The Corvette Grand Sport will offer slightly more power, better handling and a more aggressive body, to act as a sportier step up between the base 'Vette and the 100-grand Canadian Z06, the 500-hp powerhouse that was trumped last year in power and exclusivity by the 638-hp Corvette ZR1.
An optional dual-mode exhaust brings the Grand Sport's oomph to 436 hp from the base 430; more significantly, it gets wider fender flares, a Z06-like hood intake and rear spoiler, as well as Z06-sized brakes and rear brake cooling ducts, which are functional but look somewhat tacked on.
The manual transmission Grand Sport will also take further steps to appeal to weekend racers — such as relocating the battery to the rear for better weight balance, adding a dry-sump oiling system and a differential cooler to avoid expensive engine and chassis bit failures.
On the other hand, the Grand Sport is also available with a six-speed automatic, a convertible top, or a pop-out panel on coupes, while the Z06 is hardtop and manual only.
The company didn't enter the Corvette ZR1 last year, and possibly may not even enter the Oshawa-built Camaro SS as part of this year's program, according to one GM Canada official.
"As a 'leaner and greener' company going forward, muscle is much less of a concern," wrote Tony LaRocca, when he confirmed that GM did plan to participate in the annual new-car TestFest the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada will put on this fall.
"They are great cars [Corvette ZR1, Camaro SS] but low-volume and frankly they sell themselves — our focus at TestFest and elsewhere will be on more important volume vehicles."
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+ Corvette CS6 and Z06 Coupe Prices Reveal in UK
+ 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 NAIAS Debut
Welcome to life with the more politically sensitive, government-funded GM. Officials didn't right out and confirm that no Camaro would be at TestFest, but the 2010 GMC Terrain crossover and new Buick Allure (called the LaCrosse in the United States seem like much better bets to be there, although the Camaro V-6 seems a possibility.
As for the ZR1, just providing the minimum of two models needed would have been a challenge, company reps said. GM entered the Corvette Z06 in the 2006 CCOTY awards, where it picked up AJAC's first Most Coveted Vehicle award, but lost out in the Best New Sports Car category to the Honda Civic Si. (That led TestFest organizers to split the category into two categories, less than $50,000 and over $50K, the following year.
