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<\/h3>\nIf there was ever any doubt that\u00a0the Chevrolet Corvette<\/a>\u2019s place in the public consciousness is that of a long-awaited reward for retirees, the joy ride that a white-haired, aviator-glasses-wearing Joe Biden took in his 1967 Corvette on\u00a0Jay Leno\u2019s Garage<\/i>\u00a0served as ironclad confirmation. But just because it\u2019s often the province of Social Security recipients doesn\u2019t mean that the Corvette isn\u2019t the real deal. With a thundering 455-hp V-8 under the hood, so much grip that it feels as if it generates its own gravitational pull, and a ferocious countenance, the Corvette is a great sports car\u2014a supercar, in some of its guises. Better yet, it\u2019s far more affordable than many of the cars it competes with for performance. Noticeably Chevrolet-ish interior materials are our only quibble; no one who sits inside will confuse this for an Audi. Once you pin the accelerator or swing through a corner at speed, though, they\u2019ll be too stunned to complain.<\/p>\n HIGHS<\/strong> <\/p>\n Chevrolet added a new model to the Corvette lineup for 2017 with the introduction of the Grand Sport. It appropriates the flared fenders and extra-strength chassis elements from the track-ready Z06, but it has the same powertrain as the base Corvette. That manageable but still scary fast and hugely competent setup won the Grand Sport a spot on\u00a0our 10Best Cars list for 2017<\/a>\u00a0and a\u00a0home in our long-term fleet<\/a>. The rest of the lineup saw only minor aesthetic changes.<\/p>\n The Grand Sport, which is new for 2017 and a mind-body melding of the base-model Stingray and the rip-roaring Z06, is our preferred model. It\u2019s almost four inches wider than the standard Corvette, employs more aggressive gearing in the manual transmission for quicker acceleration, and includes a dry-sump lubrication system for improved engine reliability under track duress. Its body panels, suspension setup, and huge tires come from the ultra-performance 650-hp Z06, but the Grand Sport\u2019s ride is actually quite day-to-day comfortable. The Grand Sport starts at $66,445, some $10,000 above the entry-level Stingray model, so we\u2019d keep the rest of the options list light. Standard features include:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1509033120264{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_basic_grid post_type=”portfolio” max_items=”6″ element_width=”6″ gap=”5″ item=”basicGrid_NoAnimation” grid_id=”vc_gid:1621652680292-9729d538-c5d4-8″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text]
\nKiller-sweet powertrain, as grippy as a gecko, eye-catching design.
\nLOWS<\/strong>
\nDecidedly un-luxe interior, heavy targa top, minimal in-cabin storage.
\nVERDICT<\/strong>
\nDon\u2019t believe anyone who says you need to be filthy rich\u2014or retired\u2014to own a supercar.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nTrims and Options We\u2019d Choose<\/b><\/h3>\n
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