The new Grand Sport combines the Corvette LS3-based powertrain with unique, wide-body styling and a racing-bred suspension for a unique model that provides a great balance of street and track performance. It is offered in both coupe and convertible body styles, with either a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic transmission. The LS3 6.2L engine with 430 hp (321 kW) and 424 lb.-ft. * Rated torque (575 Nm) * with the standard exhaust system. An optional two-mode exhaust system raises the nominal power to 436 horses (325 kW) and 428 lb.-ft. (580 Nm).
The Grand Sport Corvette Z51 replaces the previous package, and brings a higher level of handling performance, with wider wheels
and tires, revised shocks, stabilizer and spring specifications and special gear. The equipment allows cornering ability of 1.0 g LS3 and a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60 acceleration vs standard-powered models.
The full list of contents and special features for the Grand Sport includes:
* Wider front and rear fenders - including specific front fenders with integrated Grand Sport Achievement
* Z06-style front splitter and large rear spoiler
* Functional brake ducts and additional cooling
* Unique 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels, painted standard and optional chrome-plated
* Large 275/35ZR18 tires in front and 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear
* Z06-size brakes, including 14-inch (355 mm) front brake discs with six-piston calipers and 13.4-inch (340 mm) rear rotors with four-piston calipers
* Specific gearbox ratios
* Specific rear axle ratio for the automatic-equipped models
Chevrolet offered a limited edition Grand Sport Series model in 1996, to commemorate the original race car and marks the end of the era of Corvette C4 production. All the 1,000 copies were painted Admiral Blue and had a white stripe and red center "diamond" graphics on the left front fender, a graphics system which mimicked the look of some of the original race car.
