2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport: First Look

Competes with: Porsche 911, Jaguar F-Type, Dodge Viper

Looks like: A bolder, badder-looking Z06

Drivetrain: 460-horsepower, 6.2-liter LT1 V-8 making 465 pounds-feet of torque; standard seven-speed manual transmission or optional eight-speed automatic; rear-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Summer 2016

CARS.COM — Chevrolet unveiled a new edition of the current-generation C7 Corvette at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland; the 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport coupe and convertible will hit dealerships this summer. The first edition of the Grand Sport debuted in 1963, and the nameplate has been resurrected a few times since then, including the previous-generation C6 Corvette in 2010.

Related: More 2016 Geneva Motor Show Coverage

Both coupe and convertible versions of the Grand Sport will be offered. The performance-focused Z07 Package will be available on the Grand Sport for the first time; it adds better tires, carbon-ceramic brakes and a carbon-fiber aero package that produces more down force.

Exterior

Though based on the Stingray, the Grand Sport borrows plenty of styling cues from the Z06, including the front grille and wider rear fenders, which give it a more aggressive stance. The front and rear wheels are offset, measuring 19 by 10 inches up front with bigger and wider 20-by-12-inch wheels in the rear for added traction.

The Grand Sport offers several exterior customization options to enhance its look. The Heritage Package adds hash-mark fender graphics in your choice of six colors with matching details on the brushed-aluminum trim in the cabin. Full-length racing stripes are also available.

A Grand Sport Collector Edition will debut later in the model year. Those models get an exclusive paint color (Watkins Glen Gray Metallic), Tension Blue hash marks on the fenders, satin-black full-length racing stripes and black wheels.

Interior

Chevrolet was pretty mum on interior details for the Grand Sport, but we do know that the Collector Edition will feature some unique touches. The leather and suede interior upholstery will be colored in the same Tension Blue found on the hash-mark graphics. A 3-D representation of the original Corvette Grand Sport is on the headrests with the same shape also used for a plaque that displays the build sequence number in the instrument panel.

Under the Hood

The 460-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 makes 465 pounds-feet of torque and uses a dry-sump oiling system. There are two transmissions: a seven-speed manual with active rev match or an eight-speed paddle-shift automatic that has been tuned for performance. An active exhaust system is standard to provide an enhanced auditory experience.

The Grand Sport didn’t just borrow visual cues from the Z06, it also features adapted versions of its chassis tuning and upgraded cooling systems. Standard performance features include the Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential and Brembo brakes.

Adding the Z07 Package further bolsters the Grand Sport’s performance. Maximum lateral g-force while cornering jumps from 1.05 to 1.2 thanks to improved down force and better tires. With the package, Chevrolet says the Grand Sport circles the test track at GM’s proving grounds within less than a second of the previous-generation Corvette ZR1 — which came with a 638-hp, supercharged V-8 (178 more hp than the Grand Sport).

Watch for the Corvette Grand Sport coupe and convertible to hit dealerships this summer.