--- title: "Even the Cheapest C8 Corvette Will Hit 200 MPH Now" date: "2026-06-30" modified: "2026-06-30" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/even-the-cheapest-c8-corvette-will-hit-200-mph-now" categories: - "Chevrolet News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Chevrolet" - "Corvette" - "sports car" --- # Even the Cheapest C8 Corvette Will Hit 200 MPH Now ![Chevrolet Corvette Stingray front three-quarters view in orange]() *\Chris Szczypala\* 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](). ![Rear 7/8 view of 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 in Elkhart Lake Blue Metallic driving down a road.]() *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. *Got a tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()