- The C8 Grand Sport made its debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
- It wears Admiral Blue paint with black stripe and red accents.
- A Grand Sport X variant with 721 combined hp is also reported.
Chevrolet has remained tight-lipped about the long-expected C8 Corvette Grand Sport in recent months, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning. Not long after a completely undisguised example was spied in the canyons, the new Grand Sport made an unexpected debut, this time in a far less secretive setting at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
The new car took to the track as part of a special parade lap alongside previous generations of the Corvette Grand Sport. It features a very familiar paint scheme, consisting of Admiral Blue paint with a prominent black racing stripe and red accents on the rear haunches.
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Take a closer look, and the details start to give the game away. This car wears the same widebody treatment as the E-Ray and Z06, complete with the latter’s four centrally mounted exhaust tips. There are a few fresh touches, too, including a sharper rear lip spoiler and a newly shaped front splitter. Up front, the central section of the bumper stands out, appearing to be finished in lightweight carbon fiber and clearly different from the setups used on both the E-Ray and Z06.
The example spotted at Sebring also featured black wheels reminiscent of the C7-generation Grand Sport, contrasted by a set of red brake calipers peeking through.
A Brand New LS6 V8
While GM has released several photos of the new Grand Sport, it’s remaining tight-lipped about what powers it. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long until we find out, as a full debut has been penciled in for March 26.
All signs point towards the new Corvette Grand Sport premiering with Chevy’s latest-generation small-block V8 known as the LS6. In this application, it is believed to be a 6.7-liter naturally aspirated V8. The engine is expected to use both direct and port fuel injection, helping it produce roughly 550 hp.
Final specifications haven’t been confirmed, but a figure in the mid-500s would allow the Grand Sport to slot nicely between the Stingray with 495 hp and the Z06 with its 670 hp. Chevrolet expects the new Grand Sport to be the most popular of all Corvette models.
Chevy hasn’t just been developing this ‘base’ version of the Grand Sport. Recent reports state that a new Grand Sport X is also just around the corner, serving as a replacement to the existing E-Ray, reportedly sporting all-wheel drive, a front-mounted electric motor, and delivering a combined 721 hp.
