Home | News | Road Tests Chevrolet Announces New 2010 Corvette Grand Sport 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Home > News > GM > Chevrolet 27th April, 2009 Grand Sport. It’s one of the most storied monickers in Corvette’s illustrious racing heritage. Chevrolet has announced it is returning to Their North American line-up 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, Kentucky, USA. 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 321 kW* (430 horsepower) and 575 Nm* (424 lb.-ft.) of torque with the standard exhaust system. An optional two-mode exhaust system elevates the power ratings to 325 kW (436 horses) and 580 Nm (428 lb.-ft.). The Grand Sport replaces the Corvette’s previous Z51 package and brings a greater degree of handling performance, with wider wheels and tyres; revised shock, stabiliser 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 mph 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 mudguards – including specific front guards 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 tyres in front and 325/30ZR19 tyres in the rear Z06-size brakes, including 355 mm (14-inch) front rotors with six-piston callipers and 340 mm (13.4-inch) rear rotors with four-piston callipers 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 colours are offered on the Grand Sport, and an available Heritage package adds iconic front guard hash marks offered in four colours, 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. Self-Catering Holiday Accommodation in Denmark, WA ..... more Grand Sport history Envisioned by legendary Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov as a factory-built, light weight 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 motor sports. 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 programme 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 centre stripe and red “hash mark” graphics on the left front guard, a graphic scheme that mimicked the look of some of the original race cars. *SAE certified Hear Chris Goodsell Talk Motoring On Radio & Internet ..... more More Chevrolet News ..... here More General Motors News ..... here About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2009   All rights reserved.   Next Car Pty. Ltd.