Corvette Grand Sport Returns as the C8 Performance Sweet Spot
For years, the Corvette Grand Sport has hit the sweet spot in the Corvette lineup. It combines the everyday usability of the base Corvette with the track-focused ability of models such as the Z06 and ZR1. The new C8 Corvette Grand Sport and the all-wheel-drive Grand Sport X follow that same formula.
“Previous generations of Grand Sport coupled the aggressive looks and handling ability of wide-body models with a very capable standard engine, making a high-performance Corvette more attainable,” says Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder. “That’s why we often call the Grand Sport the ‘sweet spot.’ It’s been a winning formula for us.”
Winning runs through the Corvette Grand Sport’s DNA. The original 1963 C2 Corvette Grand Sport started life as a pure race car. Chevrolet based it on the iconic Corvette Stingray and built it to challenge the best sports cars of its day. Chevrolet built only five cars, and the Grand Sport claimed notable class wins, including one at the 1964 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
The modern Corvette Grand Sport story began with the 1996 C4. Chevrolet created it as a send-off for the C4-generation Corvette. The 1996 Grand Sport paired a revised version of the standard Corvette 5.7-litre LT4 Small-Block V8 with chassis upgrades from the ZR1. Each of the 1,000 cars wore the Admiral Blue, white stripe and red hash mark livery inspired by the 1963 original.
Chevrolet skipped the C5-generation Corvette, but the Grand Sport returned for the C6 from 2010 to 2013. Corvette engineers paired the wide bodywork of the Z06 and ZR1 with the base 6.2-litre LS3 V8. They refined that formula again with the 2017 to 2019 C7 Grand Sport. That car combined the Stingray’s 465-horsepower LT1 V8 with the bodywork and chassis hardware of the Z06.
The C2 Grand Sport ranks among the rarest Corvette models ever built, and Chevrolet sold the C4 as a limited edition. The C6 and C7 Corvette Grand Sport models reached a much wider audience. “If history is our guide,” Holder says, “the Grand Sport ends up being the top seller after introduction. It’s the car most people have been waiting for.”
The C8 generation always looked set to get a Corvette Grand Sport. Chevrolet needed the right moment. That moment arrived with the introduction of the new Gen-6 Small-Block LS6 V8 as the new base engine for the Corvette.
Corvette customers use their cars in very different ways, so engineers created three distinct options in the new Grand Sport lineup. The standard Touring Suspension gives the base Corvette Grand Sport a chassis tuned for daily driving and spirited use. Magnetic Ride Control dampers come as standard. Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4+ tyres and a new brake package also come as standard, delivering strong performance while reducing brake dust. “This offering is the ultimate GT, canyon-carving, road-tripping, all-out Corvette,” Holder says.
The Z52 Sport Performance Package targets drivers who plan to take their Corvette Grand Sport to the track. It adds Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tyres1, a stiffer suspension tune and the J56 high-performance iron brake package from the Z06. “That car is meant for the enthusiast who plans to take their Grand Sport to the track,” Holder explains. “We want to offer something that’s within the tradition of the Grand Sport.”
The Z52 Track Performance Package pushes track performance even further. It adds the J57 carbon-ceramic brake package available on the Z06, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R summer tyres1, unique suspension tuning and a carbon-fibre aero package. “This package is very mission-specific,” Holder says. “It's for the particular customer that's looking for super handling capability but wants the big-torque performance of the LS6.
The all-new Grand Sport X adds 186 electric horsepower and creates the first eAWD Corvette Grand Sport. As standard, the Grand Sport X includes the J57 carbon-ceramic brake package and Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4+ tyres. Buyers can also opt for a Performance Package with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tyres.
“Grand Sport X takes advantage of learnings from the ZR1X and brings 186 horsepower to the front axle,” Holder says.
Both the Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X reflect direct customer feedback. The optional centre-exit exhaust, which Holder calls the lineup’s “coolest feature”, keeps the sound of the LS6 ever present. Corvette fans asked for exactly that.
On the Grand Sport X, engineers raised the maximum electric-only speed in Stealth mode to 50 mph. That change gives drivers more freedom to move in near silence. They also reworked the cooling system to increase frunk capacity and reduce heat in that area.
“Engineers hate to stop working on things,” Holder explains to customers, which brings a clear benefit.
The Corvette Grand Sport and Grand Sport X wear their stripes with pride. This C8 lineup celebrates the Grand Sport’s rich history and the hard work of the Corvette team. Holder may have said it best. These are the cars fans have been waiting for.