It's been nearly seven years since we saw arguably the best version of the Corvette, and now, we've seen the return of the Corvette Grand Sport. This marks the fifth time we've seen a Corvette with the Grand Sport suffix, and only the fourth time we've seen it on a road-going Corvette.The latest iteration brings with it a host of visual features to distinguish it from the rest of the range, is powered by an entirely new engine, and rides on an upgraded suspension system. Bridging the gap in the C8 Corvette lineup, the latest Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport continues the trend of being the best Corvette you can buy, as it has done since its inception. It Was The Brainchild Of Zora Arkus-Duntov Zora Arkus-Duntov BWA lot of people erroneously refer to Zora Arkus-Dutov as the creator of the Corvette simply because he is famously known as the "Father of the Corvette". While he didn't create the Corvette, Akrus-Duntov did create the Corvette Grand Sport. The genesis of the Grand Sport was in 1963, shortly after the debut of the second-generation Corvette, and would eventually lead to Arkus-Duntov creating and continuing work on the Chevrolet Engineering Vehicle project.In his time at General Motors, Arkus-Duntov created only a handful of Corvettes, many of which were racing-focused or more capable on a racetrack than the existing Corvettes, and the Grand Sport was no exception. Motorsport Roots 1963 Chevrolet Grand Sport Chassis Zora Arkus-Duntov had a lengthy career in motorsports, and when he joined General Motors, he drew on that experience to transform the Corvette from a show car into a capable American muscle car. That experience led him to push for a new V8 engine for the Corvette in the 1950s, and by the 1960s, Arkus-Duntov had begun developing the Grand Sport model to compete with European sports cars. Compared to the standard Corvette, the Grand Sport was better in many ways, with a more powerful engine, upgraded suspension, better brakes, and a limited-slip differential.Despite being a significant evolution of the C2 Corvette, at the time GM had banned racing efforts, and once news of the Grand Sport reached GM's management, Arkus-Duntov was ordered to stop his endeavors. Afterward, a handful of existing models were stowed away. Although prematurely ended, the original Grand Sport created a formula that its successors would continue for decades and cemented it as the best Corvette of any generation. It Was, And Still Is, A Hodgepodge Of Different Trim Levels 2027 chevrole corvette grand sport Although the first-generation Corvette Grand Sport was discontinued by General Motors decades after its inception, the Grand Sport returned to the Chevrolet Corvette in the C4 generation. When it debuted in 1996, the Corvette Grand Sport marked the end of that generation, and aside from being offered in limited numbers, it borrowed parts from other trim levels, such as its LT4 V8 engine and bodywork from the ZR-1.When it returned in the C6 generation, the Corvette Grand Sport followed the same formula, borrowing parts, pieces, and characteristics from other models. The same happened when the Grand Sport returned in the C7 generation, and the latest incarnation also borrows from other models. It Strikes The Perfect Balance Between Trim Levels 2017 CHEVY CORVETTEAs a result of the Grand Sport borrowing parts and pieces from other trim levels, it struck the ideal balance of the best of what those trim levels had to offer. Because of that, the Corvette Grand Sport became known as the "Goldilocks" of any Corvette generation it was found in. As we've said, in the C4 generation, the Grand Sport borrowed an engine and bodywork.In the C6 generation, the Grand Sport featured the same bodywork as the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 while also replacing the Z51 performance package. In the C7 generation, Chevrolet continued to cement the Grand Sport as the sweet spot in the range, sharing some of the same characteristics as the Z06 trim level but also featuring a more compliant suspension. In its latest evolution, the Corvette Grand Sport sits between the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Wider Wheels, Tires, And Fenders 1996 Chevrolet CorvetteIn the original iteration of the Corvette Grand Sport, those race-ready Corvettes were equipped with wider wheels and tires, which necessitated enlarged fenders to accommodate the extra rubber. When the C4 Corvette Grand Sport debuted, it, too, had wider hips to accommodate its wider wheels and tires, borrowing the ZR-1 rear fenders. However, you couldn't find those same widened fenders on the convertible models.The C6 Corvette Grand Sport also featured flared fenders, this time on both the front and rear, that made it roughly three inches wider than the standard Corvette, obscuring the view of the larger 325-section tires. The C7 Grand Sport borrowed a handful of features from the Z06. One of those features was its fenders, and now in its latest iteration, it too features wider hips and extra rubber from a higher-ranking trim level. Upgraded Suspension corvette grand sport Along with wider fenders and larger tires, the Grand Sport has also consistently had improved suspension compared to the standard model and, in some cases, better suspension than higher-ranking trim levels. In the C4 generation, the Grand Sport model was equipped with stiffer springs, valved Bilstein shock absorbers, and larger stabilizer bars, all byproducts of the standard (but otherwise optional for trim levels) Z51 performance package.The C6-generation's version of the Grand Sport followed a similar formula, borrowing much of the Z06's suspension system along with revised shocks and with some alterations to the chassis tuning. In the current Grand Sport model, it not only borrows suspension components from the Z06 but also from the mighty Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Better Performance Along With Unique Visuals 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport CloseupWhen it was first conceived, the Corvette Grand Sport racing prototypes were finished in blue, and when we finally saw the Grand Sport name on a production Corvette, that American muscle car was finished in Admiral Blue and accentuated by a large white stripe spanning from tip to tail and accentuated by red stripes on the front wheel arch.That color combination became inseparable from Grand Sport models, with the same livery appearing on the C6, C7, and the current rendition of the Corvette Grand Sport, becoming a staple of the Grand Sport. In fact, the livery is so inseparable from the Grand Sport model that its unique livery and design cues were what identified it when spy shots of it emerged in 2025. You Could Have The Perfect Combination Of Options 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Remember, we mentioned earlier that the Corvette Grand Sport is viewed as the sweet spot in the Corvette lineup? Aiding that reputation is the Corvette Grand Sport's balance of its specs. In every iteration of the road-going Grand Sport, it has featured hardware from higher-ranking trim levels, such as the Z06, ranging from its suspension to its engine, alongside other standard packages and features that would be optional in other trim levels.In many of its incarnations, the Grand Sport model has worn the body of the Z06, and has the same daily drivability as less hardcore Corvette trims, such as the Z07 Performance package in previous Grand Sport models. Exclusivity CR GS Corvette Although exclusivity might not be a deciding factor for many, for some, it is, and the Corvette Grand Sport has consistently been one of the rarest versions in every Corvette generation in which it was available. Only five examples of the original race cars were ever built before GM pulled the plug.Only 1,000 examples of the first Grand Sport allowed on public roads were ever created, most of which were coupes, with fewer than 200 convertibles produced. The subsequent generations of the Corvette Grand Sport were more abundant by comparison. Price 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport C8 front three-quarterArguably, the most appealing aspect of the Corvette Grand Sport, throughout its decades with us, has been its price. Specifically, its price in relation to the value it offers. Aside from its specifications and hand-me-downs, the Grand Sport's reputation as the sweet spot in the model range is supported by its value-for-money.Although featuring improved powertrains, upgraded suspension, and a model-specific design, the Grand Sport has consistently been sold at a lower price than the trim levels it borrowed parts from. Although we have yet to receive pricing confirmation, it is likely that the Grand Sport model will have an MSRP below $100,000, while the current Z06 has a $120,300 MSRP.