2027 Corvette Grand Sport X: The Legend Is Back in a Very Dangerous Form

There are many ways Chevrolet could have brought the Corvette Grand Sport name back for 2027. They could have simply put some Grand Sport badges on the C8, added some wider bodywork, upgraded the suspension, and called it a day. Honestly, nobody would have been too surprised if that was the formula.

But that would have been too easy.

Instead, Chevrolet took one of the most respected names in Corvette history and gave it something that none of the previous Grand Sports ever had — an electric motor driving the front wheels. The result is the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport X, and if you thought the Grand Sport was always supposed to be the Corvette sitting in that sweet spot between everyday Corvette and full-blown track monster, well, that's exactly what Chevrolet did again. 





This isn't just another Corvette with a bigger number on the horsepower chart. The Grand Sport X has a 535-horsepower naturally aspirated 6.7-liter V8 with an electric front-axle motor producing 186 horsepower for a combined all-wheel-drive setup horsepower rating of 721 ponies. An 8-speed dual-clutch transmission takes care of shifting, and the Vette has a launch-controlled 0-60 time of only 2.4 seconds. Chevrolet says it can cover the quarter-mile in 10.4 seconds at 131 mph.

That's serious business.

Like in the past, Grand Sport isn't trying to be the Corvette ZR1. It doesn't need to. The Grand Sport has always had a different job, and that job is taking everything that makes the standard Corvette great and adding the things necessary to make it much more capable when the road gets serious.

The Grand Sport Formula Has Always Been Different

If you have followed gmpowerhouses.com for a while, you may remember my earlier look at the 1996 Corvette Grand Sport: Throw Back to the '63 Corvette Grand Sport. Back then, Chevrolet was trying to give the fourth-generation Corvette something special before the C4 disappeared. The 1996 Grand Sport received the LT4 V8, which produced 330 horsepower, along with wider tires and other performance upgrades.

Chevrolet built only 1,000 of them, and the Admiral Blue paint, white center stripe, and red hash marks made sure nobody would mistake it for an ordinary Corvette.

That Grand Sport was special because Chevrolet didn't simply try to make it the most powerful Corvette. It made it different. And that's really the secret behind the Grand Sport name.

Go all the way back to 1963, and the story stays the same. Zora Arkus-Duntov wanted a lightweight Corvette that could go racing against some of the best sports cars in the world—not the fastest Corvette in the lineup, but the most capable. The original plan called for 125 cars to be built, but only five original 1963 Corvette Grand Sports were completed before the program was shut down.

Those five cars have since become some of the most valuable and recognizable Corvettes ever built.

I recently wrote about just how crazy the market has become for these original cars and how you could own A '63 Corvette Grand Sport Without Paying Millions by cloning one.

Obviously, Chevrolet isn't trying to duplicate a 1963 race car in 2027. But the philosophy is still there. Build a Corvette that isn't satisfied with simply being fast. Build one that is engineered to be better everywhere that matters.

That's what the Grand Sport has always been about.

The LS6 Is The Heart Of This Corvette

One of the things I really like about this new Corvette is that Chevrolet didn't abandon the naturally aspirated V8. In a world where manufacturers are adding turbos, electric motors, and increasingly complicated powertrains, there is still something special about a big naturally aspirated Corvette V8.

The LS6 is a 6.7-liter V8 with a 100mm stroke and a 13.0:1 compression ratio. That 13.0:1 compression ratio is the highest ever used in a Corvette V8, and the engine also uses a continuously variable oil pump designed to maintain the proper oil pressure across different operating conditions.

Then there is the transmission. The Grand Sport X gets an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, and that combination is important because the Grand Sport X isn't supposed to feel like a V8 with an electric motor attached to it. The engine, transmission, and electric front axle are all working together. The result is one powertrain that makes it feel like a true American muscle car, not a small, snobby, gas-saving hybrid.

The Electric Motor Isn't Here To Save Fuel

This is one of the most interesting things about the Grand Sport X. When most people hear "hybrid," they immediately think about fuel economy, emissions, and being responsible. That's not what Chevrolet is doing here.

The electric motor is being used as a performance weapon.

The front-mounted electric drive unit can deliver power directly to the front wheels, while the naturally aspirated V8 sends its power to the rear wheels. That means the Grand Sport X can use electric torque to help launch the car while the V8 continues doing what Corvette V8s have been doing for generations: Make Power And Lots Of It.

The system is built around a 1.9-kWh battery, but this electric motor isn't an attempt to turn the Grand Sport into a long-distance electric vehicle. Instead, the battery is there to provide short bursts of performance and capture regenerative energy.

