Corvette Grand Sport Flexes Naturally Aspirated Muscles

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2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport (Credit: Chevrolet)

The Grand Sport is back and better than ever. After a hiatus, Chevrolet has resurrected this Corvette legend and kept it all-motor, with a naturally-aspirated LT1 V-8 that’s rated at 460 horsepower. A seven-speed manual is standard, or if you want to be lame and get an eight-speed automatic you can do that as well. The same cooling and chassis tuning from the C7 ZO6 is part of the package, plus magnetic ride suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential and Brembo brakes.

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You might notice in the pictures that the grille is similar to the one on the C7 ZO6. The rear fenders are wider and the front fender inserts are unique to the Grand Sport. Chevrolet will offer the car in all of the same colors as the Stingray.

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport (Credit: Chevrolet)

Making the Corvette Grand Sport even better, buyers will have the option of adding the ZO7 Performance Package. That bundle includes all kinds of goodies like carbon-fiber aero bits, carbon-ceramic brakes and Michelin Sport Cup 2 summer tires.

To prove that the new Grand Sport is the real deal, Chevrolet revealed that it can pull about 1.05g, or 1.2g with the ZO7 Performance Package. It can whip around the Milford Proving Ground track a second faster than the C6 ZR1.

Not too shabby.

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport (Credit: Chevrolet)

While everyone’s freaking out over the Porsche 911R reveal, and understandably so, the Corvette Grand Sport is actually way more exciting. For starters, you won’t have to tap your lucrative trust fund to buy one. Porsche decided to stick it to enthusiasts who couldn’t pony up loads of cash, capping production to just 991 units.

Chevrolet, on the other hand, says it isn’t limiting Grand Sport production to some ridiculously low number. The Commemorative Edition will be limited, but if you’re looking for an amazingly balanced track car to do hot laps on the weekend, the regular version won’t cost over $180,000. It’s a hardcore track car for the people who want to hoon.

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport interior (Credit: Chevrolet)

So far, Chevrolet hasn’t revealed an official price for the Corvette Grand Sport, but it has said it’ll be below what you’d pay for an overheating C7 ZO6.