The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Proves V8 Engines Are Here To Stay

General Motors outlined a plan five years ago to transition into an all-electric automaker by 2035, which included a zero-emissions version of its iconic Corvette. It’s not panning out.The U.S. auto industry has reassessed the market in recent years and rolled back many of its ambitious electric vehicle projects. General Motors still has a large portfolio of EVs, but the all-electric goal has become a “north star” rather than a firm date.The 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport exemplifies this change of direction better than any other model. Chevrolet has abandoned plans for the electric Corvette indefinitely because it doesn’t think the technology is ready to meet customer expectations, and the Corvette Grand Sport introduces an all-new V8 engine family that will power Corvettes and GM’s future trucks for years to come.The 6.7-liter motor marks just the sixth generation of GM’s signature small block V8 line, which dates back to 1955. That is also when the Corvette first adopted V8s, and it has been using them exclusively ever since.The Corvette Grand Sport X is powered by an all-wheel-drive hybrid drivetrain. ChevroletThe mid-engine Corvette Grand Sport is a bridge model between the entry-level $72,000 Corvette Stingray, which also gets the new V8 in 2027, and the $122,000 Corvette Z06 that is powered by an entirely different 5.5-liter V8 derived from the one used in Chevrolet’s endurance racing cars.The Corvette Grand Sport combines the Corvette Stingray’s powertrain with the Corvette Z06’s widebody styling and suspension, which are better suited for driving on race tracks thanks to the improved engine cooling and handling provided by the setup. Chevrolet has applied a similar Grand Sport formula to previous Corvette generations, and the mix of affordability and performance is always a hit with customers. Final pricing for the 2027 edition will be announced closer to the start of sales this summer, but it should fall roughly in the middle of the Corvette Stingray’s and Corvette Z06’s.The engine is rated at 535 horsepower and its power is delivered to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Computer-controlled shock absorbers are included to keep the body in check on twisty roads, and an optional package is available that adds a large rear wing and other aerodynamic body elements that are capable of generating 700 pounds of downforce to help keep the car stuck to the road at high speeds.While Chevrolet has decided against building an all-electric Corvette, it will be offering a Grand Sport X that’s half-electric. The all-wheel-drive hybrid version adds a 186-horsepower electric motor that powers the front wheels, and replaces the Corvette E-Ray hybrid in the lineup.“It’s a significant upgrade that customers are really going to love,” Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder told me.The Corvette Grand Sport is powered by a new 6.7-liter V8. ChevroletWhile it is primarily intended to improve the vehicle’s acceleration through the extra power and traction, the all-wheel-drive system also broadens the Corvette’s appeal as an all-season car in snowy regions.“The only thing that really limits an all-wheel-drive Corvette in the winter is the height of the car.” Mr. Holder said. “You get to where you can literally plow snow.”The introduction of a Grand Sport trim typically heralds the end of a Corvette generation, and the current iteration has already been on sale for eight years.“The Grand Sport is going to round out the eighth generation of the Corvette, for sure,” Mr. Holder said.He didn’t indicate when a ninth-generation car will be introduced or what to expect from it, but with General Motors investing $1.4 billion into the new V8’s production, it is likely to continue use of the engine, even if there is also an electric motor hitching a ride with it.

The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Proves V8 Engines Are Here To Stay

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