That makes a lot of sense for a sports car. You don't need a massive battery if the goal isn't to drive 50 miles on electricity. You need a battery that can deliver power quickly, and that's exactly what the Grand Sport X is designed to do.

It's a hybrid system, but it's a very different kind of hybrid system. 

Chevrolet says the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport X can hit 60 mph in 2.4 seconds. That's faster than the original E-Ray's published 2.5-second 0-60 time, and it puts the Grand Sport X firmly into the kind of acceleration territory where Corvette starts making some very expensive European sports cars nervous.

The quarter-mile is just as impressive. Chevrolet lists a 10.4-second quarter-mile at 131 mph. Think about that for a second. We're talking about a Grand Sport here. Not the ultimate Corvette. Not the ZR1X. The Grand Sport.

That's where the new Vette becomes really interesting. The Grand Sport isn't supposed to be the most extreme Corvette. The ZR1 and ZR1X already occupy that territory. Instead, the Grand Sport X is showing how much performance Chevrolet can build into the middle of the Corvette lineup. And that's exactly what the Grand Sport has always done.

Corvette Technology Is Getting Smarter

The C8 Corvette already changed the game when Chevrolet moved the engine behind the driver. Now the Grand Sport X is taking another step.

The computer-controlled relationship between the rear-mounted V8 and front electric motor allows Chevrolet to use the electric system in situations where an ordinary rear-wheel-drive Corvette would be fighting for traction. Launching from a stop is the obvious example, but it goes beyond that.

The electric motor can provide torque to the front wheels while the rear tires are putting down V8 power. That gives the driver an additional layer of control and, more importantly, gives Chevrolet another tool for making the car faster around corners, not just in a straight line. 

The Grand Sport X gets performance strategies designed to manage the electric energy during serious driving. There is a Charge+ function designed to maintain the battery's state of charge for repeated performance use, along with specialized performance modes designed around qualifying-style performance and maximum power. And then there is Stealth Mode, which can allow the Corvette to operate on electric power alone at low speeds.

That Stealth feature is almost funny when you think about it.

A 721-horsepower Corvette can quietly sneak around town on electric power. Then you put your foot down and wake up a 6.7-liter V8. That's a pretty good definition of having your cake and eating it too.

And Don't Forget The Brakes And Suspension

You can't build a Corvette capable of 10.4-second quarter-mile times and high-speed corner cutting and then forget about stopping.

The 2027 Corvette Grand Sport X gets some serious brakes—carbon-ceramic as standard:

• Front: 15.7 × 1.5 in (398 × 38 mm)
• Rear: 15.4 × 1.3 in (390 × 34 mm)
• Calipers: Brembo monobloc, 4-piston front and 4-piston rear
• System: eBoost-assisted carbon-ceramic discs

Chevrolet confirms the X gets the J57 carbon-ceramic brake package as standard, unlike the regular Grand Sport.

That's a very substantial setup, especially considering the Grand Sport X is around 3,800 lb. The carbon-ceramics also help with heat management and repeated hard stops

The suspension is badass as well, coming with Corvette's Magnetic Ride Control adaptive dampers and a Touring suspension as standard. It uses the C8's independent SLA/double-wishbone suspension front and rear.

A few key points:

• Adaptive dampers: Magnetic Ride Control continuously adjusts damping electronically.
• Standard setup: Touring calibration, with relatively softer springs/damper tuning aimed at road comfort and long-distance drivability.
• Sport Performance option: A Z52 Sport Performance Package is available, adding stiffer springs and a more aggressive Magnetic Ride Control calibration, along with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires.
• Hardware: Independent SLA/double-wishbone suspension front and rear, with monotube shocks and Magnetic Ride Control.

A fast Corvette isn't impressive because it can accelerate. It's impressive when it can accelerate, brake, turn, and do it repeatedly without falling apart.

That's something I've always liked about Corvette engineering. GM has historically understood that adding horsepower isn't enough. You have to build the rest of the car to handle it.

This Is Where The Grand Sport Becomes A Real Problem For Other Sports Cars

For years, one of Corvette's biggest advantages has been its ability to give buyers serious performance without requiring them to spend exotic-car money.

I've written about this several times on gmpowerhouses.com. Back when I covered the C6 ZR1, I talked about how that Corvette could produce 638 horsepower, run to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and reach a 200-mph top speed while carrying a price tag that was dramatically lower than comparable European supercars.

That same philosophy is still alive, except Corvette has now gotten much faster. The 2027 Grand Sport X starts at $109,700, according to Chevrolet's current listing, before options and destination charges. For a 721-horsepower, all-wheel-drive, mid-engine sports car capable of a 2.4-second 0-60 time, that's a pretty remarkable number. And this is where Corvette continues to make other sports-car manufacturers uncomfortable.

You don't have to spend Ferrari money to get Ferrari-level acceleration. You don't have to spend Porsche money to get Porsche-level performance. And you certainly don't need to buy a European exotic just because you want a car that can dominate a road course. That's been part of the Corvette story for decades.

So, Like Always, I Think We Can All Admit, Chevrolet Has Done It Again!

I have written before about Corvettes that seemed impossible for their time.

The 2009 ZR1 was one of them.

The C7 ZR1 was another.

The C8's move to a mid-engine layout was another huge step.

And now Chevrolet has taken the Grand Sport name and done something that would have sounded completely crazy when I was writing about the 1996 version back in 2017.

They added an electric motor to the front of a naturally aspirated V8 Corvette.

And instead of using that technology to make the Corvette quieter and slower, they used it to make the car 

FASTER. MUCH FASTER!

This combination is one that is very difficult for other sports-car manufacturers to ignore.

• Not because it is the most powerful.
• Not because it is the most expensive.

• But because, just like the Grand Sports that came before it, it gives you a Corvette with the best all-around performance for the money.

And that's exactly what a Grand Sport is supposed to do.

Indianapolis 500 Corvette E-Ray Pace Car And The Rest Of The Corvettes That Served Indy

 

Sunday, May 26, 2024, we will once again see a Corvette running laps as a pace car for the Indianapolis 500. But this won't be just any Corvette—it is Corvette's first all-new 2024 Corvette ELZ E-Rayall-new 2024 Corvette ELZ E-Ray. 

This is Corvette's 21st time pacing the Indy 500 since 1978, more than any other car in history. If you add that up with all 35 appearances of Chevorlets that paced the event since 1948, Chevy is by far the leader for this honor.

How Does The E-Ray Corvette Stack Up To Its Syblines?

The Electric All-Wheel Drive (eAWD) E-Ray is the quickest production Corvette that has ever come off the assembly line at the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green, KY. 

Using a 6.2-liter powerhouse V8 running6.2-liter powerhouse V8 running in tandem with an electric motor that adds an additional 160 horsepower and 125 lb.-ft. of torque to the front wheels, this Corvette is good for 655 combined horsepower. 

What do these numbers mean while the Corvette is in motion? How about a 0-60 MPH time in just 2.5 seconds, and if you decide to keep the pedal to the metal, you'll cover the quarter-mile track in just 10.5 seconds. The E-Ray can also drive on its electric motor alone for up to 4 miles at 45 MPH when Stealth Mode is selected.  

Who's Going To Be Driving The E-Ray Pace Car?

Piloting the E-Ray at the Indy 500 is going to a famous former MLB outfielder, All-Star, Ken Griffey Jr.All-Star, Ken Griffey Jr. If you haven't heard of this guy, even if you don't watch sport, you must have been living under a rock for the 35 years. All you have to do is punch his name into a search engine, and you'll see the mountain of awards and accomplishments he has made—Golden Glove Awards, All-Star awards, hitting awards, and more. 

Here's A Run Down Of The Past Corvettes To Take The Indy Honor

1. May 26, 1978, the 62nd Annual Indianapolis 500 is the first time Corvette graces Indy fans with its presence. Driven by American race car driver Jim Rathmann.

2. May 25, 1986, the 70th Indianapolis 500 chose this 1986 Corvette because it was the first convertible Corvette put into production in ten years. Driven by General Chuck Yeager. He was one of the finest American fighter pilots, who also was the first person to break the sound barrier. 

 

3. May 28, 1995, the 79th running of the Indianapolis 500, brought to the stage one of the more colorful Corvette Pace Cars. This 1995 Corvette Pace Car version was raced equipped with a five-point safety harness, an onboard fire suppression system, a special "halo" roll-bar, and a special strobe light setup for more eye appeal. For this year the Corvette was driven by former Chevrolet Manager Jim Perkins.  

4. May 24, 1998, the 82nd running of the Indianapolis 500 Corvette Pace Car showed off some more colorful action. Driven by American race car driver and team owner Parnelli Jones, this Corvette was hard to miss with Radar Blue paint, eye-grabbing graphics, and bright blazing yellow seats and matching wheels.

5. May 25, 2003, the 86th Indianapolis 500 celebrates the 50th annerverary of Corvette production by seeing to it that it once again leads the pack at the famous race. Actor Jim Caviezel gets the honor of driving this most important Corvette with the big "50th" badge on top of the hood. 

