|
Chevrolet Announces
New 2010 Corvette Grand Sport
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. –Grand Sport. It’s one of the most storied
monikers in Corvette’s illustrious racing heritage. Today, Chevrolet
announced it is returning to the lineup 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,
Ky.
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 430 horsepower (321 kW)* and 424 lb.-ft. of torque
(575 Nm)* with the standard exhaust system. An optional two-mode exhaust
system elevates the power ratings to 436 horses (325 kW) and 428 lb.-ft.
(580 Nm).
The Grand
Sport replaces the Corvette’s previous Z51 package and brings a greater
degree of handling performance, with wider wheels and tires; revised
shock, stabilizer 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 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
fenders – including specific front fenders 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
tires in front and 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear
- Z06-size brakes,
including 14-inch (355 mm) front rotors with six-piston calipers and
13.4-inch (340 mm) rear rotors with four-piston calipers
- 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 colors are offered on the Grand Sport, and an
available Heritage package adds iconic front fender hash marks offered
in four colors, 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.
Grand Sport history
Envisioned
by legendary Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov as a factory-built,
lightweight 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 motorsports.
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 program 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 center stripe and red “hash mark” graphics on
the left front fender, a graphic scheme that mimicked the look of some
of the original race cars.
*SAE certified.
SPECIFICATIONS
|
Overview
|
|
Models:
|
Chevrolet
Corvette Grand Sport Coupe and Convertible |
|
Body styles /
driveline: |
two-door
hatchback coupe with removable roof; rear-wheel drive (Coupe
and Convertible) |
|
Construction:
|
composite body
panels, hydroformed steel frame with aluminum and magnesium
structural and chassis components |
|
Manufacturing
location: |
Bowling Green,
Ky. |
Engines
| |
6.2L V-8
LS3 |
|
Displacement (cu
in / cc): |
376 / 6162
|
|
Bore & stroke (in
/ mm): |
4.06 x 3.62 /
103.25 x 92 |
|
Block material:
|
cast aluminum
|
|
Cylinder head
material: |
cast aluminum
|
|
Valvetrain:
|
overhead valve,
two valves per cylinder |
|
Fuel delivery:
|
SFI (sequential
fuel injection) |
|
Compression
ratio: |
10.7:1
|
Horsepower
(hp / kW @ rpm): |
430 / 321 @ 5900*
w/ std. exhaust
436 / 325 @ 5900* w/ opt. exhaust |
|
Torque (lb-ft /
Nm @ rpm): |
424 / 575 @ 4600*
w/ std. exhaust
428 / 580 @ 4600* w/ opt. exhaust |
|
Recommended fuel:
|
premium
recommended not required |
|
EPA estimated
fuel economy (city / hwy): |
15 / 25
(automatic)
16 / 26 (manual) |
Transmissions
| |
six-speed manual |
six-speed paddle-shift automatic |
|
Application: |
std.
|
opt.
|
| Gear
ratios (:1) |
|
|
|
First: |
2.97
|
4.03
|
|
Second: |
2.07
|
2.36
|
|
Third: |
1.43
|
1.53
|
|
Fourth: |
1.00
|
1.15
|
|
Fifth: |
0.71
|
0.85
|
|
Sixth: |
0.56
|
0.67
|
|
Reverse: |
3.28
|
3.06
|
| Final
drive ratio: |
3.42
|
2.73
|
Chassis /
Suspension
|
Front:
|
short/long arm (
SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control
arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube
shock absorber |
|
Rear:
|
short/long arm (
SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control
arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube
shock absorber |
|
Traction control:
|
electronic
traction control; Active Handling |
Brakes
|
Type:
|
front and rear
power-assisted disc with ABS with six-piston front and
four-piston rear calipers, cross-drilled rotors |
|
Rotor diameter x
thickness (in / mm): |
front: 14 x 1.3 /
355 x 32
rear: 13.4 x 1 / 340 x 26 |
Brake swept area
(sq in / mm): |
front: 309 / 1994
rear: 269 / 1735 |
|
Wheels &
Tires |
|
|
Wheel size:
|
front: 18-inch x
9.5-inch
rear: 19-inch x 12-inch |
|
Tires:
|
front:
P275/35ZR18
rear: P325/30ZR19 |
Dimensions
|
Wheelbase (in / mm): |
105.7 / 2685 |
|
Overall length (in / mm): |
175.6 / 4460 |
Overall width
(in / mm):
|
75.9 / 1928 |
|
Overall height (in / mm): |
48.7 / 1236 |
|
Curb weight (lb / kg): |
3311 / 1502 (Grand Sport Coupe)
3289 / 1492 (Grand Sport Convertible) |
Weight distribution
(% front / rear): |
51 / 49 |
|
Interior |
|
|
Seating capacity |
2 |
|
Interior volume (cu ft / L): |
52 / 1475 |
Headr oom (in
/ mm):
|
38 / 962 |
Legroom (in /
mm):
|
43 / 1092 |
|
Shoulder room (in / mm): |
55 / 1397 |
|
Hip room (in / mm): |
54 / 1371 |
|
Capacities |
|
Cargo volume
(cu ft / L): |
Coupe: 22 /
634
Convertible: 11 / 295 (top up); 7.5 / 212 (top down)
|
| Fuel tank
(gal / L): |
18 / 68.1
|
| Engine oil
(qt / L): |
5.5 / 5.2
(automatic transmission)
10.5 / 9.9 (manual transmission) |
* SAE certified.
Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.
Check out the GS
With
Heritage Package
Click Here!
2010
CORVETTE Order Guide
is now here
for
you to download.
Click Here!
The
website and the
Grand Sport
Customer GM catalog are now online at:
http://www.chevrolet.com/vehicles/corvette-grand-sport/overview.do
be sure and check it out! |
