Here’s What the C8 Corvette Grand Sport Should Be

By
Alex Sommers
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17
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Here's What the C8 Corvette Grand Sport Should Be

Photo Credit: Abimelec Design


General Motors has officially (re)trademarked the Grand Sport moniker. Conventional wisdom says that any hypothetical GS would slide directly into the gap between the Stingray and Z06, where it has been so prosperous since becoming a mainstream staple of the lineup in 2010. As far as we know, the vehicle earmarked for that highly profitable roster spot is the AWD Hybrid-boosted LT2 model that we have been referring to as “E-Ray” since sightings started over a year ago.

Now that the hallowed GS badge is back in play, we have no choice but to object if the General intends on slapping one of the most historically significant monikers in GM history on a car that is going out of its way to break with Corvette convention by “electrifying” and powering four wheels. According to Friday’s poll of our readers, “E-Ray” is Corvette Nation’s preferred name for this model by a margin of nearly 2:1. But, based on comments, that victory was a hollow one; not reflecting a superior piece of branding, but a lot of opinions that mirror ours, vis-à-vis respecting tradition).

When the C8 debuted, it was billed by its creators as a total moonshot. In hindsight, and with the infinitely impressive flat-plane Z06 as context, the 2020 Corvette almost seems like it was a safe bet, no matter how good that bet turned out to be. If we are truly staring down the barrel of an internal combustion apocalypse and now that we’ve seen what the great Corvette team is truly capable of – with more to come on the high-end – we want so see maximum, Z06-style effort applied to the more attainable trim levels as well before the government and corporate bartenders call closing time on the V8 party!


Our proposal would see the C8 follow the blueprint laid out by its sixth-generation forebear. For 2024, we want to see the 6.2L LT2 V8 give way to a new LT3 (just as the LS2 was replaced by the LS3 in 2008 to great effect). We imagine this LT3 as a naturally aspirated aluminum V8 loosely based on the 6.6L “L8T” heavy-duty truck architecture that took over for the “L96” 6-liter in 2020. With a re-tuning aimed at speed instead of stump-pulling, a compression bump to 11.5 or 12:1, and a visit to the well-established performance small-block playbook for things like dry-sump lubrication, a more aggressive camshaft design, and a forged steel crankshaft, to name a few, such a powerplant could be good for 520-550 horses and an equal dose of twist, all day long.

With the Z06 giving the Stingray more breathing room than we ever thought possible, there is plenty of space to grow the performance and appeal of the base model (or to keep the Stingray as-is and give the GS exclusive rights to the 396 and the 500-horse club!) while protecting the current halo model, and providing a completely unique, mid-engine, big-bore driving experience that hasn’t really been seen since the MK IV Ford GT40. Best of all, at precisely 399.78 cubic inches, this last hurrah for high-torque, high-displacement ‘Vettes could be poetically (and more honestly than it was in 1970+) marketed as a 396, just like the first-ever big-block ‘Vette from 1965. Place that 8-cylinder beauty amidship a widebody C8 with a unique fascia and “boomerang” treatment to distinguish it from the exotic high-revving Z06 – and while we are dreaming, give us an RPO for that fabled by-wire third pedal – and, voilà, you’ve got a Grand Sport worthy of the name!

To make things even more interesting, GM could sell our GS 396 alongside the AWD LT2-hybrid at a similar price point in a winner-takes-all litmus test for the future direction of the brand. In that high-stakes poll, we know where our collective and respective dollars would be heading! Your thoughts?


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Related:
[POLL] Grand Sport or E-Ray? What Should GM Call the C8 Corvette Hybrid?
GM Files Federal Trademark for Corvette Grand Sport
Corvettes For Sale: Which Ultimate C7 Grand Sport Colorway Would You Rather Have?

 



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17 COMMENTS

  1. Alex, you have obviously given this lots of thought and
    I like your whole philosophy. A 396 GSC8 sounds like a winner
    Just like the SS396 did.

  2. I think the Corvette team is following a well-thought out plan and is doing just fine. But, should the team decide to go with a big block V-8 as you have suggested, I would not be mad at them!

  3. How about extending the white stripe for the entire length of the car, like the previous GS generations I have owned, notably the C4 and the C7?

