The team at Paragon Performance doesn’t toss around Corvette opinions lightly. When they speak, the Corvette world listens. And after logging 1,500 miles in Chevrolet’s newest C8 Grand Sport, Korey has plenty to say—good, bad, surprising, and brutally honest.

His review isn’t a media day puff piece. As he puts it, “I’ve been around C8 Corvettes every single day of my life since they were released.” He’s driven every variant—Stingray, Z06, E Ray, ZR1, ZR1X—and even attended the Ron Fellows Driver Academy as part of GM’s dealer program. So when he breaks down what the Grand Sport does well (and where it falls flat), it comes from real seat time, not a press kit.

The heart of the Grand Sport is the new 6.7 liter V8, and Korey says the difference is immediate. The torque hit is stronger, more usable, and more satisfying than the old 6.2L. Around town, the car feels alive—quick off the line, eager on on ramps, and genuinely fun in everyday driving.

But once you push past 80 mph, the excitement fades.

Not because the car is slow—it isn’t—but because the Grand Sport simply doesn’t deliver the same high rpm drama as the Z06 or ZR1. In Korey’s words, “On the street, it’s boring after 80.” The 60–130 mph pull takes around 10 seconds, which feels glacial compared to the Z06’s mid 7s.

Still, for most owners, the Grand Sport’s low end punch will be the star of the show.

“Driving this car on the street,” he offers, “I don’t think you’re going to be bored with it. It does everything you want it to and more. If you’re getting on the interstate, if you’re getting on an on-ramp, you’re going light to light, having that low-end torque is huge.”

The factory center exit exhaust is a major improvement. Korey calls it “essentially a Z06 exhaust,” with valves that open into a near straight pipe experience. It’s the first stock C8 exhaust he actually likes—inside and out.

He’s still waiting to compare it to the side exit system he ordered on his personal Grand Sport X.

With the required break in miles complete, Korey is itching to get the car on track. He believes the Grand Sport may be the best all around track car in the C8 lineup—especially with factory options like Cup 2R tires and Z07 aero.

It won’t set straight line records, but that’s not the point. This car is built for corners, consistency, and confidence.

Korey doesn’t hold back on the quirks:

• Ride height: The car looks dramatically better lowered ¾ inch on its factory coilovers.
• Side skirts: The flat barge boards make it easy to kick the skirt when exiting the car.
• Wing requirement: You cannot order a widebody C8 without a wing—something he fought hard to change.
• Stripe/PPF issues: Owners essentially pay for stripes twice if they want paint protection film.

And one oddity: you can’t order stealth emblems with the stripe package. GM forces you to remove the stripes first, which makes no sense.

He also notes that the ultimate suede package looks fantastic—but his dash already has a nick after only a couple passenger rides.

Korey’s verdict is clear:

If you’re coming from a Z06, ZR1, or ZR1X, the Grand Sport may feel tame.

But if you want a balanced, capable, torque rich track car without the Z06’s price premium, this is the one to buy.

He believes the Grand Sport won’t hold value as well as the Z06, but as a driver’s car, it checks nearly every box.

And once tuning becomes available—whenever GM unlocks it—the aftermarket will wake up the 6.7L even more. For now, though, owners should expect zero power gains from exhausts or bolt ons.

Korey’s next mission: take the Grand Sport to the track and stack it up against the Stingray, Z06, E Ray, and anything else he can get his hands on. Early impressions from Savage Geese suggest the car is a blast in stock form, and Korey expects the same.

As he puts it, “If I was buying a C8 today, the Grand Sport would be my pick.”

He’s just holding out for the Grand Sport X.

Source:
Paragon Performance / YouTube

Related:
[VIDEO] Paragon Performance Dynos the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport and its New 6.7L LS6
[VIDEO] Real World Performance Testing of the 2027 Corvette Grand Sport
[POLL] Which Corvette Has the Better Exhaust Note? Grand Sport LS6 versus E‑Ray LT2

Subscribe Now: