It’s been an open secret since an early prototype was spotted during the run-up to last weekend’s race at Sebring. Now, Chevrolet is confirming the Corvette Grand Sport is making its return after a seven-year absence.
The bowtie brand has an even bigger surprise in store for ‘Vette fans: a first-ever Corvette GS hybrid, the Grand Sport X, which adds another 186 horsepower to the package, while adding the benefits of all-wheel-drive. Even the “base” Grand Sport promises to be a beast thanks to the next-gen LS6 V8 mounted amidship making 535 hp.
Adding the Grand Sport “gives us an opportunity to hit the accelerator on (Corvette) sales,” Chevy boss Scott Bell said during an online backgrounder, even though “We’re having a hard time building enough (already) to meet demand.”
What’s New
The Grand Sport badge first appeared back in 1962 as a special-edition package for the second-generation, or C2, Corvette. Since then, it’s only reappeared in limited runs with the C4, C6 and C7 ‘Vette’s, most recently ending its brief run with the seventh-generation sports car in 2019.
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Chevy routinely rolls out various versions of the Corvette, and currently offers versions including the entry Stingray, Z06 and ZR1. It signaled a new Grand Sport was in the works last weekend, the new model joining the four prior generations for a parade lap ahead of the 12 Hours of Sebring.
This marks the first mid-engine Grand Sport which serves as a step up from the base Stingray. It also takes things to the next level of performance with its next-generation LS6 – which produces more torque than any other naturally aspirated V8, Chevy claims - and the addition of a hybrid upgrade.
Powertrain
“Grand Sport has always been the Corvette for drivers who want the spirit of a race car in a package they can enjoy every day,” said Bell, noting there will be two powertrain options for the new GS:
- The Corvette Grand Sport will feature the newly updated LS6 6.7-liter V8 delivering 535 hp and 520 pound-feet of torque through an 8-speed double-clutch transmission to the rear wheels. By comparison, the Stingray’s LT2 V8 maxes out at 495 hp;
- The Grand Sport X becomes the third hybrid in the Corvette family, following the original E-Ray and the 1,250 hp ZR1X. Here it punches horsepower up to 721, a 186-hp electric drive system mounted on the front axle drawing power from a 1.86 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The LS6 is all but completely new, said Corvette chief engineer Josh Holder. His team upgraded key parts of the engine, including the throttle body, cylinder heads, crankshaft and pistons. It gets a new cross-plane crank, direct and port injection. Cooling and lubrication have been improved and the compression ratio has been boosted to 13:1. As for the GS X hybrid system, it also brings upgrades – and an additional 26 hp – to the electric drive package that first appeared on the Corvette E-Ray.
Plenty of Options
Out the box, features including magnetic ride control dampers, a touring suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tires are standard fare. There will be “hundreds of build combinations,” noted Tristan Murphy, the Corvette design manager. These include a wide range of interior and exterior colors, stripes and retro-inspired hashes for the rear fenders – and, of course, the requisite performance upgrades.
- The Z52 Performance Package gets a stiffer suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires and the high-performance iron brakes first used on the C8 Z06;
- The Z52 Track Performance Package swaps them out for carbon-ceramic brakes and Michelin Sport Cup 2R rubber. Its suspension is tuned for the track and the package adds numerous aero features, including a carbon-fiber splitter, dive planes, rockers and wing, plus underbody strakes.
Pricing and Availability
Sorry to say, Chevy is holding back on one key spec; it won’t release pricing for the two new Corvette packages until closer to mid-year. The Grand Sport, said Holder, will debut first, arriving in U.S. showrooms “later this summer, followed a few months later by GS-X.” To give some perspective on what we might expect, the 2026 Corvette Stingray with the Z51 Performance Package starts at $78,340, including a $1,995 destination fee.
A special Grand Sport Launch Edition will be offered during the first year of production. According to Chevy, the focus will be exclusively on that package’s interior which will be finished in Santorini Blue, with red stitching and accents. Headrests will be embossed with a unique Grand Sport exterior plan view outline. There’ll also be a Launch Edition waterfall speaker plaque and a Grand Sport steering wheel badge.
As a footnote, Chevrolet officials revealed the new LS6 V8 will migrate next to the Corvette Stingray in 2027.
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