2027 Corvette Stingray Gains 535-HP 6.7L V8 as Z51 Package Rises Just $50

Q: A 200-mph Corvette for under $75,000 seems impossible. What compromises were made to hit this price?

The low price was achieved less by “cheapening” the car than by choosing the least expensive path to 200 mph: a base Stingray with a bigger naturally aspirated V-8, low-drag bodywork, and gearing aimed at top speed rather than track hardware. GM says the 200-mph figure comes entirely from the new 6.7-liter LS6’s extra power, now 535 hp and 520 lb-ft. That lets Chevrolet avoid the far costlier solutions used by exotic rivals, such as turbocharging, hybrid assist, carbon-heavy construction, or a bespoke high-revving engine like the Z06’s LT6. The Stingray also benefits from the standard narrow-body shape, which creates less drag than wider, more aggressive Corvette variants. The main tradeoff is that this is a very specific configuration. The 200-mph number applies to the base 1LT car, not the more track-focused versions. Add the Z51 package and top speed drops, because its shorter final-drive ratio and added downforce improve acceleration, braking, and handling but hurt maximum speed. The same is true of larger aero packages: more grip, less terminal velocity. So the compromise is not straight-line performance versus price, but top-speed bragging rights versus all-around performance equipment. Buyers get a 200-mph car for under $75,000 by sticking with the simplest, lowest-drag, least track-oriented Stingray setup rather than the better-equipped versions that are faster on a road course.

3 articles · Updated · The Autopian · Jun 30

$73,495 buys a 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with a new 6.7-liter LS6 V8, lifting output to 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft—45 hp above the 2026 base car.
Every 2027 Stingray now also gets a valved performance exhaust and a lithium-ion 12-volt battery; despite weight rising to 3,392 pounds from 3,366, power-to-weight improves to 6.34 pounds per horsepower.
The updated Z51 track package adds Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires, a shorter 5.56:1 axle ratio and a revised rear spoiler, while costing only $50 more because the exhaust is now standard.
That pricing keeps the Stingray's increase to $1,000 over 2026 and $13,500 above the 2020 launch price, but still below the roughly $77,685 inflation-adjusted equivalent of the original C8.