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.
SPECIFICATIONS
Overview
Models:
Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Coupe and Convertible
Body styles / driveline:
two-door hatchback coupe with removable roof; rear-wheel drive (Coupe and Convertible)
Construction:
composite body panels, hydroformed steel frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components
Manufacturing location:
Bowling Green, Ky.
Engines
6.2L V-8 LS3
Displacement (cu in / cc):
376 / 6162
Bore & stroke (in / mm):
4.06 x 3.62 / 103.25 x 92
Block material:
cast aluminum
Cylinder head material:
cast aluminum
Valvetrain:
overhead valve, two valves per cylinder
Sounds like one awesome car!! Nothing like being in debt to get GM working hard again. Dale Earnhardt said he drove better when he was in debt ...after they asked him how he was going to pay for the new Learjet he bought.
Sounds like one awesome car!! Nothing like being in debt to get GM working hard again. Dale Earnhardt said he drove better when he was in debt ...after they asked him how he was going to pay for the new Learjet he bought.
What's the base price starting at?
Umm... My understanding is this came to life because of the discontinuation... uhh... delay, in the C7 due to the current conditions. This, while exciting, is a downgrade from what was going to happen.
Umm... My understanding is this came to life because of the discontinuation... uhh... delay, in the C7 due to the current conditions. This, while exciting, is a downgrade from what was going to happen.
I only hope GM gets back to the C7 work soon.
I thought the C7 wasn't scheduled to come out until 2012? You may be correct, and if GM hadn't got themselves into the debacle they are in, they would not have done anything to the current C6 until then. But in the mean time, depending on price, I think this is a positive step in the direction that even Duntov could/would approve of ...making it a true sports car and not just a fast touring supercar.
Quote:
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.
IMO, l think GM will get the C7 out sooner rather then later. I also think that when the C7 does come out it will be even lighter, faster and most certainly have a F/I V6 as a base option for sure ...in order to appease the new management/finance team.
I thought the C7 wasn't scheduled to come out until 2012? You may be correct, and if GM hadn't got themselves into the debacle they are in, they would not have done anything to the current C6 until then.
...
IMO, l think GM will get the C7 out sooner rather then later. I also think that when the C7 does come out it will be even lighter, faster and most certainly have a F/I V6 as a base option for sure ...in order to appease the new management/finance team.
Love your optimism... yeah, a F/I V6 option. Hard to make it a supercar killer that way, right?
Seeing as nobody is working on the C7... the 2012 date isn't realistic / possible. And with the plans they had in the works (mid engine seemed the direction) there is a *lot* of development that needs to be done. Simply no time left to conduct that amount of work and make the 2012 date. Especially not with the resources that are left at GM currently.
Just being realist by keeping up with the times. Bigger isn't necessarily better. Besides, what's wrong with a Porsche GT3 or Nissan GT-R? Just shed 500lbs. off the GT-R by taking out the back seat and shortening it up and it would be in the ballpark too.
GM could possibly make more money by offering a V6 ...just look how much Porsche gets for a 6-cylinder 911 GT2 or GT3. In the mean time the Grand Sport will do until GM gets its bearings.
I thought the C7 wasn't scheduled to come out until 2012? You may be correct, and if GM hadn't got themselves into the debacle they are in, they would not have done anything to the current C6 until then. But in the mean time, depending on price, I think this is a positive step in the direction that even Duntov could/would approve of ...making it a true sports car and not just a fast touring supercar.
IMO, l think GM will get the C7 out sooner rather then later. I also think that when the C7 does come out it will be even lighter, faster and most certainly have a F/I V6 as a base option for sure ...in order to appease the new management/finance team.
LOL here we go again
__________________ ///2001 BMW 330Ci - 5-Speed - Sport Option
[b]2007 Yellow Sky Red Line 5-Speed
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Hard to make it a supercar killer that way, right?
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