Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport: 10 Things That Make it Special

The New Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

In the Corvette world, the name “Grand Sport” carries some weight. It represents a lineage of cars that, at one time or another, have dominated both the road and the track. It started as a racecar, but today it is the most popular trim of the C7 ‘Vette.

But what makes this car so special to the Corvette world? ‘Vette owners are notoriously well versed on their cars and famously passionate about Chevy’s top-tier sports car. So let’s look at what make the Grand Sport such an article of their collective affection.

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The First

The legend of the Grand Sport started in secret. Famed Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov sensed the threat of the Shelby Cobra, and wanted to create a lightweight version of the Corvette to rival it. The result was one of the most coveted ‘Vettes on the planet.

Duntov created a unique “birdcage” body frame, wrapped it in thinner aluminum, and put a 550-horsepower 377 cubic inch V8. Once GM brass caught wind of the program, they shut it down. Of the 125 planned cars, only five were built. They were briefly raced, with one even winning at Watkins Glen in 1963.

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The Follow-up

In 1996, GM produced a limited run of a thousand grand sports, featuring the striking blue color, and red hash marks on the front fenders. It combined the chassis setup of the ZR1 Corvette with a high-performance version of the LT4 V8.

Then in 2010, GM rolled out a Grand Sport version of the C5 Corvette. It employed the wider Z06 chassis, and could attain a full G on the skid pad. The LS3 V8 engine displaced 6.2 liters and put out 436 horsepower, and yet it returned 26 mpg on the highway, underscoring a surprisingly blend of performance and efficiency.

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The Iconic Look

The Chevy Corvette Grand Sport comes in many color combinations. Like the C4, two stripes mark the top of the front fenders. In addition to that recognizable touch, the Grand Sport features a large racing stripe that starts in the middle of the hood and runs the length of the car.

If you want something even more special, the Collector Edition of the Grand Sport comes in Watkins Glen Grey with Tension blue stripes at the fenders. There are also Twilight Blue, Spice Red, and Jet Black suede design packages to further enhance the look of your Grand Sport.

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Engine

Though the Grand Sport features the standard Corvette engine, it features the available dual-mode exhaust system that can go from subdued to audibly scorching with the push of a button. And just remember that the standard Corvette is no slouch, cranking out 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque

This engine also features the dry sump of the Z51 edition. Dry sump oil systems use a separate oil reservoir rather than the oil pan located below the engine, as in the more common “wet sump systems.” In hard cornering in the wet sump, the oil will slosh around, but with the dry sump, the oil stays where it belongs

You can get the Grand Sport with either a seven-speed manual (with active rev match) or eight-speed automatic transmission. The auto has the Z51’s 2.73:1 final ratio compared to the regular corvette’s 2.41:1 ratio.

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Wider Is Better

The Grand Sport is 3.5 inches wider than the standard Corvette, totaling 77.4 inches wide. This is the width set for the Corvette Z06. With the big tires that grip the road, the Corvette actually feels even wider than that.

When it comes to cornering and handling, wide is good, but it’s just one component for a successful sports car. You need some serious hardware too.

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Suspension

All versions of the Corvette have the innovative Magnetorheological damper system (also known as MagneRide), which can adjust to road conditions and allow for different drive modes. But not all magnetic ride control systems (much easier to say and spell) are created equal.

With this system, there are many, many potential tunings. The standard C7 has a softer version, and the top-tier Z06 has the firmest version. The Grand Sport’s tuning is somewhere in the middle.

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Wheels, Brakes, and Tires

The Grand Sport wears a unique, all-black wheel design (19-inch up front and 20-inch out back) wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. These provide intense grip and make a great impression rolling by.

You can also get the optional Z07 package, which brings over some gear from the Corvette Z06, including huge carbon-ceramic brake rotors that are 15.5 inches in diameter up front and 15.3 in the rear.

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Go to the Game Tape

The Grand Sport is available with the Performance Data Recorder. This feature can record audio and video of your driving, with 30 different data points, and is activated with the push of a button.

The data is stored on an SD card, which you can take with you and watch at home so you can perfect your racing technique. This is how the pros learn how to improve their craft!

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Other Driver Tech

The Grand Sport was once a Spartan racer, but now it is as well-equipped with technology as any modern luxury car. The Corvette Grand Sport features a customizable instrument panel, as well as a head up display that features crucial driver information.

It also comes with Chevy MyLink, which is one of the more intuitive and easy to use infotainment systems on the market. It features very well thought out layout, and also incorporates Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support. You can also have the Corvette set up as a 4G LTE hot spot.

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Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

The previous versions of the Grand Sport, from the ’63 racecar to the ’96 and 2010 road cars, were only offered as coupes. The rationale is that chopping the roof off significantly reduces structural rigidity, resulting in the frame warping in certain driving scenarios.

To compensate, you typically have to reinforce the body, which adds costly weight to the car. In 2010, the Grand Sport was offered as a convertible, but adds about 400 pounds to the curb weight. But the C7 Grand Sport Convertible is a no-compromise racer, offering the stiffness of the coupe, but with minimal weight gains.

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More Tools From U.S. News & World Report

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