There are some things in life that you just wish you had more of. More cash, more spare time, more food come lunchtime, more horsepower, or all of the above, and various other combinations of desirable commodities. What I wish we had more of in New Zealand, though, are these high-horsepower super coupes coming from America, such as the Chevrolet Grand Sport.
I’ve never been much of an American muscle fan up until recently, and I think it has stemmed from the constant development that these vehicle manufacturers have been undergoing, bringing them into the 21st century. They’re now figuring out that drivers want more than just brute power, which they’ve been doing for around 50 years.
This particular Grand Sport Chevrolet — what a beauty! It has all of the things I love in a vehicle; it’s red, has black wheels, big brakes, goes fast, and looks amazing. Yes, I really am that simple. However, the Grand Sport isn’t that simple. It’s not quite the much-more-powerful boost-hungry Z06/Z07, and it isn’t as low-specced as the Z51. So, where does it stand compared to the rest of its family? Modified Z51, or lightweight Z06? Call it what you want — it’s basically both.
In terms of the engine, the Grand Sport runs the same 6.2-litre V8 engine that the Z51 does, however, it isn’t supercharged like the Z06, and is down 190hp because of it. Total horsepower sits at 460hp (343kW), which is still a heck of a lot. Better yet, torque is massive at 623Nm, or 460ft·lbs for the old-school hot rodders out there. For track duties, a dry-sump oiling system has been installed to ensure you don’t have any oil-starvation issues. Being naturally aspirated, throttle response is lightning fast.
What transmission is behind this torque monster then? A DSG? Ha, no. America still likes their tractor gearboxes — that hasn’t changed. What has changed, though, is the number of cogs. Seven gears now sit inside the gearbox, providing the ultimate gear ratios for track days, and a seventh gear overdrive for the highway drive home. To help get the torque down to earth, an electronically controlled LSD has been fitted alongside Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 tyres, which we are told are mind-blowing. These mechanical components work together to propel the Grand Sport to 100kph in just 3.6 seconds. America is dipping into early-millennium supercar territory with affordable coupes. The world as we know it is changing, and I like it.
What impresses me most about the Grand Sport, is the size of the anchors on each corner. The steel two-piece rotors up front measure a whopping 370mm, and down the back, they measure up at 365mm. These two-piece rotors are clamped by six-piston calipers up front and four-piston units down back. Chevrolet has seriously upped their braking game, but considering the pace of the Grand Sport, they’re essential — 30 metres is all the Grand Sport needs to stop from 100kph. Dynamic handling comes from specifically designed Grand Sport sway bars, and magnetic ride control, which are worth their weight in gold thanks to their ability to process bumps and control damper in mere nanoseconds.
Looking at these specs, numbers, and figures, I can’t help but think to the future. When these become affordable for the common man, there’s going to be some seriously potent track-day toys around. The specs alone are a dream list for many, all with the reliability of a factory-produced vehicle. Who said the automotive industry was getting boring? I say it’s getting better by the year. Now I just have to sell a kidney so I can drive one of these American super coupes for myself.
Image credit: Chevrolet
