Wide body
Both fenders were widened, the front ones with built-in Grand Sport badges, and the car borrowed the splitter and high rear spoiler of the Z06. Working brake ducts and added cooling helped on track days.
C6 Corvette Grand Sport · 2010 to 2013
C6 Grand Sport
The Grand Sport joined the C6 line for 2010 as a coupe and a convertible. It paired the 430-horsepower LS3 with a wide body, Z06-size brakes and a racing-bred suspension, and it replaced the Z51 package.
430hpLS3 V8
4sec0 to 60 mph
1gSkid pad
26mpgHighway, 2010
Fuel economy from EPA and recalls from NHTSA, checked November 10, 2026.
What was the C6 Grand Sport?
The C6 Grand Sport was a Corvette coupe or convertible sold for the 2010 through 2013 model years. It used the standard 6.2L LS3 V8 with the wide body, larger brakes and wider wheels and tires that brought its handling close to the Z06.
GM called Grand Sport one of the most storied names in Corvette racing history. In its first year the Grand Sport made up about half of all Corvette coupe sales and 70 percent of convertible sales.
Unlike the Z06, it kept the removable roof panel on coupes, came as a convertible and offered the six-speed paddle-shift automatic as well as the manual.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model years | 2010 to 2013 |
| Body styles | Coupe with a removable roof panel, convertible |
| Engine | 6.2L LS3 V8, 430 hp, 436 hp with dual-mode exhaust |
| Transmissions | Six-speed manual or six-speed paddle-shift automatic |
| Brakes | 14-inch front, 13.4-inch rear, Z06 size |
| Wheels | 18 x 9.5-inch front, 19 x 12-inch rear |
| Curb weight | 3,311 lb coupe, 3,289 lb convertible |
| Trims | 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT |
Where did the Grand Sport name come from?
From five race cars built in 1963. Zora Arkus-Duntov conceived the Grand Sport as a light, race-ready production Corvette, but GM shelved the project after agreeing to stay out of manufacturer-backed racing.
The five prototypes looked like 1963 Corvettes but were purpose-built race cars. Duntov also oversaw a special 377-cubic-inch small-block V8 with side-draft carburetors for them.
Private racers with close ties to Duntov ran the cars through the 1960s. GM said all five are accounted for today and rank among the most valuable Corvettes in the collector market.
Chevrolet revived the name in 1996 for a 1,000-car edition that marked the end of the C4 era. Every one was Admiral Blue with a white center stripe and red hash marks on the left front fender, a look taken from some of the original race cars.
The C6 Grand Sport carried the idea forward with an optional Heritage package: front fender hash marks in four colors and two-tone seats with Grand Sport embroidery.
What did the Grand Sport add to a standard C6?
Wider fenders, Z06-size brakes, wider wheels and tires and a firmer suspension package. GM said its suspension approached that of the Z06.
14inFront rotors, six-piston
13.4inRear rotors, four-piston
325mmRear tire width
75.9inOverall width
Wheels and tires
Eighteen-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels, 9.5 and 12 inches wide, carried 275/35ZR18 and 325/30ZR19 tires. A painted finish was standard, with chrome and later black or Competition Gray available.
Z16 Performance Package
Standard on every Grand Sport, it brought added cooling, firmer springs and stabilizer bars and its own dampers, along with the larger brakes, tires and gearing.
What engine and transmissions did the Grand Sport use?
The Grand Sport used the 6.2L LS3 V8, rated at 430 horsepower and 424 lb-ft, or 436 horsepower and 428 lb-ft with the optional dual-mode exhaust. Buyers could choose a six-speed manual or a six-speed paddle-shift automatic.
Coupes with the manual transmission were set up for the track with a dry-sump oiling system, a differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery. Launch control was standard with the manual from 2010.
Each transmission had Grand Sport gearing: specific ratios in the manual and a 2.73 rear axle ratio with the automatic.
| Gear | Manual | Automatic |
|---|---|---|
| First | 2.97 | 4.03 |
| Sixth | 0.56 | 0.67 |
| Final drive | 3.42 | 2.73 |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 6.2L (376 cu in) |
| Compression ratio | 10.7:1 |
| Power | 430 hp at 5,900 rpm, 436 hp with dual-mode exhaust |
| Torque | 424 lb-ft at 4,600 rpm, 428 lb-ft with dual-mode exhaust |
| Fuel | Premium recommended, not required |
| Engine oil | 10.5 quarts with the manual, 5.5 quarts with the automatic |
How did the Grand Sport coupe and convertible compare?
Both used the same wide body, brakes and wheels. The coupe weighed 3,311 pounds and held 22 cubic feet of cargo, while the convertible weighed 3,289 pounds and held 11 cubic feet with the top up.
| Item | Coupe | Convertible |
|---|---|---|
| Roof | Removable panel | Soft top |
| Curb weight | 3,311 lb | 3,289 lb |
| Cargo volume | 22 cu ft | 11 cu ft top up, 7.5 top down |
| Dry sump with the manual | Yes | No |
For 2013, a power-folding convertible top was standard on 3LT and 4LT Grand Sport convertibles.
How did the Grand Sport compare with the Corvette and the Z06?
The Grand Sport sat between them. It shared the LS3 and steel frame of the Corvette but matched the Z06 for width, brakes and wheels. GM said its suspension approached the Z06.
| Item | Corvette | Grand Sport | Z06 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6.2L LS3, 430 hp | 6.2L LS3, 430 hp | 7.0L LS7, 505 hp |
| Body | Coupe or convertible | Coupe or convertible | Fixed-roof coupe |
| Transmission | Manual or automatic | Manual or automatic | Manual only |
| Front brakes | 12.8 in | 14 in, six-piston | 14 in, six-piston |
| Wheels | 18 x 8.5 and 19 x 10 | 18 x 9.5 and 19 x 12 | 18 x 9.5 and 19 x 12 |
| Overall width | 72.6 in | 75.9 in | 75.9 in |
| Curb weight, coupe | 3,208 lb | 3,311 lb | 3,175 lb |
What trims and options did the Grand Sport offer?
