The 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport is coming to Canada, GM Canada confirmed recently, even though the company says it is de-emphasizing performance vehicles in all its marketing and PR efforts.
The Corvette Grand Sport will offer slightly more power, better handling and a more aggressive body, to act as a sportier step up between the base 'Vette and the 100-grand Canadian Z06, the 500-hp powerhouse that was trumped last year in power and exclusivity by the 638-hp Corvette ZR1.
An optional dual-mode exhaust brings the Grand Sport's oomph to 436 hp from the base 430; more significantly, it gets wider fender flares, a Z06-like hood intake and rear spoiler, as well as Z06-sized brakes and rear brake cooling ducts, which are functional but look somewhat tacked on.
The manual transmission Grand Sport will also take further steps to appeal to weekend racers — such as relocating the battery to the rear for better weight balance, adding a dry-sump oiling system and a differential cooler to avoid expensive engine and chassis bit failures.
On the other hand, the Grand Sport is also available with a six-speed automatic, a convertible top, or a pop-out panel on coupes, while the Z06 is hardtop and manual only.
The company didn't enter the Corvette ZR1 last year, and possibly may not even enter the Oshawa-built Camaro SS as part of this year's program, according to one GM Canada official.
"As a 'leaner and greener' company going forward, muscle is much less of a concern," wrote Tony LaRocca, when he confirmed that GM did plan to participate in the annual new-car TestFest the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada will put on this fall.
"They are great cars [Corvette ZR1, Camaro SS] but low-volume and frankly they sell themselves — our focus at TestFest and elsewhere will be on more important volume vehicles."
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