Think of the latest incarnation of the Grand Sport as the Z06 light, for about $55k you get a lot of the goodies in the Z06 but at a $20,000 discount. It's not so much of a kidney-pounding, mean and nasty brute, but it'll hang on the track all day and do it reliably, because it's built to a higher spec than the normal LS3-equipped Vettes.

So, what do we have then? Well for starters, the Grand Sport rides on the steel frame of the base Corvette but wears the bodywork and dimensions of the Z06 all around, modified with a set of gill slits in the coves as well as a slightly taller spoiler. This will be the first time the more aggressive Zed's style will be available with an open top, so that's potentially where a lot of sales will originate. It also gets unique wheels in Z06 dimensions all around which come in either chrome, silver painted, or our preference the Competition Gray, hot. Those wheels wrap around bigger brakes shared with the Z06, 14" up front and 13.4" rear, with six-piston and four-piston calipers, respectively. It really announces its presence when optioned with the telltale hash marks sprouting from the wheel wells. Unlike the original 1963 race spec Grand Sport or the 1996 limited run GS, this one has matching stripes on driver and passenger side — a little spit in the eye of tradition, but unless you're a stickler, it's pretty neat, especially when you notice the Corvette crossed-flags emblem in the corner of the leading stripe.

That's all well and good, but we suspect the part that'll get Corvette owners talking is the engine. It's an LS3, yes, but with some very tasty upgrades. All Grand Sports get a forged steel crankshaft instead of the standard cast iron piece which can withstand higher loads for longer times as wells as tri-metal main bearings that'll take a whole lot more abuse than standard ones. On the manual transmission cars, you get a dry-sump oil system standard, with a higher flow and higher pressure oil pump and a 10.5-quart capacity, that dry sump occupies the same space as the battery normally gets, so it's moved to the rear as a result. Because of the dry sump complexity, the engine is being built by hand right alongside the LS7 and LS9. That means you get a properly balanced engine and a reinforced bottom end for the price of admission on the "cheap" Grand Sport model. Add to that the differential cooler at the rear and you have exactly what you need for a solid track day. Sounds pretty good to us.

As with all Corvettes, you can hand it off to Grandma to go pick up groceries and she'll only complain about sitting so gosh-darn low. However, she'll also be able to turn around and rip off 3.95 second 0-to-60 times all day thanks to the addition of launch control, which GM cheekily assured us would never void the warranty, not only that but it works pretty well too (sadly we only had time to test it on the also-equipped ZR1, which was in no way more exciting than sex on a roller coaster, turning in 0-to-60's in a plodding 3.48 seconds). You'll note that 3.95s time puts the GS 0.35 seconds faster than the standard Vette, due to improved traction, transmission gearing and final drive. On the track, unsurprisingly, the Grand Sport reminds us of a Z06 missing about 70 HP, which is actually more manageable than the 7.0-liter brute. 436 HP with the valved exhaust is more than enough to get you rocketing to delirious speeds in no time, and the big brakes haul you down even faster. You can throw every mistake in the book at the car and it's almost too easy to drive at speed, easy to catch when you push too hard, and riotously fun when you do everything right. The upgraded brakes and anti-roll bars really make a difference when late-braking for corners and diving through chicanes as accurate turn-in and quick transitions are incredibly rewarding.

GM's thinking the Grand Sport might top 50% of total Corvette sales at least in the short term, and there's good reason to believe it might. On the one hand, it offers the boulevardier Corvette owners the enticing pitch of the Z06 body with the convertible top, upgraded suspension, unique looks and a reasonably good automatic transmission (really, in manual mode, it's pretty respectable). On the other hand, the base Grand Sport coupe with a manual gives you a lot of the Z06 goodies with a hand-built engine equipped with a dry-sump and upgraded internals for $20,000 less. And here we thought it was just a stickers and wheels package.

Pricing for the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport coupe will slide in at $55,720 and the convertible will be $59,530, roughly $4,000 each over the 2008 Z51-equipped models in which the GS replaces.

As with the base Corvette, the GS receives a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 with 436 HP and 428 lb-ft of torque on tap, more than ready for the silly kid in you to come out and play. Row, row, row the boat via a six-speed manual gearbox (or a six-speed auto for the uninitiated) to hit a 0-60mph time of less than 4 seconds and pull 1.0g on the skid pad with grippy 275/35ZR18(F) and 325/30ZR19(R) tires. Do all this right and you'll get much, much less than the hypermile claim of 26mpg.

In other Corvette related news; the Bowling Green Kentucky plant built the 1.5 millionth Corvette, a white with red interior 3LT convertible, on May 28th. This color scheme matches the previous 'milestone' cars built in 1992 (1 millionth), 1977 (500,00th) and 1953 (first). Let's just hope that GM's current status doesn't prevent them from building another million Corvettes.

We've already seen the 2010 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport revealed at the 2010 Corvette seminar at the National Corvette Museum's C5/C6 Bash, but that's not the only thing Corvette's Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter revealed. He also went into detail about the new Launch Control option — meant to optimize performance on a drag strip — that will be standard on all manual transmission 2010 Corvettes. The best part is unlike the Nissan GT-R launch control, this system won't void your warranty if you use it. We like.

