C7 GRAND SPORT INFO





C7 GRAND SPORT INFORMATION
The big news for 2017 was, of course, the reintroduction of the Grand Sport. The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport takes the best of both previous C7 models, the Stingray and the Z06, and that potent combination results in a lightweight architecture with a track-honed aerodynamics package, along with Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires and a naturally aspirated LT1 V8 with 460 hp.

“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.”

The new Corvette Grand Sport features the chassis tuning, upgraded cooling systems and performance technologies of the Corvette Z06 to give the new model the capabilities commensurate with its racing-derived history.

The 2017 Grand Sport offers an estimated 1.05g in cornering capabilities in its standard configuration and 1.2g’s cornering with the the Z07 performance package which includes Brembo’s carbon-cermanic brakes, Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires and a carbon fiber aerodynamics package.
    “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.”
Highlights for 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 Corvette Grand Sport Models also feature specific front fender inserts, a Z06 style front grille and wider rear fenders. The Grand Sport will be offered with all the Stingray’s exterior and interior colors and a Heritage Package will be offered which includes the hash mark fender graphics in six different colors with the hash mark detail carried into the interior with matching aluminum trim.
    “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.”
General Motors will also be offering a specific 2017 Corvette Grand Sport Collector’s Edition featuring a new exclusive Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior with Tension Blue hash mark graphics, satin black full-length stripes, black wheels and a unique Tension Blue full leather and suede-wrapped interior.

Tension Blue is a color historically associated with the original Corvette Grand Sports of the 1960s. For the 2017 Grand Sport Collector’s Edition, there is a three-dimensional representation of an original Grand Sport race car embossed in the headrests, along with a dash plaque featuring the unique build sequence number. A total of 1,000 were planned (each carrying a unique VIN sequence) but the production statistics shows just 935 were built.

2017 Grand Sport Coupe pricing started at $65,450 and Grand Sport Convertibles started at $69,450.

More C7 Grand Sport photos may be found in the publicly accessible GSR Photo Gallery.
2017 GRAND SPORT PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Corvette production decreased by 20% in 2017 with Grand Sports representing 36% of the total 32,782 Corvettes built. The number one selling model was the Corvette Stingray Coupe which accounts for 34.3% of production, followed by the Grand Sport Coupe which saw 30.2% of production while the Z06 had 18.9% of 2017 Corvette production.
  • 2017 total Corvettes produced: -- 32,782
    • Stingray Coupe: -- 11,253 units (34.3%)
    • Stingray Convertibles: -- 2,298 units (7.0%)
    • Grand Sport Coupe: -- 9,912 units (30.2%)
    • Grand Sport Convertibles: -- 2,046 units (6.2%)
    • Z06 Coupe: -- 6,197 units (18.9%)
    • Z06 Convertible: -- 1,076 units (3.3%)
For Stingray and Grand Sport Buyers, the 2LT Equipment Group was the most popular. We see that 52% of all Stingray Coupe buyers selected the base 1LT equipment group which tells one of two things: Either many Stingray Coupe buyers don’t care about all the bells and whistles available in the upper trim packages or they stretched their car-buying budget to get into a Stingray and nothing was left over for option upgrades.

Only 32.7% of Stingray Coupe/Convertible buyers opted for the Z51 performance package. For Grand Sport, 12.3% of Coupe/Convertible buyers opted for the Z07 Performance package. For Z06 buyers, 32.5% selected the Z07 Performance Package while another 17.9% selected the J57 carbon ceramic brakes (without Z07).

Across the board, the take-rate on the 8-speed automatic transmission was 77.9%. For Z06, 70.9% of buyers selected the 8-speed automatic.

The top selling color once again across all models was Arctic White by a large margin with 6,199 produced followed by Watkins Glen Gray with 5,822 and Black rounds out the top three at 5,338
  • Arctic White -- 6,199 (18.9%)
  • Watkins Glen Gray -- 5,822 (17.8%)
  • Black -- 5,338 (16.3%)
  • Torch Red -- 4,621 (14.1%)
  • Admiral Blue -- 3,068 (9.4%)
  • Blade Silver -- 2,105 (6.4%)
  • Long Beach Red -- 2,004 (6.1%)
  • Corvette Racing Yellow -- 1,371 (4.2%)
  • Black Rose -- 1,333 (4.1%)
  • Sterling Blue -- 921 (2.8%)
Special thanks to Keith Cornett of Corvette Blogger
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