The arrival of the LS6 marks a change for the C8 Corvette family, replacing the outgoing LT2 in the Stingray and Grand Sport. GM is presenting the engine lineup not only through horsepower figures but also through the driving traits associated with each powerplant.
At the same time, the Corvette range continues to span from the entry-level Stingray to the hybrid-assisted ZR1X. The lineup combines naturally aspirated and turbocharged V8 engines, with some variants adding electric assistance to increase total output.
LS6 Replaces the LT2 in Stingray and Grand Sport
General Motors is introducing a 6.7-liter LS6 V8 for the 2027 model year. The engine produces 535 horsepower, which is 40 horsepower more than the LT2 engine it replaces.
According to Autoblog, the LS6 will power both the Corvette Stingray and the new Grand Sport. GM engineer Mike Kociba described the engine as leaning into the “old-school big-displacement punch that Corvette owners know and love,” adding that it delivers strong low-end torque while retaining the high-end power required for track driving.
The Grand Sport X, presented as the successor to the E-Ray, also uses the LS6. In this application, the V8 is paired with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 721 horsepower.
LT6 Remains the Naturally Aspirated Centerpiece of the Range
The Corvette Z06 continues to use the 5.5-liter naturally aspirated LT6 V8. With 670 horsepower, it remains the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 available in a production car.
The LT6 surpasses the outputs of vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series and the Ferrari 458. GM engineer Dustin Gardner referred to the LT6 as an “emotional engine” and described it as the “track scalpel choice,” emphasizing its track-focused character.
The LT6 therefore continues to occupy a distinct position within the Corvette lineup, centered on naturally aspirated performance and high-revving operation.
LT7 Powers the Most Powerful Corvettes Ever Built
At the top of the range sits the LT7 V8, which is derived from the LT6 and fitted with twin turbochargers. In the Corvette ZR1, the engine develops 1,064 horsepower.
The ZR1X combines the LT7 with an electric motor, raising total system output to 1,250 horsepower and making it the most powerful Corvette ever produced. According to Dustin Gardner, the LT7 is intended for buyers seeking “most of the LT6’s character” together with “no-compromise torque and power that’s off the charts.”
Gardner also recalled a development incident involving the engine, stating that a dynamometer shut down during testing because the engineering team had “overpowered” it.
The 2027 Corvette Stingray will start at $73,495, an increase of $1,000 compared with the current model year. The Grand Sport will start at $88,945, while the Grand Sport X will be priced from $112,195. The Corvette Z06 will start at $121,395 after a $1,400 price reduction. The ZR1 will begin at $197,195, representing a $9,700 increase, and the ZR1X will start at $227,395, up by $15,200.
The C8 Corvette is widely regarded as a value-focused supercar capable of competing with much more expensive models such as the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. The publication also noted that a Corvette ZR1X defeated a 1,500-horsepower Bugatti Chiron in a quarter-mile race conducted by Vehicle Virgins.
