New cars: 2010 Corvette Grand Sport

Automobile

Conceived in the 1960s as a stripped-down, souped-up racetrack version of Chevy’s iconic roadster, the Grand Sport has now returned, in an unlimited production version that “bridges the gap” between base-model and higher-performance Corvettes. “We love the Corvette for its balance and capability, and the Grand Sport is no exception.”

The New York Times

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“This is a great-looking Corvette” that combines supercar performance with around-town handling and fuel consumption that’s surprisingly good, “considering its muscularity.” Cosmetic flaws include a “plasticky interior” with seats wrapped in “bachelor-pad chintzy” leather. But driving enthusiasts won’t care: The GS’ “tremendous road-holding and braking quickly build up a driver’s confidence,” and an optional dual-mode exhaust boosts power to 436 hp. Under high acceleration, valves open “to let the V8’s cri de coeur be heard for blocks.”

Car and Driver

The Grand Sport is “a meat-and-potatoes kind of sports car,” with a race-ready oiling system, sophisticated suspension, “gobs of torque, and tons of grip.” It’s not the most svelte sports car on the road: A “shortage of steering feel and sumo-like body width” betray its made-in-Detroit muscle-car heritage. But “big performance, big luggage space, and big value still abound.”