This may be the C7 Corvette to end all C7 Corvettes. The 2017 C7 Corvette Grand Sport is merely one-second off from the C6 Corvette ZR1’s posted lap time at the Milford Proving Ground, it carries over track-honed aerodynamics and offers up to 1.2 G in cornering capability. And, it’s running the naturally-aspriated 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine.
The 2017 C7 Corvette Grand Sport made its debut (after being semi-spoiled by Corvette Racing’s Oliver Gavin) at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, where Gavin and lead Corvette engineer Tadge Juechter unveiled the latest Grand Sport.
“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,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of Global Product Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “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.”
2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport 002
The 2017 C7 Corvette Grand Sport adapted the chassis tuning, upgraded cooling systems, and performance technologies of the Corvette Z06 to create a Grand Sport to proudly carry on what the nameplate stands for, and its storied racing history.
“We didn’t hold back with the new Grand Sport,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. “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.”
Technical highlights of the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport include:
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
Standard electronic limited-slip differential
LT1 V8 engine rated at (343 kW) 460 hp, with dry-sump oiling system and active exhaust
Seven-speed manual transmission with active rev match and available eight-speed paddle-shift automatic with specific performance calibration
Available Z07 package adds carbon ceramic-matrix brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tires
The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport doesn’t just take Z06 design cues and call it a day. The Corvette team carefully blended Z06 and Stingray to create a unique look to the Grand Sport. Specific front-fender inserts, a Z06-style grille and wider rear fenders help bring the Grand Sport to life in this seventh-generation of Corvette.
The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport will be available with the slew of exterior and interior trimmings currently available, but an available heritage package will bestow your very own C7 Corvette Grand Sport with hash-mark fender graphics.
If none of this sounds special enough, the Grand Sport Collector Edition may tickle your fancy, as it quite tickles ours. The Grand Sport Collector Edition adds an exclusive Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior hue with Tension Blue hash marks and satin black full-length stripes. Inside, Tension Blue suede and leather washes the interior cabin to create a stunning contrast from the Watkins Glen Gray exterior.
2017 C7 Corvette Grand Sport Collector Edition Interior
The seat headrest also receive an embossed, 3D representation of the original Grand Sport race car, with the same shape adorning the instrument panel plaque. The plaque also houses the Grand Sport’s build number.
Prepare yourself, because the 2017 C7 Corvette Grand Sport invades the U.S. and Europe this coming summer, with the collector edition following later in the model year.
Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2016/03/2017-c7-corvette-grand-sport-is-a-naturally-breathing-z06/#ixzz41mJEAJGS