mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

The Grand Sport joins the seventh-generation Corvette lineup for the 2017 model year. Slotting between the Corvette Stingray and Corvette Z06, the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport combines a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires and a naturally aspirated engine to deliver exceptional performance.

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport features the following content:

  • Performance:
    • Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires
    • Specific Grand Sport wheel design, 19×10 inches in the front and 20×12 inches in the rear
    • Brembo brake system
    • Standard Magnetic Ride Control, specific stabilizer bars and unique springs
    • Standard electronic limited-slip differential
    • Available Z07 package that carbon ceramic-matrix brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tires
  • Powertrain:
    • 6.2L V8 LT1 engine rated at 460 horsepower (343 kW) with the 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
  • Exterior:
    • Track-focused aero elements
    • Specific front fender inserts
    • Z06-style grille
    • Wider rear fenders
[nggallery id=815]

Chevrolet says that the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport is a pure expression of the car’s motorsports-bred pedigree thanks to having Corvette Racing in its DNA.

Like the Corvette C7.R GTE Pro race car that won the 2015 Le Mans, the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport combines a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires and a naturally-aspirated engine. It offers an estimated 1.05g in cornering capability. The optional Z07 package increases that to 1.2g.

Heritage-inspired design cues and exclusive features acknowledge the historic Grand Sport legacy, established in 1963 to take on the world’s best sports cars. Only five were built before a corporate decision suspending direct motorsports involvement ended the project.

“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.”

Engineers adapted the chassis tuning, upgraded cooling systems, and performance technologies of the Corvette Z06 to give the new Grand Sport capability commensurate with its racing-derived 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.”

The result is a potent track car. In fact, the Grand Sport with the Z07 package is less than one second off the track record for the previous-generation Corvette ZR1 on the road course at GM’s Milford Proving Ground.

Content highlights for Grand Sport include:

  • Performance:
    • Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires: 285/30ZR19 (front) and 335/25ZR20 (rear)
    • Brembo brake system with 14-inch (355 mm) rotors and six-piston calipers in front and 13.4 inch (340 mm) rotors and four-piston calipers in the rear
    • Standard magnetic ride control, specific stabilizer bars and unique springs
    • Standard electronic limited-slip differential
  • Powertrain:
    • 6.2L V8 LT1 engine rated at 460 hp (343 kW) with dry-sump oil system and active exhaust
    • Seven-speed manual transmission with active rev match and available eight-speed paddle-shift automatic with specific performance calibration
  • Exterior:
    • Specific Grand Sport wheel design: 19×10 inches (front) and 20×12 inches (rear)
    • Track-focused aero elements
    • Specific front fender inserts
    • Z06-style grille
    • Wider rear fenders

Grand Sport models are offered with the Stingray’s full exterior and interior color palette. An available Heritage package includes hash-mark fender graphics in six colors, with the hash-mark detail carried onto the interior’s brushed aluminum trim. Full-length stripes are also offered.

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

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport offers an available Heritage package. It includes:

Exterior

  • Hash-mark fender graphics in six colors
  • Full-length stripes offered

Interior

  • Hash-mark graphics on brushed aluminum trim

The Grand Sport Collector Edition features unique exterior and interior content.

2017 Corvette Grand Sport Collector Edition Exterior

On the outside, the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport features:

  • Exclusive Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior with Tension Blue hash-mark graphics
  • Satin black full-length stripes
  • Black wheels

The Tension Blue color is a bold, modern take on the hue that has historically been associated with the Grand Sport.

2017 Corvette Grand Sport Collector Edition Interior

Inside, the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport features:

  • Unique Tension Blue full leather and suede-wrapped interior
  • A three-dimensional representation of an original Grand Sport race car embossed in the headrests
  • The shape of the original Grand Sport race car is also used on an instrument panel plaque that carries a unique build sequence number

The available Z07 package adds:

  • Carbon ceramic-matrix brakes
  • Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tires

2017 Corvette Grand Sport Exterior Colors

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport is offered in the Stingray’s full exterior color palette.

2017 Corvette Grand Sport Interior Colors

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport is offered in the Stingray’s full interior color palette.

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport will be offered in coupe and convertible body styles.

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Auto Show on Tuesday, March 1st, 2016.

When

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport coupe and convertible become available in the summer of 2016 in the U.S. and in the fall of 2016 in Europe. The Corvette Grand Sport Collector Edition will be offered later in the model year.

Where

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport and 2017 Corvette Grand Sport Collector Edition will be available in North America and in Europe in the summer of 2016.

Starting prices for the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport are as follows:

  • 2017 Corvette Grand Sport coupe: $66,445
  • 2017 Corvette Grand Sport convertible: $70,445

Chevrolet decided to refer to the C7 Grand Sport as the Corvette Grand Sport, officially making it the third model in the seventh-generation Corvette lineup that slots between the Stingray and Z06.

Before the official debut, we believed that were were two possibilities of how the C7 Grand Sport could be named:

  1. The first possibility is that the C7 Grand Sport will be a sub-model of the Corvette Stingray. In this case, the full name of the vehicle will be Corvette Stingray Grand Sport.
  2. The second (and more likely) possibility is that the C7 Grand Sport will be its own model slotting between the Stingray and Z06. In this case, its full name will be Corvette Grand Sport.

Here’s what we expected from the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport before it was unveiled:

  • Bridging the gap between the C7 Corvette Stingray and the C7 Corvette Z06
  • Same 6.2L V8 LT1 engine as in the Corvette Stingray
  • Brings certain Corvette Z06 elements to the Stingray, including
    • Brakes
    • Fenders
    • Spoilers
  • 2017 model year vehicle available for purchase starting in the third quarter of 2016

On February 29th, 2016, Corvette Racing driver and Europe’s Corvette ambassador, Oliver Gavin, tweeted that he was headed to a rehearsal for the world premiere of the Corvette Grand Sport.

Photo accompanied by Oliver Gavin's Tweet.

Photo accompanied by Oliver Gavin’s Tweet.

The tweet included a photo of Chevy’s schedule for the 2016 Geneva Auto Show. Notably, it listed “Corvette Grand Sport”while also stating that Gavin will be joined by lead Corvette engineer Tadge Juechter for the debut.

2017 Corvette Grand Sport specs have not yet been announced. We will update this section when Chevrolet releases the specs.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.