Kitted up with every conceivable...
Kitted up with every conceivable option, our convertible test car stickered at an alarming $77,735. Go easy on the extras, and it's possible to piece together a well-equipped GS for less than 60 large.
That parsimonious streak will be much appreciated when it comes time to make the monthly payment. Optioned to the gunwales with chrome wheels, a nav system, the 4LT Premium Equipment Group, and much more, our tester carried a sticker price of $77,735-some $3,500 more than the starting price of a real-deal Z06. To be fair, the GS model only commands $5,000-6,000 over the price of a base Vette, and it shouldn't be difficult to order up a nicely equipped example for around $60,000. Fans of post-purchase performance tuning should also note that it would be nigh impossible to piece together a similarly potent Z06 look-alike for less using aftermarket hardware.
Low-12-second e.t.'s mean...
Low-12-second e.t.'s mean this is the only view most challengers will get of the Grand Sport. Look closely, and you'll spot the actuating valves for the RPO NPP Dual Mode Exhaust.
The standard-issue LS3 engine...
The standard-issue LS3 engine makes 436 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque with the NPP exhaust option. Manual-trans Grand Sports get a version of the LS7's dry-sump oiling system but no additional power.
The nonfunctional hoodscoop...
The nonfunctional hoodscoop is another Z06 hand-me-down. It will be interesting to see how the availability of the GS affects sales of aftermarket Z06 body treatments.
Does the '10 Grand Sport makes good on the promise implicit in its historic appellation? We're inclined to say so, especially if the car in question is a conservatively optioned manual coupe. While it may lack the low-volume cachet of its immediate predecessor, this latest GS is a vastly superior automobile in every other respect. And in the grand scheme of things, that's change we can all believe in.
Unlike the '96 Grand Sport,...
Unlike the '96 Grand Sport, the latest version doesn't come standard with the GS's signature fender stripes. They're part of the $1,195 GS Heritage package, which also includes two-tone seats with logo headrests.
Model-specific wheels are...
Model-specific wheels are available in standard silver, competition gray, or chrome (shown). Behind them lurk the same denture-dislodging brakes used on the 505-horse Z06, only with silver-rather than red-calipers. As you can see here, the mismatched cooling-vane orientation remains.
Our GS's LS3 engine twisted...
Our GS's LS3 engine twisted the AntiVenom dyno needle to the tune of 364.56 hp and 358.45 lb-ft, making this the most potent stock automatic Vette we've ever tested. Factoring in an 18 percent drivetrain loss yieldsgures of 444.59/437.13, just pipping the stock ratings.