2017 Corvette Grand Sport

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

The new 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport combines a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires and a naturally aspirated engine to deliver exceptional performance. The Grand Sport Collector Edition features an exclusive Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior with Tension Blue hash-mark graphics, satin black full-length stripes and black wheels. the new Grand Sport combines a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires and a naturally aspirated engine.

The Details

For the 2017 model year, Chevrolet unveiled its newest iteration of the Corvette Grand Sport at the Geneva Auto Show. During its unveiling on March 1, 2016, it was announced that the all-new 2017 Corvette Grand Sport was the culmination of the car’s motorsports-bred pedigree. Like the 2015 Corvette C7.R Pro race car, the new Grand Sport combined a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires and a naturally aspirated engine.

“Racing has been part of Corvette’s essence for more than 50 years and that track experience has helped us build better, more capable cars. The global acclaim for the seventh-generation Corvette validates that direct link and the 2017 Grand Sport takes its track-bred technology to a new, exciting threshold.”

– Mark Reuss, Executive Vice President of Global Product Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain.

Equip Your Grand Sport With the Z07 Performance Package

To enhance the Grand Sport’s capabilities, Corvette engineers utilized the chassis tuning, upgraded cooling systems, and the performance technologies previously developed for use in the Z06. The result is a Grand Sport Corvette that is truly derived from its race-car brethren.

“We didn’t hold back with the new Grand Sport. For the first time, buyers can equip the Grand Sport with a Z07 performance package – which adds carbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin Sport Cup 2 summer tires, and carbon-fiber aero package that delivers true downforce.”

-Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer.

When equipped with the Z07 performance package, the 2017 C7 Grand Sport rivals the performance of the previous generation’s ZR1 Corvette. In fact, the Z07 equipped Grand Sport ran just a second slower than the ZR1 at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds. It should be noted that the Corvette ZR1 currently holds the track record for fastest lap time.

In addition, the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport also features an estimated 1.05g in cornering capability, and even greater cornering capability -1.2g – when equipped with the Z07 package.

Options

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport came well equipped from Chevrolet, and feature a number of options that were specifically designed for the track, including:

• Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires: 285/30ZR19 (front) and 335/25ZR20 (rear).
• Specific Grand Sport wheel design: 19×10 inches (front) and 20×12 inches (rear).
• Brembo brake system with (355 mm) 14-inch rotors and six-piston calipers in front and (340 mm) 13.4 inch rotors and four-piston calipers in the rear.
• Standard magnetic ride control, specific stabilizer bars and unique springs.
• A standard electronic limited-slip differential.
• The LT1 V8 engine rated at (343 kW) 460 hp, with dry-sump oiling system and active exhaust.
• A seven-speed manual transmission with active rev match, or an available eight-speed paddle-shift automatic with specific performance calibration.
• The available Z07 package featured carbon ceramic-matrix brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tires.

Exterior

For its exterior, the Grand Sport featured wider front fender elements which included special inserts, and a Z06 style grill. The rear end of the car similarly featured wider quarter panels. Both the wider fenders and quarter panels were specifically designed to accommodate a wider track. A front splitter, special rockers and wicker bill rear spoiler were also incorporated into the Grand Sport’s design (along with optional carbon fiber ground effects (at an added cost.))

The Grand Sport models were available to consumers with the Stingray’s full exterior and interior color palette. To further differentiate the Grand Sport however, an available Heritage package was also offered. This packaged included special hash-mark fender graphics in six colors. These hash-mark color palettes carried over to the interior’s brushed aluminum trim. Full-length stripes – running from the nose of the car to the rear decklid – were also offered as an option.

“The choices are almost endless. The packages take personalization to an unprecedented level, enabling customers to create their own Corvette Grand Sport statement like no other.”

– Harlan Charles, Corvette Product Marketing Manager.

Interior

Inwardly, the 2017 Grand Sport Corvette offered almost as many amenities to customize the driving experience to the driver’s individual preferences, including:

• A five-position Drive Mode Selector that tailored 12 vehicle attributes to match the driver’s environment.
• An interior that offered genuine carbon fiber and aluminum trim, hand-wrapped leather materials and dual eight-inch configurable, color driver/infotainment screens.
• The Chevrolet MyLink with an 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen.
• The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone projection capability.
• Available red safety belts.
• PDR updates that included a mute button for recording, an enhanced recording screen which showed the selected overlay, and an odometer that was added to the Valet, Sport and Track.

Safety Features

• Four standard air bags, which included side-impact air bags.
• Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS.
• Active Handling with electronic stability control.
• Safety belt pretensioners.
• A standard rear-vision camera and available front curb-view cameras.
• Tire pressure monitoring system with run-flat tires.

In short, the engineering team behind the 2017 Grand Sport Corvette did not compromise on safety, even in their proclamation of having manufactured one of the most track-capable Corvettes ever.