New images have popped up on social media of what appears to be an experimental new variant in the C8 Corvette family. The car pictured has a widebody kit like the one used by the C8 E-Ray and C8 Z06 and a Z06 Carbon Aero high wing. The contraption attached to the back of the car is emissions testing equipment, implying that this Corvette is propelled by a new powertrain not currently on the market.
The predominant rumor swirling on forums and social media is that the prototype we see here is a C8 Corvette Grand Sport, which would be slotted between the Stingray and E-Ray. The most recent such variant, the C7 Grand Sport, was effectively a Z06 with a Stingray engine. It came with upgrades to the suspension, brakes, body, and cooling system to make it more suitable for track driving, but was powered by the same 6.2L V8 LT1 as the Stingray to make it a more budget-friendly alternative to the supercharged Z06. A C8 Grand Sport could follow the same formula.
C7 Grand Sport
However, one could argue that the Grand Sport has already been replaced by the E-Ray, an all-new hybrid variant for the C8 generation. The Corvette E-Ray shares the same wide body and track-ready wheels and suspension as the Z06 but with the big differences of a hybrid powertrain and AWD. Like the Grand Sport before it, the E-Ray is priced between the Stingray and the Z06. But the E-Ray is considerably more expensive than the Stingray, potentially leaving room for a Grand Sport in between.
C8 E-Ray
While this car could be a new Corvette Grand Sport, we think it’s more likely an E-Ray with GM’s next-generation small block V8 as its ICE engine. A Gen 6 small block V8 is expected to power the 2027 full-size GM trucks, namely the next-generation Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. But new generations of the small block V8 are usually introduced first in the Corvette, with truck and SUV applications following. With the 2026 model year around the corner, we think the soonest we’ll see a replacement for the 6.2L LT2 V8 in any Corvette is the 2027 model year.
Join in on the speculation and sound off in the comments below on what you think we’re looking at here.
Comments
I really hope this is an updated Grand Sport version. There is a gentleman in one of the groups that has a lot of detail on the topic that all aligns very well with a Grand Sport release.
Another member also did mention that this particular emissions equipment is the spec that is used in the EU and could be due to potential emissions issues that the current production C8’s have. Makes me wonder. Fingers crossed for a C8 Grand Sport.
Granted GM is subject to doing anything they want on the fly these days, the GS has a long history of coming along mid generation to boost interest of lower trim level Corvettes for those not wanting a Z06. This fits the ticket exactly. Fingers crossed history repeats itself.
Bring back the Grand Sport!!!
None of the above.
Standard emissions testing/verification of a current production E-Ray. Happens all the time during a product’s lifecycle.
WRONG. Everybody is wrong. that is a read mounted Flux Capacitor.
rear*
As of March 25 2025, EPA regs for autos are being rolled back. Meanwhile GM continues its electric wank with Mary at hand. While the same strategy just put Ford 2 billion under water for the last quarter. Get your Vette now while they are still what they were meant to be.
This is AI BS. please do some research before posting garbage!
Yeah, kinda think it’s a stretch to leap to hints at a new GS model just because some emissions testing equipment is strapped on an E-Ray. I think everbody already knows it’s probably just testing the same motor with the NEW manual transmission.
😂 Sorry, I just had to throw that in there before “that guy” chimes in about never owning another vette because of the dual clutch. Have a nuce day,
This in my opinion is most likely a new V8 to launch with the 2026 on an EPA test cycle
I’ll hazard another guess. It’s not a C8, but a C9 drivetrain in early development. You could assume that the C9 will be an evolutionary, not revolutionary styling change, so putting the new drivetrain in the C8 body and understructure allows undisguised testing to go on. I’m probably wrong, but thought it could be a possibility.