The Grand Sport came in the same 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT trims as the Corvette, in every exterior color. The Heritage package and Magnetic Ride Control were the main Grand Sport options.
By trim, 2013
- Head-up display with Track Mode on 2LT, 3LT and 4LT
- Navigation and Bose audio on 2LT, 3LT and 4LT
- Heated seats on 3LT and 4LT
- Custom stitching in blue, red or yellow on 4LT
Grand Sport options
- Heritage package: fender hash marks in four colors and seat embroidery
- Magnetic Ride Control from 2011, with Goodyear F1 Supercar Gen 2 tires on manual cars
- Dual-mode exhaust for 436 horsepower
- ZR1-style rear spoiler and black wheels for 2013
What changed each year of the C6 Grand Sport?
The Grand Sport arrived for 2010, gained Magnetic Ride Control as an option for 2011, shared new seats and the Centennial Edition for 2012, and closed the C6 run with the 60th Anniversary package for 2013.
2010
Launch as a coupe and convertible, replacing the Z51 package. Launch control and side air bags became standard across the Corvette line.
2011
Magnetic Ride Control became available, and Inferno Orange and Supersonic Blue joined the colors.
2012
New seats with larger bolsters, a new steering wheel and the Centennial Edition, with 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels on the Grand Sport.
2013
The 60th Anniversary package, black wheels and a ZR1-style spoiler option in the final C6 year.
What are the C6 Grand Sport specifications?
The Grand Sport specification as GM listed it for 2010: the 6.2L LS3, a 105.7-inch wheelbase, a 75.9-inch width and a coupe curb weight of 3,311 pounds.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | LS3 6.2L V8, 376 cu in |
| Construction | Composite body panels on a hydroformed steel frame |
| Suspension | Short and long arm front and rear, transverse composite leaf springs |
| Brakes | 14-inch front, 13.4-inch rear cross-drilled rotors |
| Brake swept area | 309 sq in front, 269 sq in rear |
| Tires | P275/35ZR18 front, P325/30ZR19 rear |
| Length, width, height | 175.6 in, 75.9 in, 48.7 in |
| Weight distribution | 51 percent front, 49 percent rear |
| Fuel tank | 18 gal |
What fuel economy and recalls apply to the C6 Grand Sport?
GM quoted the 2010 Grand Sport at 16 mpg city and 26 highway with the manual, and 15 city and 25 highway with the automatic. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2010 or 2013 Corvette model years.
| Engine | Transmission | Model years | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2L LS3 | Six-speed manual | 2008 to 2010 | 16 | 26 | 19 |
| 6.2L LS3 | Six-speed manual | 2011 to 2013 | 16 | 25 | 19 |
| 6.2L LS3 | Six-speed automatic | 2008 to 2010 | 15 | 25 | 18 |
| 6.2L LS3 | Six-speed automatic | 2011 to 2013 | 15 | 24 | 18 |
Source: U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov.
One campaign, 11V491000, covers 2011 and 2012 Corvette coupes built January 24 to September 1, 2011, whose rear hatch hinges might not meet the federal load requirement. Dealers replaced both hinges. Check any car by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should you check on a used C6 Grand Sport?
Confirm the body style, the transmission and the options. A manual coupe has the dry-sump oil system, and from 2011 a car may have Magnetic Ride Control.
What to confirm on a used Grand Sport
- Grand Sport badges built into the front fenders
- Coupe or convertible, manual or automatic
- Dry-sump oiling on a manual coupe
- Heritage package hash marks and seat embroidery
- Trim level, from 1LT to 4LT
- Recall status by VIN on 2011 and 2012 coupes
C6 Grand Sport questions
What years was the C6 Grand Sport made?
The C6 Grand Sport was offered for the 2010 through 2013 model years, as a coupe and a convertible.
How much horsepower does a C6 Grand Sport have?
Its 6.2L LS3 V8 makes 430 horsepower, or 436 with the optional dual-mode exhaust.
Is the C6 Grand Sport faster than a regular C6?
GM quoted 0 to 60 mph in four seconds and 1 g on the skid pad, with the larger brakes, wider tires and firmer suspension of the Z16 package.
Does the Grand Sport have a dry sump?
Grand Sport coupes with the manual transmission have a dry-sump oiling system, a differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery.
What is the difference between a Grand Sport and a Z06?
The Grand Sport used the 430-horsepower LS3 and a steel frame, came as a coupe or convertible and offered an automatic. The Z06 used the 505-horsepower LS7, an aluminum frame and a fixed roof, with a manual only.
Did the Grand Sport replace the Z51?
Yes. The Grand Sport replaced the Z51 Performance Package for 2010.
What is the Grand Sport Heritage package?
An option that added front fender hash marks in four colors and two-tone seats with Grand Sport embroidery.
How much does a C6 Grand Sport weigh?
GM listed the coupe at 3,311 pounds and the convertible at 3,289 pounds.
Where does the Grand Sport name come from?
From five race prototypes built in 1963 under Zora Arkus-Duntov, and a 1,000-car edition in 1996.
Sources
- General Motors and Chevrolet product information, model years 2005 to 2013
- U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Energy: fuel economy ratings, 2005 to 2013 Corvette (www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.shtml)
- NHTSA: recall campaigns, 2005 to 2013 Corvette (www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- Photography: General Motors
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