How the 2027 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport X is Based on the Foundations of the Earlier E-Ray Hybrid

      The electrified Corvette is gone; long live the electrified Corvette. With the announcement of the 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport X, it became clear that the debut hybrid ‘Vette, known as the E-Ray, wasn’t entirely being retired—rather, it has undergone enhancements, tweaks, and a name change. The outcome is a 721-horsepower, all-wheel-drive American sports car featuring a formidable V8 positioned behind the driver.

      I had the opportunity to test the complete LS6-powered lineup: Stingray, Grand Sport, and Grand Sport X, which you can read more about here.

      Regarding the Grand Sport X, I set out to understand how this new all-weather powerhouse differs from the discontinued E-Ray and what it’s like on both the racetrack and the street. Equipped with a new 6.7-liter LS6, a hybrid system, a Z06 body kit, and an electrified front axle taken from the incredible ZR1X, it serves as the ultimate representation of the “standard” Corvette. Moving up the range into Z06 and ZR1 territory requires both courage and a significantly larger budget.

      New LS6 V8

      Proudly introduced as the most torque-heavy naturally aspirated V8 Chevy has ever created, the new 6.7-liter LS6 generates 520 lb-ft, surpassing the predecessor LT2, which produced 470 lb-ft. While the base Stingray and the regular Grand Sport offer 535 hp—up from 490 in the former 6.2-liter—the Grand Sport X boasts 721 hp, thanks to electrical assistance.

      Other notable features of the new engine include a compression ratio of 13.0:1 (the highest in Corvette history) for improved responsiveness, and a 95-mm throttle body with a tunnel ram intake featuring high-velocity ports to enhance airflow. Additionally, enhancements such as a new lubrication system, forged pistons and rods, and updated exhaust manifolds create durability for extended high-load, high-temperature conditions. You can hear it roar in the video at the end of this page.

      The Grand Sport X, like all other C8 Corvettes, is exclusively paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

      From E-Ray to Grand Sport X

      The Grand Sport X largely disregards its predecessor. The V8 is entirely new, as is the hybrid drivetrain, which consists of the electric motor and battery. Thus, from a drivetrain standpoint, the X resembles a new car more than a continuation of the E-Ray. The hardware is sourced from the ZR1X, which recently set a production-car record at Pikes Peak with J.R. Hildebrand at the wheel, indicating its impressive capabilities. Naturally, there are differences in engine tuning since the ZR1X is powered by the new LS6 and delivers 1,250 hp—529 more than the GSX. For context, the former E-Ray generated 655 hp.

      A similar trend is observed in styling. Traditionally, the Grand Sport has drawn design cues from the top-tier Z06 model, and this iteration adheres to that pattern. The broader, more aggressive body kit is directly sourced from the Z06, although the large badging near the rear wheels, especially the X, may cause you to do a double-take to confirm it’s not a ZR1X without the massive rear wing. Overall, the new GSX bears a closer resemblance to the new GS than it does to the E-Ray.

      The chassis remains largely unchanged, but the Stingray and Grand Sport feature a recalibrated MagneRide for improved performance, a modification that extends to the top variant of the LS6 lineup. The interior primarily mirrors that of the E-Ray, with only minor updates for the model year.

      In performance terms, the X achieves 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds, while the E-Ray does it in 2.5 seconds, which is commendable. However, fuel economy is less impressive: 15 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined, as compared to the E-Ray’s 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. While that might not be ideal, it's likely not a concern for most drivers.

      Driving the 2027 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport X

      I didn’t have the opportunity to drive the E-Ray, but my colleague Adam Ismail recently did. From his June 2026 review:

      “I had heard that the C8 exceeded expectations in its price range, and the aforementioned figures tell a story, but I was surprised by how much of a capital-S supercar the E-Ray truly is. Everything feels tight, optimized, and finely tuned for interaction and feedback. My loaner was fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season tires—not summer tires—and still, its eagerness to change direction and the clarity in its movement were thrilling. The soundtrack of the