisementAdvertisementThanks to the Grand Sport X being a fairly loaded C8 to begin with, the starting price of $112,195 for the Coupe and $119,195 for the Convertible looks a little steep. The significant improvements make it a real upgrade over the E-Ray, and if you were worried about the hybrid Vette being on the softer side, you can flush that uncertainty aside. Yes, it should absolutely offer the standard Grand Sport's full track attack package. But at the same time, anyone that serious about hitting the track would be better served by a Z06 or fully-optioned non-X Grand Sport.Zac PalmerYou Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State
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