A New Engine On The Block?
A report from GM Authority teases what the rumored next-generation small-block V8 engine could sound like. This power unit – reportedly set to carry the LS6 engine designation – is expected to power the rumored Chevrolet Corvette C8 Grand Sport for the 2027 model year.
The report cites a YouTube video by Rick Conti, a well-known Corvette enthusiast with around 57,000 followers. Conti claims the sound clip was recorded inside the car, audible starting around the 3:45 mark in the video embedded below.
Fuel for the Grand Sport Talk
While the recording itself is described as “unofficial,” it appears to align with ongoing rumors that General Motors is working on an all-new small-block V8. If accurate, this would represent the sixth-generation iteration of GM’s small-block architecture. What does this mean for the rumored Corvette C8 Grand Sport? For the uninitiated, the LS6 nameplate has historically been used for high-performance engine variants, suggesting that the Grand Sport trim would slot above the entry-level Corvette Stingray in the lineup.
Reports suggest that the LS6 could be offered in two displacement options: 5.7-liter and 6.6-liter configurations.
Currently, the Corvette Stingray—powered by a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated LT2 V8—produces around 495 horsepower. As such, the next-generation LS6 in the Grand Sport is expected to deliver a higher output, though it is unlikely to spoil the track-focused Corvette Z06, which produces 670 hp from its 5.5-liter LT6 V8.
Between the Stingray and the Z06 sits the Corvette E-Ray, which could remain positioned above the Grand Sport in the model hierarchy. However, the trims are not directly comparable in performance. The E-Ray features a 655-hp hybrid powertrain paired with an all-wheel-drive system, in contrast to the traditional rear-wheel-drive layout used by most other Corvette variants.
Positioning a Mid-Spec Corvette C8
Beyond the LS6 engine, the Corvette C8 Grand Sport is also expected to adopt a wide-body exterior, as seen in the Grand Sport treatments on the previous C6 and C7 Corvette generations.
Conti has argued that the rumored mid-spec trim could ultimately become the volume seller of the sports car lineup, provided pricing is positioned correctly. For reference, the Corvette Stingray starts at around $70,000, while the Corvette Z06 carries a base price of $120,300.
Chevrolet also offers even more extreme Corvette variants in the form of the ZR1 and ZR1X, both of which deliver at least 1,000 hp. However, those low-production halo models are clearly positioned outside the high-volume sales segment.