6. May 30th, 2004, the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500 sees the first time that Corvette gets a back-to-back appearance. This is also the first time that Chevrolet and Corvette decided to make no replicas of the Indy Pace Car. It's Morgan Freeman, who takes the reigns this year in pacing the Indy Cars around the track. The Corvette's patriotic color scheme makes this pace car one of the more iconic ones.

   

7. May 29, 2005, the 89th Indianapolis 500 will see its first sixth-generation Corvette leading the Indy Car field. This was not just the first time the 6th-gen made it to Indy, but also the first time the general public was introduced to the car, other than renderings, pictures, and spy photos. General Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State was put in the Driver's seat for pace car duties. 

8. On May 28, 2006, the official pace car of the 90th Indianapolis 500 was the 2006 Corvette Z06. Back to a patriotic color scheme, the 505 horsepower sports car would be driven by the seven-time Tuor de France winner Lance Armstrong. 

9. May 27, 2007, the 91st Indianapolis 500 brings Corvette on board again for pace car duties. Team owner and actor Patrick Dempsey would take on pace car duties in this Atomic Orange LS2 400 horsepower machine.

 

10. May 25, 2008, the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 would see two pace cars for the first time. First, there was a 2008 Corvette Z06 engineered to run off of E85 Ethanol fuel. And then there was another pace car dressed in a black and silver color scheme to celebrate the anniversary of the first Corvette Indy 500 car that debuted 30 years earlier. These pace cars would be driven by celebrity race car driver Emerson Fittipaldi.

11. After a little break from the action, Corvette returns to Indy. May 27, 2012, the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 saw its first 6th-generation ZR1. This car took Americans by storm with its supercar-like performance. Famous Emmy Award-winning television cook and personality received the honor of driving this LS9 powerhouse around the track—too bad he wasn't able to reach its top speed of 205 MPH at pace mode.

12. May 26, 2013, the 97th running of the Indy 500 brought onboard the all-new seventh-generation Corvette Stingray. San Francisco 49ers head coach, Jim Harbaugh was asked to take on the pace car duties for the year, he happily obliged. 

 

13. May 24, 2015, the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 would bring a superstar race car driver from NASCAR on board to pilot the 2015 Corvette Z06 Pace Car. Jeff Gordon won his first NASCAR race in Indianapolis before going on to become a legend in the sport. Although he won't be going as fast as he's used to on the track, this supercharged 550 horsepower sports car is certainly capable of high speeds. 

14. May 28, 2017, was the first year where the Indy 500 Corvette Pace Car would not change much in the way of a color scheme from the year before, but the Vette was different. This year for the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500, Corvette debuted its new 2017 Corvette Grand Sport. Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan seat behind the wheel and paced the Indy Car field around the famous track. 

15. May 27, 2018, the 102nd Indianapolis 500 pace car would be another ZR1, but this 2019 Corvette ZR1 would boast 755 horsepower, get a 0-60 time of 2.85 seconds, and reach a top speed of 212 MPH. This powerful supercharged Corvette would be driven by Victor Oladipo, an Indiana University and Indiana Pacers basketball player.

  

16. May 26, 2019, the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 would see another 2019 version of the Corvette as a Pace Car. Following the previous year's '19 ZR1 pace car, the Corvette Grand Sport would take center stage for pace car duties. Getting to have some non-competitive fun on the track would be Dale Earnhardt Jr. pacing the Indy Car field.

 

17. On to the unveiling of the mid-engine Corvette. It was a long-time conversion in the makings, and that made it an obvious choice to become the official Pace Car for the 2020 Indianapolis 500. GM President Mark Reuss was honored to be the driver who got to pace the track for this Indy 500.

 

18. May 30, 2021, the 105th Inianaplos 500 adopts another mid-engine Corvette for pace car duties. Its white exterior color with yellow accents and black rims, makes the Corvette stand out. Chosen to take this beautiful ride around the track is the beautiful and most successful open-wheel racer in history, Danica Patrick. 

19. May 29, 2022, this 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 would bring you a masterpiece 2023 Corvette Z06. This 70th-anniversary Vette was complemented with a naturally-aspirated flat-crank 5.5-liter V8. This sports car was a beast all of its own. Chosen to pilot this Corvette was former Indy Car driver and three-time podium-finisher Sarah Fisher. 

20. May 28, 2023, Corvette paced the Indianapolis 500 with their first-ever convertible hard-top Z06first-ever convertible hard-top Z06. This badass-looking ride is something anyone can fall in love with. So who gets to drive this fine sports car on the big day? Tyrese Haliburton, an Indian Paces basketball point guard.