Just three years after its (sorta controversial) arrival, the Corvette E-Ray is gone. However, Chevrolet is replacing it with the Corvette Grand Sport X.
We got our first glimpse at the Grand Sport at the Sebring International Raceway, the wide-body, quad-exhaust trim that sits between the Stingray and Z06. Chevrolet didn’t confirm much at the time, but did say one important thing: it has a V8 engine. The rumors were true: the LS6 exists.
“There is no replacement for displacement! Our next-generation LS6 engine pushes 409 cubic inches of jackhammer fury through the tailpipes. Combining large displacement, modern technology, and proven Small Block V8 heritage will deliver a bold new chapter in performance,” said Assistant Chief Engineer of Small Block Engines at GM, Mike Kociba, in a press release.
The LS6 engine is a huge improvement over the current base model’s LT2. It has 40 more horsepower (535 hp) and 50 more lb-ft of torque (520 lb-ft). Chevrolet has dubbed it the “most torquey naturally aspirated production V8” to exist. Anywhere. It’s also their highest-compression small-block, with 13:1 (up from the Z06’s 12:5:1) — made possible due to better cooling and improved direct injection.
Kociba later told GM Authority: “With our newer controllers and control systems, you can process information faster. So, if you start to sense an issue, you can react to it faster.”
This upgraded technology includes a faster onboard engine controller, the E94, that can react to knock much more quickly. This helps engineers further improve engine output. He explained: “It’s still based on our knock sensors, which are vibration-based. So if you can start detecting an unusual vibration, if it meets a certain frequency profile, then we react to that. [The] new processors, faster speed… obviously helps us chew through the logic.”
The Grand Sport X will replace the E-Ray, happily
The Grand Sport X pairs the LS6 V8 with a front-axle electric motor and compact battery pack from the ZR1X. This hybrid is basically the Grand Sport on acid, with 721 hp and an instant 145 lb-ft of torque on the front axle to blast off from a standstill. The high-voltage battery is low and centrally located to maintain the balance and agility of the Grand Sport’s mid-engine layout. This keeps it track-focused and heavy on performance. Just switch to “Qualifying” mode to unleash the most power you can for the “ultimate lap time.”
The Grand Sport X will come standard with carbon-ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport All – Season 4 tires. You can get Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires instead if you get the Performance Package.
Said GM: “Corvette Stingray is an everyday supercar. Both Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X are driver’s cars first, whether the day calls for a long highway stretch, a favorite canyon road, or a session at the track.”
Just don’t get too jazzed just yet. We still have no clue how much the Corvette Grand Sport will be, nor the Grand Sport X. We took a wild guess that the Grand Sport will be slightly under $100,000 based on the current pricing of the Stingray ($75,000) and the Z06 ($120,000). We then believed the Grand Sport X would be easily over $100,000, just like the E-Ray.
If that’s in your price range, carry on. This is definitely a Corvette worth fantasizing about. Some have said it may even be too much. Most people don’t really need all that horsepower. And will it still have the C8’s transmission issues? Maybe, but it’s a V8. Just let us keep thinking about it.
Said one passionate enthusiast: “Long live the Corvette. A purely V8-based lineup in the age of downsizing and electrification is bonkers and as usual under appreciated. Think about it: in 2026, a bigger V8 than before, a flat plane crank V8 going to 8k+ rpm, a turbocharged version of that, and an electrified turbocharged version of that. And all being semi-attainable and mass-produced without Porsche-like availability shenanigans.
“Take a bow, GM.”
Technical Specs
| Trim | Grand Sport X |
|---|---|
| Engine Displacement | LS6 V8 |
| Power (hp) | 721 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 520 |
