Angel Sergeev is a seasoned automotive journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the automotive industry. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, he began his writing career in 2010 while pursuing a degree in Transportation Engineering.
His early work included contributions to the local edition of F1 Racing magazine (now GP Racing magazine) and roles at various automotive websites and magazines.
In 2013, Angel joined Motor1.com (formerly WorldCarFans), where he dedicated over a decade to delivering daily news and feature articles. His expertise spans a wide range of topics, including electric vehicles, classic cars, and industry topics. Angel’s commitment to automotive journalism is further demonstrated by his membership in the Bulgarian Car of the Year jury since 2013.
The C8 rumor mill just hit a fresh redline. New chatter points to a 2027 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe that doesn’t just slap on wider fenders and call it a day. The leak says Chevrolet plans to pair the Grand Sport badge with a brand-new 6.6-liter small-block V8, and that combo could turn the Grand Sport into the sweet-spot Corvette for people who actually drive their cars hard. Here’s what the latest talk claims.
New heart for the C8? Rumors point to a 6.6L V8 and a widebody Grand Sport. Here’s what dealers heard – and what it could mean for Stingray and E-Ray.
The headline detail – a Grand Sport return for the 2027 model year, built around a next-gen naturally aspirated 6.6-liter V8 that replaces today’s LT2 in the Stingray and E-Ray, at least if the sources behind the leak have it right. One of the loudest voices pushing the story, Corvette dealer personality Rick “Corvette” Conti, says the new engine could land somewhere around 525 to 550 horsepower. That’s a real jump over the current Stingray’s available 495 hp rating, and it would move the base V8 Corvette conversation into a new bracket.
Conti also hints that GM could revive the “LS6” name for this motor. That part matters because the LS6 badge carries a ton of baggage in Corvette land. If Chevy brings it back again, the brand likely wants the Grand Sport to feel like more than a trim package. Conti’s bigger prediction sounds even wilder – he thinks Grand Sport could become the main event for the late-stage C8 run and sell like crazy compared to the rest of the lineup. That’s not a promise from GM, obviously, but the idea fits how people shop. A Grand Sport usually hits that “do it all” lane – more grip and attitude than a Stingray, less cost and drama than the track monsters.
This whole story also lines up with something GM has already put on the record – the company is spending serious money to keep V8s alive, and it has publicly said a sixth-generation GM V8 family will start production in 2027. GM’s Tonawanda plant investment announcement talks about stronger performance along with better fuel economy and lower emissions, which screams “new combustion tricks” rather than a simple rehash. GM doesn’t confirm Corvette specifics there, but the timing sure looks convenient for a 2027 Grand Sport rollout.
So what would a 2027 Grand Sport actually look like beyond the engine? The leak focuses on the V8, but enthusiasts know the Grand Sport playbook. Expect the widebody stance, more tire under it, and a setup tuned for track days without demanding Z06 money. Our exclusive rendering from earlier this year previewed what the new Grand Sport could look like. In the current Corvette world, that matters more than ever. Chevy now sells everything from Stingray to hybrid and full-send halo cars, so a mid-pack hero with a bigger NA small-block could become the obvious pick for a lot of buyers.
And yes, the manual-transmission crowd will ask the same question they always ask: “Will it come with three pedals?” GM hasn’t shown any sign of offering a factory manual in the C8 era, and the car still centers around its 8-speed dual-clutch. But something interesting happened at SEMA – Tremec revealed a 6-speed manual transaxle designed around the C8’s packaging and mounting points, and Tremec says it targets the aftermarket with a timeline that points to 2027. That doesn’t mean a factory manual Grand Sport, but it does mean the dream suddenly looks less impossible for builders with deep pockets.
Source: Rick Corvette Conti on YouTube
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