  4. Nicely put, Alex. Speaking for the 900+ members of the Grand Sport Registry (and I dare say, GS enthusiasts from around the world), I think you’ve captured a lot of what we have been thinking, dreaming, and pleading for since the last C7 GS. I’m not necessarily onboard for a “big block” option, but a reasonable bump in power over the base C8 would be a welcome addition just so the return of the GS would be more than just a pretty face. Sign me up! 🙂

  5. A Grand Sport and the “hybrid” at a similar price? I think the beauty of the Grand Sport was the look of a Z06 at a much lower price. I suspect the “hybrid” to be $7,000 to $10,000 less than a Z06. It could get very popular being AWD and with lots of low end torque. If Chevy tries to produce several ICE variants before the C8 is done, the production line is going to be a very busy place considering how difficult it for them to fill Stingray orders. I think a Z06 wide body with some slightly different features and much cheaper than the “hybrid” would be the simpler way to go for Chevy. However, if I was considering a Grand Sport, I might consider kicking in a bit more for that extra HP and AWD of the hybrid. I’m hoping that President Mark and CEO Mary will not cut back on the engineer’s dreams to hurry up the EV C9. Lets at least get that Zora with a ICE.

  7. ya’ll know it’s coming ,, so ….Do It ….. go small , 4 or 6 cyl and blow the hp up like the Honda H24 (i went brain dead on the letter) puts out 850hp , from what i read…. and turbo or sc it up plus nitros……..it won’t be much longer and we will be dewin the ‘Jetson’ in our drones so we can look down at our C8s……. hey , pass that this way…….:-)))))

  8. Looks good. I like the concept but I agree with Spence that in keeping with the GS tradition that the white stripe should run the entire length of the car.

  9. I just don’t get the fascination with ‘wide bodies’. Maybe prior generations but the C8 is already huge. The C7 looks compact from behind in comparison and the C4 looks like a mini car. The C8 barely fits in a standard parking space, from my perspective I literally could not squeeze a wider car in my three Corvette garage, the camera array is the only way the Stingray fits.

  10. Thank you for reading and for the kind words, everyone! To clear a couple of things up:

    -The 6.6 is technically a member of the Gen V small block family already. Like the LS7, it has a big block displacement, but it is actually a small block.
    -The picture was done by Abimelec Arellano, the talented rendering specialist behind Hagerty’s “What if?” series. I think it looks fantastic (especially the unique wing), but agree that the stripe should run the full length of the car – and I’d like to see black wheels utilized, just like the ’96 cars.
    -John, sorry if I didn’t make myself clear above. We are just talking ‘Vettes, here, so calling the ’65 396 the first big block is accurate.

  11. rtb,

    This GS would still significantly undercut the Z06 on price. The hybrid may prove to be popular, but I think it will appeal more to people who might have been considering a GT-R. The RWD GS would be the lighter (I’d also LOVE to see a Porsche-style “Weissach,” or Lightweight Package added to the GS and Z06 RPO list) and more enjoyable choice.
    There’s a reason why there’s no AWD McLarens or Ferraris (save the unloved FF) and why BMW fans pine for the old days even though the company’s current offerings are much faster than they’ve ever been. RWD is inherently sportier and more involving. Really, that last paragraph was saying that I’d love to see a face off (in sales, performance, and fun factor) between a quick, but heavy and less visceral hybrid ‘Vette and a lighter all-engine car that sticks to the tried and true sports car recipe. Just like the Turbo S vs GT3 debate, to return to 911s quickly. There isn’t a wrong answer, but your choice says a lot about you, and I’m all for giving people as many options as possible, but I’ll take a GS/GT3 every time.

    I agree that something drastic needs to be done to catch production up with demand, especially with all of the new models in the pipeline.

  12. Save the eray name for the future coal fired electric golf cart that doesn’t work in a grid down situation. If you recall, last year when Texas had their grid down problem, with the consumer driven rates, it cost $900 to charge a Tesla.

  13. It’s not needed as a gasoline powered car. Make Grand Sport the all electric version to establish what can be done with batteries in place of the gas power plant and retaining or adding storage space.

  14. > It’s not needed as a gasoline powered car. Make Grand Sport the all electric version

    No, No, and again, NO! Let them use the E-Ray name for the electrified version but by all means, please don’t bastardize the iconic GRAND SPORT nameplate with such shenanigans. Yeh sure, ICE is going the way of the dinosaurs eventually but let’s don’t rush it along. Just my $0.02. Your mileage (or kW/hr) may vary. 😉

  15. Think of it this way. The GS as fully electric would be to the E-ray as the ZO6 is to the base vehicle.

  16. Cannot wait to get my all electric Corvette so I can be told to park it outside because it might catch fire or worry about a failing power grid to support it or having a 4500 pound vehicle. The latest story is tires create more pollution than tail pipe emissions and heavy cars really like chewing up tires. Tesla is asking owners in Texas to limit charging during a heat wave. Electrification of cars is over rated and I believe the great boondoggle of our life time not withstanding #45.

  17. ERay is in insanely stupid name. Calling it Grand Sport doesn’t offend me but I also understand why people don’t approve. Counterpoint to that though, when the Corvette goes all electric, and it will, will you all object to it being a Corvette? Accept the inevitable. Just please don’t call it ERay, such a terrible, stupid, stupid name.

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