The Corvette Grand Sport is a Z06 without the power

This is the Corvette Grand Sport. In the simplest of terms, it’s a Corvette Z06 without the power. A normal Corvette Stingray with a bit of aero, the stickiest Michelins and proper brakes. 

Chevy says its engineers adapted the Z06’s “chassis tuning, upgraded cooling systems and a performance technologies” for the GS. It has colossal six-piston Brembos (335mm at the front, 340 at the rear), an electronic limited-slip differential and a seven-speed manual gearbox as standard. Buyers of the optional Z07 Pack get Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres, carbon-ceramic brakes and a downforce-generating carbon-fibre bodykit which makes it look every inch the junior Z06. 

The result? 1.2g through the bends. Chevy even claims it’s more or less as quick as the last-generation ZR1 around its Milford Proving Ground.

The engine is a naturally aspirated LT1 V8. So like the Stingray, that means 6.2-litres, 454bhp and 465lb ft. No word on performance yet, but we bet the 0-60mph time will be around the 3.7secs of the standard car. Oh, and there’s an active exhaust for your aural enjoyment. 

Collector Edition cars, like the one pictured, get the special blue suede/leather interior and ‘Watkins Glen’ metallic grey paint. Revealed today at Geneva, the GS goes on sale this summer in the States, and Europe a couple of months later. As always from a Corvette, expect outrageous value.