Grand Sport is one of the best acclaimed monikers in Corvette’s illustrious antagonism heritage. For 2010, it already afresh becomes allotment of the Corvette’s lineup, accessible in auto and convertible models.
The new Grand Sport combines the Corvette’s LS3-based powertrain with wide-body styling, a added clue and a racing-bred abeyance for a characteristic archetypal that delivers a abundant antithesis of alley and chase clue performance. It is offered with either a six-speed chiral or six-speed automated transmission. The LS3 6.2L agent is rated at 430 application (321 kW)* and 424 lb.-ft. of torque (575 Nm)* with the accepted bankrupt system. An alternative two-mode bankrupt arrangement elevates the ability ratings to 436 horses (325 kW) and 428 lb.-ft. (580 Nm).
The Grand Sport replaces the Corvette’s antecedent Z51 amalgamation and brings a greater amount of administration performance, with added auto and tires; revised shock, balance bar and bounce specifications; and specific gearing. A aggregate of 0-60 achievement of four seconds, drift pad adherence of 1 g and EPA-estimated 26 mpg on the artery makes it a actual ample sports car.
Grand Sport auto models able with the chiral chiral are abnormally outfitted for chase clue competition, too, with a dry-sump oiling system, cogwheel acknowledgment and a rear-mounted battery. The complete account of agreeable and appropriate appearance for the Grand Sport includes:
* Added advanced and rear fenders – including specific advanced fenders with chip Grand Sport badges * Z06-style advanced splitter and alpine rear addle-brain * Functional anchor ducts and added cooling * Different 18-inch advanced and 19-inch rear wheels; corrective accomplishment accepted and chrome accomplishment alternative * Large 275/35ZR18 tires in advanced and 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear * Z06-size brakes, including 14-inch (355 mm) advanced rotors with six-piston calipers and 13.4-inch (340 mm) rear rotors with four-piston calipers * Specific chiral chiral accessory ratios * Specific rear arbor arrangement on automatic-equipped models
With its appropriate equipment, the Grand Sport offers a different alloy of achievement and amenities. Its abeyance amalgamation approaches that of the Z06, but includes a disposable roof on coupes (Z06 has a anchored roof) and, of course, the availability of a convertible anatomy style. Also, the paddle-shift six-speed automated chiral is offered, while a chiral chiral is the alone best with the Z06.
All of Corvette’s exoteric colors are offered on the Grand Sport, and an accessible Ancestry amalgamation adds iconic advanced fender assortment marks offered in four colors, as able-bodied 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 allegorical Corvette architect Zora Arkus-Duntov as a factory-built, failing and race-ready accumulation archetypal that would trump calm and adopted road-racing competitors, the aboriginal Corvette Grand Sport was a able abstraction that led to the accumulation of bristles appropriate prototypes in 1963. The activity was after shelved, afterward GM’s acceding to break out of manufacturer-backed motorsports.
The bristles prototypes were based on the administration of the 1963 Corvette and were hand-assembled beneath Duntov’s alert eye. But while they looked like accumulation models, the prototypes were purpose-built chase cars that aggregate little with their accumulation band cousins. Duntov additionally oversaw the Grand Sport agent affairs that featured a special, 377-cubic-inch small-block V-8 with side-draft carburetors.
Although never clearly accustomed by General Motors, the bristles Grand Sport prototypes saw all-encompassing antagonism acquaintance throughout the 1960s in the easily of “private” racers who had able contacts aural Duntov’s engineering circle. All bristles aboriginal cars are accounted for today and are amid the best admired in the beneficiary market.
Chevrolet offered a limited-edition Grand Sport accumulation archetypal in 1996, commemorating the aboriginal antagonism cars and appearance the end of the C4 era in Corvette production. All of the 1,000 examples were corrective Admiral Blue and featured a white centermost band and red “hash mark” cartoon on the larboard advanced fender, a clear arrangement that mimicked the attending of some of the aboriginal chase cars.
