This week, we take a look at a beautiful 2019 Corvette Grand Sport coupe. This is one of the last C7 Corvettes as we get ready for the arrival of the new mid-engine C8.
The Grand Sport was originally introduced in 1963 and has been a Corvette fan favorite for years. To put it in simple terms, the Grand Sport is essentially the same car as the Z06, just without the supercharger that gives you another 190-horses.
As you raise the louvered hood of the Grand Sport, you find a 6.2-liter V8 driving 460-horses and 465 pound-feet of torque. This one has a shiftable 8-speed automatic transmission, but if you prefer, you can also get a 7-speed manual.
Handling is pretty amazing thanks primarily to magnetic ride control, and an electronic limited-slip differential. A front air splitter and fixed rear spoiler help keep the car low to the ground, but the tires on this beast are massive. Grand Sport comes with 19-inch tires on the front, and 20-inch on the rear. The meaty rubber propels you from 0-to-60 in just 3.6 seconds.
My Grand Sport tester is the coupe with a removable roof panel that stores easily behind the passenger seats in the large luggage compartment.
Once seated, you’ll notice a very nice, but somewhat tight, interior. The cockpit setup is terrific and very colorful and no matter what you want to do, it is an easy reach. A flat-bottom steering wheel with controls gives the driver extra lap room.
One knob you’ll want to get familiar with is the drive mode selector, located on the center console. This changes everything about how the Corvette drives and handles. You can choose from weather, eco, tour, sport, and my personal favorite, track mode. Track Mode is designed exclusively for track driving. Launch control provides maximum off-the-line acceleration.
Everything operates from an 8” color touchscreen that houses the Chevy MyLink system. You can operate the Bose stereo, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, HD and XM radio. Also from there, you can go through screens of apps including a lot of real-time information like traffic, weather, fuel prices, and more.
One really cool feature operated from the touchscreen is the Performance Data Recorder. The system records video of your driving sessions, along with real-time performance data onto an SD memory card so you can analyze your driving abilities.
The Grand Sport comes with a ton of standard features included in the $65,900 base price. Beware, however, from there the price starts to skyrocket if you load the vehicle with options. My review ‘Vette has OVER $20,000 in options:
Handling of a Corvette is unlike any other car available. The exhaust sound is unmistakable and exhilarating, but you just have to experience it yourself. With the drive mode selections, the Corvette can be anything you want it to be. If you care, fuel economy, if you drive it gingerly, (which you won’t) is 15-city and 25-highway.
I purchased a new Corvette in 2014 when this body style came out. I traded it for a Z06 in 2016 that had 650-horses. Even for me, it was too much. If I had it to do over again, I would get the Grand Sport instead. As I say on the CarProUSA radio show, a Corvette is not for everyone, and I personally would not want one as a daily driver, but it is an amazing weekend car that everyone should own at least once.
