Tested! Chevy's New Small-Block V-8 Packs a PunchMarc Urbano - Car and DriverThe 2027 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport joins the C8 family and introduces a new LS6 small-block V-8, and we just strapped our test gear to one for the first time.The new Grand Sport, wearing optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, hit 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and cleared the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds at 123 mph.For context, that splits the difference between the quickest LT2-equipped C8 Stingray (2.8 seconds) and Z06 (2.6 seconds) we've tested.Welcome to Car and Driver's Testing Hub, where we zoom in on the test numbers. We've been pushing vehicles to their limits since 1956 to provide objective data to bolster our subjective impressions (you can see how we test here).If the Grand Sport's return to the Corvette lineup wasn't exciting enough, it also marks the debut of GM's sixth-generation small-block V-8. And this power couple is our first opportunity to test the beastly 6.7-liter version of that engine at the test track. Naturally, that's big news, so we're highlighting the 2027 Chevy Corvette GS's acceleration times, with our $142,380 3LT-spec test car notably featuring the $10,995 carbon-fiber wheels and the Z52 Track Performance package ($20,695) that includes carbon-ceramic brakes, a more aggressive aero configuration, and ultra-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverFor the 2027 model year, both the Stingray and the Grand Sport share the same LS6 engine, with the naturally aspirated V-8 producing 535 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque. Those figures represent increases of 40 horses and 50 pound-feet versus the outgoing LT2 6.2-liter V-8. Once again, an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic feeds the rear wheels, with the Grand Sport alone inheriting a shorter 5.56:1 final-drive ratio from the racier 670-hp Corvette Z06. Like before, the GS also adopts wider bodywork from the most hardcore Vettes, and—unlike the Stingray—it can be equipped with the aforementioned Z52 Track pack.AdvertisementAdvertisementSo, what did all of this mean once we got the C8 Grand Sport to our test track? Well, the sprint to 60 mph took 2.7 seconds. Compared with a 2026 Stingray Z51 that we tested, the GS was two-tenths quicker to the mile-per-minute mark; it was also only 0.1 second behind a Z06 coupe with the track-spec Z07 package we tested. After a few more seconds of this new V-8 screaming, the Grand Sport completed the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds, with a trap speed of 123 mph. The quickest 495-hp Stingray needed 11.2 ticks at 122 mph, whereas the Z06 did the deed in 10.5 seconds at 131 mph.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverIt's not news that Corvettes can stop on a dime and corner like the "Quad God" Ilia Malinin. Still, we run our full battery of tests on every new vehicle, whether it's a humble Hyundai Venue or a new six-figure Grand Sport. The latter certainly benefited from its racetrack-ready rubber, which helped haul our 3688-pound test car to a stop from 70 mph in 144 feet and from 100 mph in 286 feet, in line with other C8s wearing Cup 2Rs. It also posted 1.18 g on our 300-foot skidpad, which is the best C8 cornering result we've measured, surpassing the Z06 (1.16 g), ZR1X (1.14 g), and ZR1 (1.13 g). For those of you who were wondering, a manual C7 Grand Sport with the Z07 package recorded a 123-foot stop from 70 mph and 1.18 g of max cornering grip in our testing.Since this is the first C8-generation Grand Sport, we don't have a perfect apple-to-apples comparison for the Corvette's new small-block V-8. However, as soon as we can get an LS6-equipped Stingray out to our test track, we'll be able to better quantify how much quicker the new 409-cubic-inch mill makes the most affordable Vette.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
+15 others
