The 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Pushes All the Right Buttons at Van Chevrolet

Sept. 30, 2010 - PRLog -- Building a special edition of an American classic is never easy. When starting with a car that is already as accomplished as the Chevrolet Corvette, the task is even more difficult. With that being said, the performance junkies who run the show at Chevrolet’s high-speed shop have been let loose to tinker with the formula that already makes the Corvette such an overwhelmingly superior sportscar, and the result is the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. http://www.vanchevytexas.com/index.htm

The 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport (MSRP $54,770) aims to ratchet the performance and exclusivity associated with the regular Corvette up to a level that allows it to play on the track with exotic machinery costing anywhere from two to five times its price. Available as both a coupe (with a standard removable roof panel) and a convertible, the Corvette Grand Sport adopts a Sting Ray-inspired design and special louvered fenders, enhancing the finely honed wedge shape that has served the icon well over the past several years. Other new-for-2010 additions to the Corvette’s razor-sharp looks include wider fenders at the rear, suggesting greater stability and power, and a center hood scoop and unique five-spoke wheels. A front-splitter borrowed from the Corvette Z06 helps the vehicle stand out even more when compared to the base model. The Grand Sport can see its racy looks further enhanced by the Grand Sport Heritage Package, which adds double diagonal slash stripes in white, gray, silver or red to both front fenders, along with two-tone leather seats inside.

Further exploration of the Corvette Grand Sport’s interior reveals a list of standard features that ensure driver and passenger comfort while ripping down the road – or track – at triple-digit speeds. A keyless ignition, xenon headlamps, heated external mirrors, power everything, full leather seating and, of course, cruise control and dual-zone automatic climate control are par for the course in every version of the Grand Sport. 2LT trim adds perforated sport bucket seats with lumbar support and side bolstering, Bluetooth compatibility, a power passenger’s seat and a power top for the convertible version of the vehicle. 3LT trim includes heated seats, a Memory Package and an upgraded Bose sound system, and is highlighted by a heads-up display that actually projects vital vehicle information onto the lower portion of the windshield, eliminating the need for drivers to take their eyes off the road. The electronic display even shows a graphical representation of the Corvette’s tachometer, along with engine temperatures, vehicle speed and a host of other information that is clearly visible even when driving in bright sunshine.

The most luxurious of all Corvette Grand Sport trims is the 4LT, which replaces the vehicle’s standard interior panels with high-class leather coverings including more comfortable padding throughout. The 4LT includes the heated memory seats from the 3LT, and also adds a Carbon Gunmetal console trim plate to further distinguish the model.

In terms of performance, the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport is positioned as you would expect from a true American muscle car. The coupe and the convertible feature the larger Z06 brakes (six-piston front/four-piston rear), along with a more responsive suspension system. Vehicles equipped with the standard six-speed manual transmission, instead of the available six-speed, paddle-shifted automatic, benefit from shorter gear ratios, as well as an innovative launch control system that allows drivers to build up engine revs before sprinting off the line from a dead stop.

Power for the beast is generated by a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 that churns out an incredible 430 hp matched with 424 lb/ft of escape velocity-inducing torque. Manual transmission cars feature a special dry-sump oil lubrication system that helps keep the engine’s internals fully protected while pulling big G’s on the track. Load up the launch control and this Vette screams to 60 mph in around four seconds – amazing numbers that place it in the same category as offerings from Porsche and Ferrari. Not only that, but the manual transmission Corvette Grand Sport will return a surprisingly economical 16 mpg in stop and go driving and 26 mpg on the highway when it’s time to take a leisurely ride home from the track.

The 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport is that rarest of beasts––a hardcore sportscar that can double as a livable daily driver that won’t rattle your molars over potholes or drink its weight in fuel idling at a stoplight. This exceptional performance value is more of a good thing from the Corvette family. http://www.vanchevytexas.com/index.htm

Source: IMN Loyalty Driver.

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The Van Chevrolet business has 83-year-old roots. When the primary mode of transportation shifted from horses and horse drawn carriage to automobiles in the early 1900s, a local blacksmith became adept at repairing automobiles. In 1926, he opened this Carrollton Chevrolet dealership. This is the same family owned and operated dealership today as it was back in the early days. Business is part of a family's obligation to provide to the community. We see to it our customers are treated the same as a guest would be in our own home.