Corvette news is coming fast and loud right now—and if you blink, you miss something big. From a potential 6.7L LS6 powertrain leak that could redefine the C8 Stingray, to 2026 price increases hitting buyers already in line, to a sales dip that looks scary until you read the fine print, this is one of those moments where the Corvette story is shifting in real time.
That’s where CorvSport steps in. We cut through the noise, connect the dots, and deliver the three stories every enthusiast needs to know right now, broken down with clear talking points and sharp analysis that respects your time. No fluff, no doom-and-gloom—just the facts, the context, and the why it matters. Let’s get into it.
The Top 3: Trending News From Our Community
1 — 6.7L LS6 Leak Points to the Biggest C8 Stingray Upgrade Yet
Another day, another new Corvette leak—and this one carries real weight. A screenshot allegedly pulled from GM’s internal systems and shared on a Corvette subreddit is adding serious fuel to the long-running rumor that the 2027 C8 Stingray is headed for a Gen 6 Small Block V8, specifically a 6.7L LS6. If legit, this would mark the most consequential mechanical evolution of the Stingray since the C8 debuted.
Key Talking Points
- Screenshot sourced from a Corvette subreddit, posted by someone claiming to work at a GM dealership
- Image appears to come from GM’s internal Vehicle Locator Service
- Engine listed as 6.7L, Gen 6 Small Block V8, labeled LS6
- Configuration includes DI + PFI, aluminum construction, and OHV pushrod layout
- Points to a major 2027 model year powertrain update for the C8 Stingray
The Subreddit Leak That Lit the Fuse
The image in question surfaced via the Corvette subreddit and was shared by an individual claiming access to GM’s dealer-side systems. According to the post, the screenshot comes directly from GM’s Vehicle Locator Service, a tool dealers use to track allocations and production data. At face value, the listing appears authentic and detailed enough to raise eyebrows.
The vehicle is identified as a 2027 Chevrolet Corvette CPE 2DR Convertible, with equipment group 1YC67, confirming it as a Stingray Convertible. But the real headline sits in the engine description, which reads: “ENGINE GAS, 8 CYL, 6.7L, DI, PFI, OHV, ALUM, GEN 6.”
That single line lines up almost perfectly with months of prior reporting—and it’s hard to ignore.
The New Image That Reignited The Chatter
Why The LS6 Name Matters
The LS6 designation carries weight in Corvette history, and its reappearance here suggests GM isn’t just refreshing the LT2—it’s replacing it outright. The jump from the current 6.2L LT2 to a 6.7L Gen 6 Small Block signals a clean-sheet evolution rather than a carryover design.
Crucially, the listing confirms both direct injection (DI) and port fuel injection (PFI), along with a traditional overhead-valve pushrod layout. That combination mirrors earlier leaks and reinforces the idea that GM is modernizing its Small Block architecture without abandoning its core identity.
How This Fits The Bigger Gen 6 Puzzle
This isn’t the first breadcrumb. A December report tied to Corvette Blogger cited GM’s internal Parts Book—a technician-facing resource with a strong track record of early accuracy—as listing a 6.7L LS6 engine under future 2027 RPOs. That same Parts Book famously revealed the C8 ZR1’s LT7 twin-turbo V8 well before Chevy made it official.
Importantly, the LS6 listing appears tied specifically to 2027 production planning, not a vague future placeholder. While performance numbers remain unknown, the consistency between the Parts Book leak and the dealer system screenshot strengthens the case that this engine is already deep into GM’s planning pipeline.
CorvSport Hot Take
If this leak holds—and all signs point that way—the 2027 Stingray isn’t just getting a refresh, it’s getting a new heartbeat. A 6.7L Gen 6 Small Block with dual injection and classic pushrod DNA would instantly redefine the “base” Corvette yet again.
This feels less like rumor-chasing and more like the early outline of GM’s next Corvette chapter. And if the LS6 is already showing up in internal systems? The mid-engine era may be gearing up for its biggest leap forward yet.
