![[POLL] Now that We Know More, Which C8 Corvette Grand Sport Are You Picking?](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2026/09/090526_9.jpg)
The wait has been long, but the seemingly glacial rollout of the new-for-’27 Corvette Grand Sport variants and the media surrounding them are finally hitting their respective strides. The original recipe GS sprinted out of the production gates, accounting for a whopping 35% of all ‘Vettes built as early as July 6th, but the model disappointed with a media embargo day only yielding a handful of writeups and one, admittedly excellent video.
The AWD Hybrid Grand Sport X stepped into the misunderstood shoes of the short-lived E-Ray and was immediately lacking in both availability and media presence, despite the considerable hype surrounding it online. Well, as of August 26th, the fortunes of the GSX have changed. The line is buzzing along and the X officially accounted for 5.2% of production over a two-week period, and, unlike the GS, it received a full slate of reviews just this week.
![[POLL] Now that We Know More, Which C8 Corvette Grand Sport Are You Picking?](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2026/09/090526_8.jpg)
Many of these GSX reviews acted as dual assessments of the X and the original GS, making up for the perceived slight of the latter. Our favorite of the written evaluations came from former Car and Driver and current Hagerty Media scribe Aaron Robinson, who likened the new Grand Sports to a pair of crack relief pitchers that GM calls out from the bullpen in the late innings “to keep the pot boiling… Now that we’ve driven it, we can say that the pot is properly frothing.”
But now that some of us have driven both members of the GS family and developed a feel for their differences, we want to get the pulse of Corvette Nation. At this juncture, which GS are you picking? In one corner, there’s the more attainable (starting at $88,495), lighter (3,520 lbs.) original recipe Grand Sport that combines the aggressive look and thick hips of the Z06 with the base Stingray’s might new LS6 V8, a 6.7L monster good for 535 HP and a naturally aspirated record 520 lb-ft of torque. It’s also the only way to get the Z52 track package (Z07 by another name) that turns the GS into one of the most formattable time attack machines ever devised by General Motors.
![[POLL] Now that We Know More, Which C8 Corvette Grand Sport Are You Picking?](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2026/09/090526_10.jpg)
The GSX gains all-wheel-drive by pilfering the electrified front corners of the range-topping ZR1X. The hybrid system brings total power to a headline-stealing 721 ponies and 665 torques but comes with a pair of costs. Monetarily, the extra HP and traction bump the price floor to $112,195, which includes the optional ceramic brakes from the Z06 and the Z52 track car. The weight penalty is around 280 lbs., putting the GSX at about 3,800 lbs.
Robinson’s review, again, shed a perfect light on an automotive comp for this unprecedented pairing of Corvettes, “The electrified X’s relationship to the base Grand Sport is perhaps best likened to the relationship between the Porsche 911 Turbo and the GT3. One has the power brag and all-weather touring advantage, while the other is the track weapon.” So, dear reader, if you found yourself at a Chevrolet dealership with widebody LS6 ‘Vette money, which one would it be for you? The lightweight precision of the original Grand Sport, or the hard launching GSX sledgehammer?
Source:
Photos by Keith Cornett
Related:
[VIDEO] 2027 Grand Sport and Grand Sport X Driving Reviews are Now Out!
[VIDEO] Corvette Team Presentation from Corvettes at Carlisle 2026
Corvette Grand Sport X Accounts for 5.2% of all C8s Produced in First Two Weeks
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![[VIDEO] Jesse Iwuji's Cinematic Downhill Touge Run in ZR1 Borrowed from Chevy](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/uploads/2026/10/102326_5-218x150.jpg "[VIDEO] Jesse Iwuji’s Cinematic Downhill Touge Run in ZR1 Borrowed from Chevy")
![[VIDEO] Paragon Track Tests the Corvette Grand Sport and GSX on Equal Footing](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/uploads/2026/10/102326_1-218x150.jpg "[VIDEO] Paragon Track Tests the Corvette Grand Sport and GSX on Equal Footing")
Happy Labor Day all you hard workers!
In my professional design and engineering opinion – both the ZR1X and the Grand Sport X Corvettes are at the highest level of performance offered in any sports car from any country.
While some “experts” will argue my opinion, all of us true Corvette Fans can agree both X models of 2027 Corvettes are really “The Best Vette Yet” while the Stingray and Z06 are good fun to drive, both the design and engineering results from the Corvette Team in bringing the X models into reality prove their superiority of the best Corvettes ever.
So, a million thank you messages to.all of the Corvette Team and the Assembly Plant group for these two Corvette X hot rods.
Go drive your Corvette now!
GSX. And I’ll spend the first year debadging it / rebadging as either an XLR or an E-Ray. How dare they shoehorn AWD lovers into the same boat as Z06 wannabees?
I don’t get the GS. It is heavier than a Stingray and must be slower.
My GSX was built on Thursday 27 August but hasn’t been invoiced as of yet. Possibly being held because of the striping issues even though my stripes are Full Length Racing & not the GS stripes. VIN 107.
Neither. I don’t need a wider body, I don’t want the extra noise that comes from the wider tires, and the Stingray has the same engine, is lighter, and has less drag. Unless you’re seriously tracking the car, the extra money for the GS just buys you looks, and the GS-X is just too damned expensive. Stingray for the win.
I don’t get the inner Corvette hate. Many live up to the A hole stereo type that we try to live down.
Each of these cars has a specific mission and each does it well.. save the trash talk for the Ford guys.
I’m done with any Vette past the C7. Chevy hit a home run with the C7 body style. The body style was perfect. Every line was great to fantastic. A true work of art.
Then with the C8, Chevy failed miserably. It is embarrassing how bad they did. As a trained artist such as I am, I wanted to gag and throw up. I felt betrayed.
My uncle George use to work for Ford back in the 60s in Detroit. He was part of the design team that designed the Mustang and I know exactly what he’d say about where they went wrong on the C8.
He’d say “what the hell is wrong with these people, it’s like they chopped the front end off this car. Now it’s way out of balance.” And, as a trained artist myself I have to concur, the front end design is the main flaw with the C8.
So Chevy, now you know what you need to do. Give the C8 front end some more length to balance out its body style as well as re-examine the C7 design to have a reference you need to move toward. Until you do that, I’m not interested.
@2m6 well said!
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