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Is The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport The Best Corvette Ever? Cooling Problems Solved

By Jinger Jarrett
Published on: 04:32 PST, Jul 27, 2016

As automakers continue to debut their lineups for 2017, Chevrolet rolled out its 2017 Corvette Grand Sport. The latest edition promises to fix the cooling system problems previous versions had while offering all the goodies in a sports car that drivers crave.

ARS Technica reported that the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport is the best Corvette to ever hit the market. It has all the aero and suspension features, and the cooling problems of the Z06 model have been fixed. The concept behind the Corvette was to carry over its best features, like the suspension, while fixing the problems, such as the cooling, that plagued it. With a 460 horsepower engine and a sticker price of $66,445, the Grand Sport coupe offers value and features not included in the Z06 model.

The concept for the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport began in 1962 when it was built to compete in the Grand Le Mans race. Zora Arkus-Duntov, the father of the Corvette, wanted to make it a race car. Because of corporate edicts at GM, Arkus-Duntov was denied his dream of creating a factory racing program that included the Corvette. Only five of the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports were built even though 125 were planned.

Since then, the Corvette Grand Sport has been released as a limited edition decades later with the C4 Corvette when 1,000 were released. The newest release sits between the base model Stingray and the supercharged Z06. The Z06 was designed with the track in mind while the Grand Sport is designed for the street. Design-wise, the Grand Sport copies the elements of the Z06 but solves the engine problems by using a dry-sumped 460 HP engine instead of the less efficient internal combustion engine used in the Z06.

Auto Blog reported that the 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport upgrades overcome the limitations of the Stingray too. The base Stingray, although it’s fast on the street, doesn’t come with any options. The Grand Sport includes a Z51 package that offers a performance stage dual exhaust that increases horsepower and also a sportier suspension. Other features include a rear differential cooler and an electronic limited-slip differential. The Z51 circles a skidpad at 1.03 g, opening the door for the ideal dual-purpose Corvette.

The Grand Sport offers features to it that are unique. It includes springs and a roll bar tuned specifically for the vehicle. The grille design is also unique, and so are the fender inserts. Customers can also select from 10 different colors and chose racing stripes creating a wide variety of combinations. The “cup” alloy wheels also make a return.

The News Wheel reported that the 2016 Corvette Z06 will reportedly come with enhanced cooling capabilities. The 2016 version came with many features that Corvette enthusiasts would appreciate including the ability to go from 0 to 6 in three seconds. Compared to many other sports cars the price is reasonable too with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of only $79,000. Cooling problems have kept it from being everything it can be on the track because many customers have complained about the overheating.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Chevrolet has promised a big surprise on horsepower with the Corvette. GM also plans to solve the cooling problems with the Corvette, and the higher horsepower promises an upgraded powertrain to get the job done.

Production stopped on the Corvette Z06 and may have had to do with the cooling problems as well as Chevrolet starting production on the Corvette Grand Sport. The Grand Sport will be the first Corvette to be released in 2017 after production begins.

[Photo by Harold Cunningham/Getty Images]

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