- The 2027 Corvette Stingray tops out at 200 mph (322 km/h).
- The updated entry-level sports car is priced from $73,495.
- A new 6.7-liter V8 delivers 535 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque.
The C8 Corvette, often described as a budget supercar thanks to its mid-engined layout, performance, and looks, is now the cheapest way to reach 200 mph (322 km/h) in North America. The 2027 Corvette Stingray has been updated with a new engine and carries an MSRP of $73,495, which makes it a genuine performance bargain.
General Motors picked National Corvette Day to drop the news. The headline is that the entry-level model’s top speed has climbed 6 mph (10 km/h) over its predecessor, cracking the 200 mph barrier.
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While GM has yet to announce the top speed of the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X, the Stingray is already faster than the track-focused Z06, trailing only the 233 mph (375 km/h) posted by the flagship ZR1.
A New Heart
According to small block assistant chief engineer Mike Kociba, the secret behind the added velocity is “all power.” For the 2027 model year, the 6.2-liter LT2 has been swapped for an all-new 6.7-liter LS6 small-block V8, which is set to “create a unique place in the Corvette lineup.”
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The naturally aspirated engine runs the highest compression ratio of any production Corvette at 13.0:1 and adds a new continuously variable oil pump. The result is 535 hp (399 kW / 542 PS) and 520 lb-ft (705 Nm) of torque, a jump of 45 hp and 55 lb-ft over its predecessor. Power reaches the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Beyond the higher top speed, the Stingray is quicker in a straight line too. The 0-60 mph (100 km/h) sprint has dropped to 2.8 seconds (-0.2″), with the car clearing the quarter mile in 11 seconds flat (-0.2″) at an exit speed of 124 mph (200 km/h).
As shown in an official video, the 200 mph (322 km/h) figure was verified using a standard narrow-body 1LT Coupe. That means anyone who opts for the Z51 Performance Package might not match it because of the extra downforce. Either way, the company warns buyers not to replicate the stunt, which a professional driver performed on a closed course.
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To put this bargain into perspective, the next cheapest route into the 200-mph club is the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. That sedan reaches 205 mph (330 km/h) but flirts with a $100,000 sticker price. Among German rivals, the Porsche 911 Turbo S will match the Corvette’s 200-mph capability but starts at an MSRP of $270,300.
The milestone announcement on June 30th marks 73 years since the first production Corvette rolled off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan. The original C1, powered by an inline-six, topped out at 105 mph (169 km/h), while the small-block V8 version that arrived shortly after pushed that figure to 118-120 mph (190-193 km/h), showing how far the nameplate has come.
