Corvette E-Ray Ends, Grand Sport X Begins
▼ Summary
– Chevrolet provided travel and accommodation for Ars to review the new Corvette Grand Sport, with Ars noting it does not accept paid editorial content.
– The Grand Sport traditionally combines high-performance components with a base engine, but this new version features a more powerful, all-new V8.
– A new hybrid variant called the Grand Sport X replaces the E-Ray, pairing a front electric motor with the new rear V8 for all-wheel drive.
– The new LS6 V8 engine produces 535 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque, a significant increase over the current base Stingray’s LT2 engine.
– Carbon ceramic brakes and the front axle hybrid system are optional features available for the new Grand Sport models.
Chevrolet has established a familiar rhythm with its Corvette lineup in recent years. As one generation prepares to exit, the Grand Sport variant arrives, positioned as the ideal balance between performance and price. This model typically combines the high-performance chassis components from the top-tier versions with the more accessible engine from the base Stingray. Following this established pattern, the arrival of a new Grand Sport often signals that the current Corvette generation’s lifecycle is concluding. The latest iteration, however, breaks from tradition in a significant way, introducing a more powerful engine and an available hybrid system.
This new chapter begins with the end of another. The Corvette E-Ray, Chevrolet’s first all-wheel-drive hybrid model that debuted just three years ago, is being discontinued. Its innovative hybrid technology, which provided impressive all-weather capability, will carry forward. The E-Ray’s effective replacement is the Grand Sport X, a model that integrates a 186-horsepower electric motor on the front axle with a potent new gasoline engine at the rear.
The heart of this new Grand Sport is a completely redesigned powerplant. Dubbed the LS6, this 6.7-liter V8 represents a substantial leap over the LT2 engine found in today’s Stingrays. Output figures tell the story clearly: 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque. That is an increase of 40 horsepower and 50 lb-ft compared to its predecessor. Chevrolet claims this engine is now the most torque-rich naturally aspirated production V8 available anywhere. For drivers seeking even greater capability, the Grand Sport X package adds the electric motor from the previous ZR1X model, creating a sophisticated hybrid powertrain. Options for the lineup include carbon ceramic brakes and, of course, the available front axle hybrid system for enhanced traction and performance.
(Source: Ars Technica)
