Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport (C6)

[Ferrer]

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. –Grand Sport. It’s one of the most storied monikers in Corvette’s illustrious racing heritage. Today, Chevrolet announced it is returning to the lineup in the new, 2010 Corvette Grand Sport model.

The announcement was made at the 12th annual C5/C6 Corvette Birthday Bash, held at the National Corvette Museum, in Bowling Green, Ky.

The new Grand Sport combines the Corvette’s LS3-based powertrain with unique, wide-body styling and a racing-bred suspension for a distinctive model that delivers a great balance of road and race track performance. It is offered in both coupe and convertible body styles, with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The LS3 6.2L engine is rated at 430 horsepower (321 kW)* and 424 lb.-ft. of torque (575 Nm)* with the standard exhaust system. An optional two-mode exhaust system elevates the power ratings to 436 horses (325 kW) and 428 lb.-ft. (580 Nm).

The Grand Sport replaces the Corvette’s previous Z51 package and brings a greater degree of handling performance, with wider wheels and tires; revised shock, stabilizer bar and spring specifications; and specific gearing. The equipment enables cornering capability of 1.0 g, as well as a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60 acceleration vs. standard LS3-powered models.

Grand Sport coupe models equipped with the manual transmission are uniquely outfitted for race track competition, too, with a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery.

The complete list of content and special features for the Grand Sport includes:

-- Wider front and rear fenders – including specific front fenders with integrated Grand Sport badges
-- Z06-style front splitter and tall rear spoiler
-- Functional brake ducts and extra cooling
-- Unique 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels; painted finish standard and chrome finish optional
-- Large 275/35ZR18 tires in front and 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear
-- Z06-size brakes, including 14-inch (355 mm) front rotors with six-piston calipers and -- -- 13.4-inch (340 mm) rear rotors with four-piston calipers
-- Specific manual transmission gear ratios
-- Specific rear axle ratio on automatic-equipped models

With its special equipment, the Grand Sport offers a unique blend of performance and amenities. Its suspension package approaches that of the Z06, but includes a removable roof on coupes (Z06 has a fixed roof) and, of course, the availability of a convertible body style. Also, the paddle-shift six-speed automatic transmission is offered, while a manual transmission is the only choice with the Z06.

All of Corvette’s exterior colors are offered on the Grand Sport, and an available Heritage package adds iconic front fender hash marks offered in four colors, as well as two-tone seats with Grand Sport embroidery. The Grand Sport can be ordered with 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT trim packages, too.

Grand Sport history

Envisioned by legendary Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov as a factory-built, lightweight and race-ready production model that would trump domestic and foreign road-racing competitors, the original Corvette Grand Sport was a promising idea that led to the production of five special prototypes in 1963. The project was later shelved, following GM’s agreement to stay out of manufacturer-backed motorsports.

The five prototypes were based on the styling of the 1963 Corvette and were hand-assembled under Duntov’s watchful eye. But while they looked like production models, the prototypes were purpose-built race cars that shared little with their assembly-line cousins. Duntov also oversaw the Grand Sport engine program that featured a special, 377-cubic-inch small-block V-8 with side-draft carburetors.

Although never officially sanctioned by General Motors, the five Grand Sport prototypes saw extensive racing experience throughout the 1960s in the hands of “private” racers who had strong contacts within Duntov’s engineering circle. All five original cars are accounted for today and are among the most valuable in the collector market.

Chevrolet offered a limited-edition Grand Sport production model in 1996, commemorating the original racing cars and marking the end of the C4 era in Corvette production. All of the 1,000 examples were painted Admiral Blue and featured a white center stripe and red “hash mark” graphics on the left front fender, a graphic scheme that mimicked the look of some of the original race cars.

*SAE certified.

[Roentgen]

I think the 2 white stripes came straight from one of the reward cars in NFS Undercover's new challenge series, the Dominator Corvette C6.

[johnnynumfiv]

Originally Posted by Roentgen

I think the 2 white stripes came straight from one of the reward cars in NFS Undercover's new challenge series, the Dominator Corvette C6.

Or a throw back to the 90's gran sport.

[cmcpokey]

or a more recent usage of the stripes....

2007 Chevrolet C6 Corvette Z06 Ron Fellows GT1 Champion - Images, Specifications and Information

[092326001]

doesn't look bad, except for those wheels

and the hash marks come from the 1963 corvette grand sport
i'm thinking that it might have looked better in a blue w/ white stripe paint job like the 90's grand sport

[AERO_HDT]

I'm a fan of all Corvettes, it's good to see that the Grand Sport lives up to its name and isn't just a cheap sticker special like so many cars are these days. I must admit, despite GM's woes, the passion they put into the Corvette is very impressive and the C6 is their finest yet. Great to see some heritage in the current model lineup!

[johnnynumfiv]

I was just thinking, is this basically a lower power with a convertible option Z06 ?

[Dino Scuderia]

Doesn't look as special as the 1996 edition.

[cmcpokey]

Originally Posted by johnnynumfiv

I was just thinking, is this basically a lower power with a convertible option Z06 ?

except with less power. its essentially a base model, with redone suspension and brakes, and with funky side vents and new wheels.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

except with less power. its essentially a base model, with redone suspension and brakes, and with funky side vents and new wheels.

So it's for the people that either can't afford a Z06 or can't drive a stick.

[cmcpokey]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

So it's for the people that either can't afford a Z06 or can't drive a stick.

i guess, or the people that 505 hp scares them.

i'd drive it though. especially beacause i cant afford a Z06.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

i guess, or the people that 505 hp scares them.

i'd drive it though. especially beacause i cant afford a Z06.

I think I'd prefer the standard Corvette, I can't see any interesting gains in this.

[cmcpokey]

i can, especially if you have any intent on tracking it. brake cooling is crucial, better suspension would be good, and the splitter and rear lip spoiler would help with downforce which cant be bad.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

i can, especially if you have any intent on tracking it. brake cooling is crucial, better suspension would be good, and the splitter and rear lip spoiler would help with downforce which cant be bad.

I can see the point with brakes, that's the only thing I'd miss in the standard car. But I think the aerodinamic devices wouldn't be of much use at road speeds, the wider car won't fit in our twisty roads, I don't want bigger wheels that compromise the ride and give me more grip and the Z51 package suspension was probably enough.

[cargirl1990]

there are WAAAAAAAAAAAY too many trim levels of the Corvette. not saying it's a bad thing, it's just that there's so many trims like, C5, C6, C6R, Z06, ZR1, but then again, i guess that isn't alot...