Source For This News Curation: GMAuthority
2 — 2026 Corvette Prices Climb—More Performance, Higher Stakes
Chevrolet is turning the page to 2026 with higher prices across the entire Corvette lineup. From the Stingray to the ZR1X, every buyer now faces increased costs, and the timing is immediate. The move reflects rising logistics expenses and the escalating price of extreme performance—but it also lands squarely on customers with orders already in the system.
Key Talking Points
- All 2026 Corvettes get a $500 destination charge increase
- ZR1 MSRP rises by $1,600, with no price protection for existing orders
- New pricing took effect on December 15
- Destination fee jumps from $1,995 to $2,495
- Pricing increases arrive alongside major 2026 interior and performance upgrades
Where The Increases Hit
The most universal change is the destination freight charge. For 2026, GM raised the DFC by $500, pushing it from $1,995 to $2,495 on every Corvette variant. According to Chevrolet, the adjustment reflects updated shipping costs and aligns the Corvette with broader industry averages.
On the MSRP side, the Stingray, E-Ray, and Z06 hold steady. The ZR1, however, takes a direct hit, with its base price climbing $1,600. The ZR1 1LZ Coupe now starts at $182,000, up from $180,400, before destination is added. The ZR1X enters the lineup at $207,100 before DFC, placing it firmly at the top of the Corvette food chain.
No Safety Net For Buyers In Line
The most controversial detail? No price protection. Dealer sources confirm that customers with orders already submitted are subject to the new pricing, as the increases went live on December 15. For buyers who locked in earlier, expecting one number and now face another, that stings—especially at the ZR1 and ZR1X level.
This follows earlier model-year price bumps across the Corvette range, reinforcing a clear trend: each step deeper into C8 performance territory comes with a higher buy-in.
What You’re Getting For The Money
To Chevy’s credit, the 2026 Corvette isn’t just more expensive—it’s meaningfully upgraded. The interior sees a full redesign, ditching the polarizing center console button wall in favor of a cleaner layout with a passenger grab handle, a three-screen configuration, and a new 6.6-inch auxiliary display for track-focused data.
At the top, the ZR1X represents a new ceiling. According to chief engineer Josh Holder, it blends lessons from the ZR1 and E-Ray, pairing a 1,064-horsepower twin-turbo V8 with a front electric motor for a combined 1,250 horsepower and all-wheel drive. The result: a claimed 0–60 mph run under two seconds—territory usually reserved for seven-figure exotics.
CorvSport Hot Take
Yes, the prices are climbing—and the lack of price protection will leave some buyers frustrated. But zoom out, and the story is familiar: more tech, more performance, more capability, and more cost. Even at its new price points, the 2026 Corvette still punches well above its weight in a world where comparable performance often starts at a million dollars.
The sting is real. The value proposition? Still very much intact. Here are all the starting MSRPs for the 2026 Corvette.
