On Tuesday, Chevrolet released new information about the upcoming 2026 Corvette. The 2026 model year will still be the C8 generation, but there are some major interior changes, a few exterior changes, some new tech, one or two new performance improvements for the ZR1, but a couple of questions still left in the air. We were hoping the 2026 refresh was going to shine some light on some rumors and speculation: will there be a Grand Sport and when do we get the Gen 6 small-block Chevy?

What’s New inside?

The big changes for the 2026 Corvettes are in the interior. Chevrolet is revamping the C8’s interior after years of debate over its controversial cabin layout. Spy photos revealed recently the removal of the polarizing wall of buttons, now replaced by a sleeker design. The center console is now significantly lower, and the folding cup holder cover has been swapped for two open slots. A new grab handle replaces the former barrier between driver and passenger, called ‘the wall of buttons’ by many, while the relocated buttons now sit beneath the infotainment screen.

The interior remains driver-focused but offers better accessibility for passengers to use climate and infotainment controls. Chevy has also updated the digital gauge cluster, adding a small display on the left side, similar to other recent GM models and following the trend of big screens in new cars. The central touchscreen appears to be less driver-angled than before, contributing to a more balanced layout. The ZR1 will now get a carbon fiber gauge hood, which will be optional on the Z06s.

The 2026 Corvette debuts four additional new interior color schemes. Sky Cool and Medium Ash Gray with Habanero accents, Santorini Blue and Jet Black, Very Dark Atmosphere that is Rich chocolate brown paired with Jet Black and Natural Tan accents, and Ultimate Suede which is a Jet Black suede interior customizable through Adrenaline Red, Santorini Blue, and Competition Yellow accent stitch colors and matching seatbelts.

New Performance Upgrades?

For the first time since Performance Traction Management was introduced, a new mode for 2026 Corvettes is being added across all Corvette variants called PTM Pro. PTM Pro turns off electronic stability control and traction control, while leaving ABS and certain E-Ray-specific front axle controls active, minimizing vehicle intervention for drivers who want maximum control. This mode is designed to be the answer to long-running demands from Corvette owners who track their C8.

The blue calipers that were a ZR1-only option for 2025 are now available for E-Rays and Z06s. Gm has not released photos of the new 10-piston calipers yet.

The 2026 Corvette ZR1’s ZTK performance package will be equipped with an all-new carbon ceramic brake package featuring 10-piston front and 6-piston rear calipers, which are the largest ever fitted to a production Corvette. While more of a cosmetic change versus a performance improvement, the blue brake calipers, currently available on ZR1, will be available as an option on E-Ray and Z06 models.

Grand Sport Rumors

We’re all anticipating the Zora, a low-production 2026 Corvette hypercar-killer that takes the four-digit-horsepower ZR1 and combines it with the front hybrid drive from the E-Ray to make an all-wheel-drive 1,200-plus-horsepower Corvette. The Zora should debut later this summer, but one rumor that can’t seem to get squashed is the possibility of a C8 Grand Sport.

The C8 Grand Sport was originally planned to debut in 2023, but was then changed to the E-Ray. The Grand Sport in the past for the C6 and C7 generations combined the wide bodywork and suspension from the Z06 model with the entry-level V8, resulting in a mid-level performance package. The E-Ray filled that position with its e-AWD system, but many have speculated that Chevrolet might release a true Grand Sport model for 2026 that is just the LT2 drivetrain without the hybrid system. GM has not confirmed anything yet, but some spy shots and GM renewing the Grand Sport trademark in May of 2022 have kept the rumor fires fueled.

Gen-VI Small-Block Rumors

More speculation about the 2026 Corvette comes from an unlikely source: The 2027 Silverado. While that might sound strange, it starts to make sense when you look at Chevrolet’s history. Historically, the next generation of the small-block Chevy debuts in the Corvette and then follows in the trucks. The Gen-III LS first appeared in the 1997 Corvette and then made it into the engine bay of the Silverado and Sierra in 1999. The move from Gen-III to Gen-IV LS engines came in the 2005 Corvette and then the 2007 trucks. The 2014 Corvette debuted the Gen-V LT and landed in the half-ton trucks shortly after for the same model year.

The LT6 and LT7 in the Z06 and ZR1, including the upcoming Zora, utilize a DOHC V8 architecture. Could this inspire the next-gen small-block V8?

GM announced a while back that the 2027 half-ton trucks will be all new and receive the Gen-VI small-block that they are still super-secret about. If history has taught us anything, there is a high chance we will see this new Gen-VI architecture in the 2026 Corvette model year first. Will the new small-block retain its traditional two-valve pushrod design? Or will it take the big leap with a dual-overhead-cam design from the C8 Z06’s LT6? So far, GM is keeping their cards close to their chest and keeping us in the dark, so only time will tell.

Production of the refreshed 2026 Corvette lineup is set to begin sometime this summer. Additional details, including more on the highly anticipated Corvette Zora, are expected to be released ahead of the launch (hopefully very soon). These updates mark a significant evolution for the 2026 Corvette’s design, enhancing aesthetics and usability.