2027 Corvette Stingray Hits 60 MPH in 2.7 Seconds in Independent Test
A 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray equipped with the Z51 Performance package reached 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and completed the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds at 124 mph in new independent testing by Car and Driver. The results show that Chevrolet’s 6.7-liter LS6 V-8 brings its clearest gains at higher speeds, while braking and cornering performance remain close to the original 2020 C8 Stingray.
The October 24 test is new evidence rather than a repeat of Chevrolet’s launch claims. Chiefs Review did not test the car. Car and Driver performed the instrumented runs and compared the 2027 Z51-equipped Stingray with a similarly configured 2020 model the publication had tested when the mid-engine C8 was new.
The new Stingray is quicker, especially above 60 mph
Car and Driver measured the 2027 Stingray at 2.7 seconds from zero to 60 mph, one-tenth quicker than its 2020 comparison car. The gap increased as speed rose: the new model reached 100 mph in 6.9 seconds, compared with 7.2 seconds for the earlier car, and reached 150 mph in 18.6 seconds rather than 19.4.
The quarter-mile result improved from 11.2 seconds at 122 mph to 11.0 seconds at 124 mph. Those numbers suggest that traction still limits how much of the added engine output appears in the initial launch, while the extra power and torque become more useful after the car is moving.
- 0–60 mph: 2.7 seconds
- 0–100 mph: 6.9 seconds
- 0–150 mph: 18.6 seconds
- Quarter-mile: 11.0 seconds at 124 mph
- 70–0 mph braking: 149 feet
- Skidpad: 1.02 g
These are Car and Driver’s measured results, not Chevrolet estimates and not Chiefs Review testing. Test surfaces, weather, tires, fuel and launch procedures can affect instrumented performance, so results from another test may differ.
The LS6 adds 40 horsepower and 50 pound-feet
The 2027 Stingray replaces the previous 6.2-liter LT2 with Chevrolet’s sixth-generation 6.7-liter LS6 small-block. Chevrolet rates the naturally aspirated engine at 535 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 520 pound-feet of torque at 4,600 rpm—gains of 40 horsepower and 50 pound-feet over the outgoing performance-exhaust version of the LT2.
Chevrolet says the larger displacement comes from increasing stroke from 92 to 100 millimeters while retaining a 103.25-mm bore. The engine also uses a 13.0:1 compression ratio, forged pistons and connecting rods, port and direct fuel injection, a larger throttle body and a revised oiling system intended for track use.
The automaker’s technical overview of the LS6 describes it as the most powerful base engine offered in a Corvette. That is a manufacturer claim based on Chevrolet’s own product history; the new independent test provides a separate look at how the additional output changes straight-line performance.
Z51 trades maximum speed for track-focused hardware
Chevrolet lists the standard 2027 Stingray as capable of 200 mph, but the Z51 test car was estimated at 183 mph. That difference is not evidence that the package makes the car slower in every setting. Z51 adds a shorter 5.56:1 final-drive ratio, larger brake-cooling openings, a front splitter, a rear wing, summer tires, upgraded cooling, firmer suspension and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.
Those changes prioritize acceleration, heat management, braking and cornering rather than minimum aerodynamic drag. Car and Driver’s 2020 Z51 comparison car was estimated at 184 mph, so the new package’s higher engine output does not overcome the gearing and aerodynamic limits at maximum speed.
Braking performance changed little. Both cars stopped from 70 mph in 149 feet, while the 2027 model improved the 100-mph stop by four feet, to 297 feet. Lateral grip was also effectively unchanged: 1.02 g for the new car versus 1.03 g for the 2020 example. The 2027 test car weighed 3,702 pounds, 55 pounds more than the older car tested by the publication.
What the results mean for buyers
The test does not show a dramatic transformation in the first few seconds of acceleration. A tenth of a second to 60 mph is measurable but unlikely to define the ownership experience by itself. The stronger improvement from 100 to 150 mph better demonstrates the LS6’s additional output, although those speeds belong on a closed course.
For road and track buyers, the more important conclusion may be balance. The 2027 Stingray gains meaningful straight-line pace without giving up its earlier braking capability or much measurable grip. The Z51 package still involves a clear tradeoff: more track-oriented hardware and quicker gearing, but a lower maximum speed than the more aerodynamically efficient standard car.
The Corvette’s performance story also extends beyond the road car. Chevrolet has confirmed its two-car Corvette Racing GTD PRO lineup for 2027, continuing the competition program alongside the expanded production-car range.
Sources
- Car and Driver: 2027 Corvette Stingray instrumented test comparison, October 24, 2026
- General Motors: 2027 Corvette LS6 technical overview, March 26, 2026
- Chevrolet: current Corvette specifications and model lineup, accessed October 24, 2026
Featured image: A red C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray at the Golden Super Cruise in Colorado on October 3, 2026. Illustrative image; the Commons file is labeled for the 2020–2027 generation, and this is not the Car and Driver test vehicle. Photo by Xnatedawgx via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