| 2026 Trim Level & Configuration | 2026 MSRP + DFC |
|---|---|
| Stingray 1LT Coupe | $72,495 |
| Stingray 1LT Convertible | $79,495 |
| Stingray 2LT Coupe | $79,595 |
| Stingray 2LT Convertible | $86,595 |
| Stingray 3LT Coupe | $84,245 |
| Stingray 3LT Convertible | $91,245 |
| E-Ray 1LZ Coupe | $111,095 |
| E-Ray 1LZ Convertible | $118,095 |
| E-Ray 2LZ Coupe | $116,595 |
| E-Ray 2LZ Convertible | $123,595 |
| E-Ray 3LZ Coupe | $122,045 |
| E-Ray 3LZ Convertible | $129,045 |
| Z06 1LZ Coupe | $120,195 |
| Z06 1LZ Convertible | $127,195 |
| Z06 2LZ Coupe | $129,095 |
| Z06 2LZ Convertible | $136,095 |
| Z06 3LZ Coupe | $133,745 |
| Z06 3LZ Convertible | $140,745 |
| ZR1 1LZ Coupe | $184,495 |
| ZR1 1LZ Convertible | $194,495 |
| ZR1 3LZ Coupe | $195,495 |
| ZR1 3LZ Convertible | $205,495 |
| ZR1X 1LZ Coupe | $209,595 |
| ZR1X 1LZ Convertible | $219,595 |
| ZR1X 3LZ Coupe | $220,595 |
| ZR1X 3LZ Convertible | $230,595 |
| ZR1X 3LZ Quail Silver Limited Edition Convertible | $245,590 |
Source For This News Curation: GMAuthority
3 — C8 Corvette Stumbles in 2025—But The Big Picture Still Looks Strong
The numbers are in, and while GM had a solid 2025 overall, the Corvette’s year looks rough at first glance. Sales dipped hard—but context matters. Between factory interruptions, constrained halo variants, recalls, and buyers clearly waiting for what’s next, the C8’s seventh year reads less like a collapse and more like a pause before the next surge.
Key Talking Points
- 2025 Corvette sales totaled 24,533 units, down 26.4% from 33,330 in 2024
- Production disruptions, recalls, and ZR1 constraints heavily impacted availability
- Corvette still managed nearly 25,000 builds, mostly Stingrays and Z06s
- Buyers appeared to be holding for the 2026 interior and tech overhaul
- Rising prices and interest rates added pressure at the top end
A Sharp Drop, But Not a Shock
The Corvette closed out 2025 with 24,533 sales, a steep decline from 2024’s 33,330 units and far off the C8’s 2023 peak of roughly 54,000. That said, the slide wasn’t uniform all year. Chevrolet clearly slowed the bleeding late, with Q4 sales down 10.6% to 6,815 units, suggesting demand never disappeared—it just couldn’t fully convert to deliveries.
This kind of dip isn’t unheard of. The C8 is now in its seventh model year, and history shows even iconic Corvettes cool off as generations mature.
Production Pain Did The Real Damage
Behind the scenes, 2025 was a grind. Scheduled Bowling Green Assembly plant closures in March for project improvements limited build windows and backed up orders. At the same time, carbon fiber shortages hit the ZR1 hard, forcing Chevrolet to stop taking new orders altogether.
To make matters worse, many 2025 ZR1 orders were canceled and pushed to 2026, often at higher prices. Add in the refueling fire risk safety recall affecting 2023–2026 Z06 and ZR1 models, complete with a dealer stop-sale for much of the year, and the sales decline starts to look more like math than market rejection.
Why Demand Didn’t Disappear
Despite everything, Chevrolet still built almost 25,000 Corvettes in 2025—largely Stingrays and Z06s—with E-Ray and ZR1 production remaining limited. That’s not a brand in retreat; that’s a brand constrained.
On top of that, many buyers are clearly waiting for the 2026 Corvette, which brings a major interior and technology refresh. The long-criticized wall of buttons is gone, replaced by a cleaner layout with larger integrated screens, a new 6.6-inch auxiliary display for track data, relocated HVAC controls, and a revised drive mode selector.
Pricing Reality And The Road Ahead
There’s no ignoring the financial side. As mentioned in our previous curation, Corvette prices have climbed steadily—from about $1,800 to more than $7,000, depending on trim—plus a $1,995 destination fee and shifting option costs. Combine that with high interest rates, and some buyers inevitably step back or wait it out.
CorvSport Hot Take
Yes, 2025 looks messy on paper—but context changes everything. The C8 didn’t lose its audience; it ran into supply walls, recalls, rising prices, and a buyer base clearly eyeing the refreshed 2026 model. Nearly 25,000 cars still found homes under those conditions.
That’s not a bad year for a seventh-year supercar—it’s a setup year. And if Corvette history tells us anything, the rebound usually comes fast.
Sources For This News Curation: HotCars, General Motors
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