When Chevrolet unveiled the Corvette ZR1X last year, it said that it was not the end of the story but rather the latest chapter, implying that there was another trick left up its sleeve. That trick seems to be the newly unveiled Corvette Grand Sport lineup.

The carmaker officially confirmed this information by quietly slipping it in between presentations of the car in a YouTube video. If history is anything to go by, the Grand Sport lineup typically arrives shortly before the end of a generation’s lifecycle.

The Grand Sport will slot in between the base Stingray and the Z06, which means the ZR1X is the top-of-the-line trim in the C8 range. This should also effectively end all rumours about an even more hardcore C8 model called ‘Zora’.

With the Grand Sport lineup, the Chevrolet Corvette aims to become a more serious alternative to the likes of the Porsche 911. It introduces a new 6.7-litre, naturally aspirated LS6 V8, producing 535hp and 527 lb-ft of torque.

Chevy says this is the torquiest V8 powertrain seen on a Corvette till now, and the focus here seems to be on accessible performance throughout the rev range. Sending power to the rear wheels is the familiar 8-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Chevy is giving three chassis packages to choose from. The base touring suspension comes with Magnetic dampers as standard, and it also wears Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4+ tires. The Z52 Sport Performance Package adds Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, a stiffer suspension setup, and a high-performance iron brake package from the Z06.

For the track-focused drivers, the Z52 Track Performance Package brings along the J57 carbon-ceramic brake package, which is optional on the Z06, and additionally, it also gets Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R summer tires, bespoke suspension settings, and a carbonfibre aero package.

Additionally, the Grand Sport is also joined by the Grand Sport X, which adds the ZR1X’s hybrid system to the new LS6 V8, giving it an additional 186hp and all-wheel drive capability, thus also replacing the Corvette E-Ray.

When Is The Corvette C9 Coming?

This is the question Chevrolet obviously will not answer right away. It’s not like the C8 has gotten too old and needs to be killed off. The carmaker has managed to keep it fresh and relevant with timely updates.

The chief engineer for the Corvette, Josh Holder, recently appeared on The Gas Podcast, and while he did not give away any specifics to the upcoming C9, he simply stated, “We’re always working on the next Corvette.”

That said, we can expect the C9 to be powered by a hybrid powertrain rather than going fully electric, given how demand for EVs has fallen off in recent times, causing many manufacturers, Chevrolet itself included, to scale back on their EV plans.

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Written by

Aaradhya Singh

Edited by

Godwin Issac Mathew