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Once upon a time, a 200-mph top speed truly meant something. It was the mark of a true hypercar, a threshold shattered only by the most elite machines ever conceived. While more vehicles than ever are capable of crossing it today, it remains a special number. Plenty of EVs can reach 60 mph from a standstill in three seconds flat, but the top-end power to crack 200 is still a rarity. Starting with the 2027 model year, the cheapest Corvette that Chevy makes will be able to get there.
Today, the automaker touted that the 2027 Stingray, the lowest rung on the ‘Vette ladder priced at $73,495 including freight, will be able to pass 200 mph thanks to its new 6.7-liter LS6 V8, rated at 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque. (The latter is a record for naturally aspirated V8s in production, by the way.) The LS6 makes 40 hp more than the outgoing 6.2-liter LT2, which is what Team Corvette credits to the Stingray’s ability to pick up another 6 mph and hit 200.
“That’s all power. The record really shows the strength of the LS6, an engine that we set out to create a unique place in the Corvette lineup,” Small Block Assistant Chief Engineer Mike Kociba said in a GM News blog.
Fun fact: The Corvette Z06 seen here can’t crack 200 mph because it lacks the Stingray’s narrow, low-drag body. General Motors
Now, this doesn’t mean that 200 mph is the minimum for all C8 Corvettes, because once you start eyeing the Z06, you’re in the domain of widebody cars with more aero. And aero, of course, is the natural enemy of straight-line speed. The Z06 is officially clocked to top out at 195 mph, while the ZR1 has no problem reaching as much as 233 mph with its 1,000-plus power total.
It’s also worth noting that a Stingray equipped with the optional Z51 Performance Package, which the car in GM’s latest test did not have, would likely not top out as high as a consequence of gearing changes and additional spoilers at the front and rear.
All this gives the Stingray a cool distinction at the bottom of the totem pole. Sure, it might not be as adept at the track, but it can outdrag its brethren, given a long enough runaway. And for $73,500, no less. I won’t call that the bargain of the century, but it is a good deal, particularly when the average new car is priced $22,000 lower than that.
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Backed by a decade of covering cars and consumer tech, Adam Ismail is a Senior Editor at The Drive, focused on curating and producing the site’s slate of daily stories.
