The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Is The Z06's Track-Ready N/A Brother
Like the idea of the Corvette Z06? Don’t need quite as much as 650bhp? Chevrolet has just the car for you. It’s called the Grand Sport, and it’s festooned with track-friendly bits like beefy Brembo brakes, a retuned suspension system including magnetic ride control and new springs, and an electronic limited-slip differential.
Instead of a supercharged V8 like the Z06, the Grand Sport ‘makes do’ with the N/A, 6.2-litre LT1. It’s still good for 453bhp though, which will make the Grand Sport fast enough for most.
If you fancy making it more hardcore, you can option the GS with the Z07 performance pack. This includes carbon ceramic brakes, Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres (replacing the Michelin Pilot Super Sports) and a carbonfibre aero package.
It certainly looks the part thanks to wider rear arches and a Z06-style front grille, and can be made more distinctive still if you order the Grand Sport Collector Edition with its Glen Gray Metallic paint and Tension Blue graphics. The only issue with that? While Chevy was at it, it also splashed a load of blue onto the seats…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
This is the sweet spot in the ‘Vette in my opinion because get all the go fast bits off the Z06 including the Z07 package if you choose except the supercharger at a cheaper price. The one thing that surprises me is the choices of going with the standard LT1. We know that a 427 (7 liter) NA was in development for the Z06 before they chose to go with the supercharged LT4. I expected the GS to have the naturally aspirated 427 which would have replaced the LS7. Say with like 500-520hp a good bump up over the LT1 but not infringing on the Z06 territory. That’s not say the engine is dead since the new Z/28 will most likely get it since the 5th gen Z/28 got the LS7 out of the C6 Z06.
Sexy AF
This is a great move by GM, bridging the gap between the Stingray and the Z06. I would like to have seen a power bump, but regardless, this is definitely the proper driver’s Corvette - all the handling components of the Z06 with none of the heatsoak.
All I read was that it wasn’t an ls7
Blue interior? Im sure Shmee wouldn’t mind.
At least give it a bit more power and less weight come on GM stop being so lazy
They would if they didn’t have to deal with emissions. Luckily there’s shops like Katech and Lingenfelter that will gladly bump the power to 650+ NA.
So a Z06 without the overheating problem? Haha
The problem is really blown out of proportion. I know tons of guys who can drive the car hard and it won’t overheat. It tamesa cool down lap sometimes or using a higher gear (ex- 3rd instead of 2nd), but that’s not an issue because the Z06 makes 650 lb ft of torque.
I would put it right in the middle of the Stingray and the Z06 give around 570 hp and lighten it up a bit. I’d like to see maybe a heritage edition of it that gives you the admiral blue with the white stripes down the center and red hash marks on the fenders.
Doesn’t the LT1 make 460hp?
Yeah, but they’re talking about brake horsepower, I was confused too.
Just buy a z/28