Basically, put the 'Vette into competitive mode and the system will, based on the car you have — whether base coupe or ZR1 — when you put the throttle to the floor, it won't redline, instead, it'll hit a predetermined RPM level and then when you dump the clutch, you'll take off. It'll potentially help you get, on the Z06 for instance, a 3.65 second 0-to-60 time — an extra half-a-tenth of a second off the 3.7 second official 0-to-60 time on the Z06 — every single time. We really like.

Speaking of "really like" — it sounds as though, if you check out the second video, that Corvette fan-boys and Corvette engineers both heart Jalopnik as much as we heart the 2009 Corvette ZR1. [via CorvetteBlogger]

We know what you're probably thinking and to be perfectly honest, we were thinking it too. This is not another commemorative package, nor is it a sticker package, instead the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport is a bonafide performance package that will help to distinguish the different Corvette models even more so.

Chevrolet's plan is to rid the lineup of the Z51 package Vettes, instead replacing it with a uniquely designed new Grand Sport model. Everything that you know and love about the Z51 will be here, but now, with the help of new Z06-derived bodywork you won't be confused with those driving lesser base-model Vettes.

The 6.2-liter LS3 V8 remains, pumping out the same extremely capable 430 horsepower and 424 lb-ft or torque (436 horsepower and 428 lb-ft with the optional two-mode sport exhaust) and is easily manipulated to do your bidding through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Sport's calipers are distinguished by their silver with red lettering and the rotors have been enlarged to Z06-spec, 14-inch with six-piston calipers in front and 13.4-inch with four-piston grabbers in the rear. Also equipped are revised shock/spring settings and heavier duty stabilizer bars. The 2010 Grand Sport rides on unique 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels wrapped in sticky 275/35ZR18 and 325/30ZR19 tires, front and rear.

For those that opt to equip their Grand Sport with the six-speed manual transmission, Chevrolet will throw in a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery. All-in-all, these improvements should net an enthusiastic 2010 Grand Sport driver with a 0.2-second improvement over the existing Z51-model.

The Grand Sport can be equipped in either Coupe or Convertible body styles, but regardless of which you choose, you'll be rewarded with a wider Z06-style front fascia with a Z06 lower lip spoiler, the only thing missing is the scoop on the nose. Z06-width front fenders replace the stock Vette's with a Grand Sport badge sitting atop dual vertical gills. The rear fenders have been replaced with Z06 units with functional brake cooling ducts. You can have your Grand Sport in any available Corvette color as well as all four different available trim levels (1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT). A heritage package is also available, adding a pair of dual stripes on the front fenders in either silver or red. The interior features special Grand Sport embroidery on the seat head rests.

The 2010 Corvette Grand Sport is publicly being announced at the 12th annual C5/C6 Corvette Birthday Bash at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky this weekend. Pricing is yet to be announced, but expect it to be somewhere around current Z51-package pricing. We'll take ours in Coupe-spec painted in Le Mans Blue (Okay fine, Jet Stream Blue) with the red stripes please.

[via GM]

In a bizarre and unprovoked posting on CorvetteForum, someone operating under the name Ken Fichtner, owner and operator of Fichtner Chevrolet in Billings, Montana, has divulged the future product lineup for the Corvette brand, and it includes the return of one of our favorite Corvette designations, the Grand Sport.

Chevrolet will offer the 2010 in 6 models:

1YY07 Corvette Coupe
1YY67 Corvette Convertible
1YY87 Corvette Z06
1YY87 Corvette ZR1
1YG07 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe
1YG67 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

I haven't any other information on colors, trim, powertrain, packages, or options.

I will keep you updated as information is available.

This spill reveals not only a new model but an expanded 'Vette policy for GM, well, at least under now-shelved former CEO slick Rick Wagoner. We'll see if this new uber-badass Vette survives under the new GM head honcho Fritz Henderson. Should the program survive the Carpocalypse bonesaw, we can hardly wait for a paired-down, hash-marked, track-day all star. (Thanks for the tip Joe!) [Corvette Forum]

[WCF]

The Pebble Beach Concours is scheduled for tomorrow, but all the cars are taking their places already, including the debuting Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport. Here, the Veyron Grand Sport is seen running around in its underwear, hoping to avoid photography. Gee, wonder what it looks like? (Thanks to J.F. Musial for the tip)

Maserati's honoring its 2005 FIA GT Manufacturer's Cup win with a limited-edition version of the GranSport — an homage to the company's $800,000 sports car, the MC12. Set to appear at the Geneva Motor Show, the Maserati GranSport "Sucka" MC Victory gets carbon fiber front and rear spoilers and side skirting that generate more downforce at high speeds, as well as a more direct and precise steering setup, said to edge the coupe's driving characteristics closer to that of the MC12 supercar. Inside, carbon fiber and Alcantra trimming and carbon fiber racing seats add two zeros to the price refinement.

Related:
Test Driving The Maserati MC12 [internal]