![[RUMORS] New Gen VI Small Block 6.6-Liter V8 Coming for Grand Sport, Stingray, and E-Ray](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2025/11/111025_12.jpg)
With the C8 Corvette now in its seventh model year, holding a fickle public’s interest year after year becomes more and more difficult for Chevy.
C8 fans have been clamoring for a Grand Sport version a la the C6 and C7, and in a recent Facebook post is true, they may not have to wait much longer.
In that post on Facebook that has since been deleted, a Corvette buyer claims his dealership recently received confirmation of a forthcoming widebody Grand Sport variant during a company “pow wow” at Texas Motor Speedway. He says the news came straight from a recent GM dealers meeting.
But that’s not the only news he says he heard during his dealership visit.
The rumors appear to be true that GM is eliminating the 6.2-liter and 5.3-liter engines and replacing them with larger, but still small-block 6.6-liter and 5.7-liter versions, with the new 6.6-liter becoming the powerplant for the Stingray, E-Ray, and Grand Sport. Based on previous generations, it’s not all that surprising that GM would enhance performance during a cycle – remember the C4 upgrade to the 300-horsepower LT1 in 1992, for example?
In addition, the company plans to bring all engine manufacturing and assembly “in-house … instead of being outsourced,” with all engines to be built in Kentucky. That doesn’t particularly sound right to us since GM has invested heavily in its Tonawanda, New York facility, including the announcement earlier this year of $888 million for the sixth generation of GM V8s.
In other news from what sounds like a very eventful meeting, GM supposedly told the dealers that its EV plants will be repurposed for ICE vehicles, specifically for trucks and SUVs. With sales of electric vehicles failing to meet expectations and government subsidies discontinued, that sounds like a reasonable enough plan.
And last but not least, he was also told that availability of the ZR1X will be “very limited,” unlike the ZR1. We’ve heard that percentage of ZR1Xs that will be built will be limited to less than 5% of total production, and even less in its first year of sales.
This news, along with some of the other breadcrumbs we’ve been picking up over the last few months really seems to point to the possibility of a larger more powerful base engine for the Grand Sport, Stingray, and E-Ray. What are your thoughts on what kind of power this new 6.6-L V8 will make?
Related:
[SPIED] Could This C8 Widebody Undergoing Emissions Testing Actually Be the Rumored Grand Sport?
[SPIED] Might This Camouflaged C8 Prototype Be the Much-Rumored Corvette Grand Sport?
[VIDEO] Horsepower Obsessed on Rumored Grand Sport and a New ZR1X Aero Package
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All I want for Christmas is a manual transmission C8. 🤣🤣🤪🤪
Mathamaticly 525 HP.. The 6.2 delivers 80 HP per liter, X 6.6 and 525 becomes the number.
Love Corvettes, have had 5 up to and including my C7 Z51 7 speed convert. What I don’t understand is the weight increas from the C7 to C8. The weight should have decreased as there is not a torque tube or exhaust running from the front to rear and combining the transmission and differential into one transaxle unit all contribute to component weight reduction.
Increased horsepower without an increase in weight is always a good thing, but weight reduction has an effect not only in power to weight ratio but improves handling, braking and ride as well.
Yes and a M6 Tremec is also in the works. Deniers heads will explode when this happens. No more “beating dead horses”
I agree with the 525 HP as well but the torque will be the biggest increase to about 515 in my opinion. Also, this new 6.6 will have a new base platform for future endeavors with the C8/C9 generations.
Celebrating the 4 year anniversary of when this rumor started!
Looking forward to the 6.6 in a Grand Sport. As for those that are saying a manual is coming. Don’t hold your breath. Tremec already said the transmission is two to three years from shipping the first one to consumers and the cost will be north of $40K so it’s NEVER coming to the C8. Honestly, At a cost of $40K, I think it was a one off design experiment to see if they could do it. I don’t think it will ever come to production.
MY thoughts were to add the “E-Drive” to a Z06, as a Grand Sport…
But I think that Corvette is “Confusing the Market” with models that are so close in cost and Performance… that buyers do not know which one they really want, or what best fits their budget affordability, or intent of use… Does a buyer that just enjoys driving on “Sporty Roads”
Really “Want or Need” a 200 mph car that hits 60 .3 seconds Faster than another model of Corvette, and pay tens of thousands MORE for .3 seconds?
are you going to be “Faster than me” on the Tail of the Dragon..? Not if there is some guy in front in a 1945 Pickup truck… Are you going to Risk your Life to make a Crazy Pass?
More power and torque is always welcome. Top end speed was not the primary goal of these cars. It’s just the result of building a car to meet other more typical performance parameters. The reputation of “Spirited” driving that occurs on tail of the dragon is exactly why I ignored the advice of friends to try it. Instead, I deliberately avoided it when I picked up my 2024 Stingray from the museum. What if another car or motorcycle coming from the other direction loses it and appears suddenly in front of you around a blind turn? I won’t take that chance – especially in a brand new car that I’m not yet used to. Stick to a closed course organized event is my advice. But others can do, whatever they do if they feel lucky…
Don’t think that 40k price is even close. No way it’s gonna be that pricey.
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