2010 Corvette Grand Sport to start at $55,720?

If the introduction of the ZR1 into the Corvette lineup has made the base model look a bit dull, the Grand Sport package more than fills the aesthetic gap between the models. The Grand Sport package includes Stingray-like gills aft of the front wheels, unique rims and Z06 brakes. Unique suspension tuning reportedly nets a 0-60 time that goes from 4.2 seconds on the base coupe to 4.0 seconds in its updated configuration.
Corvette Blogger is reporting what it says is official Grand Sport package pricing, and the bottom line isn't as tough to swallow as some may have envisioned. The Bowtie fanboy site lists Grand Sport pricing at $55,720 for the coupe and $59,530 for the convertible. That's a not-inconsequential $6,205 bump for the coupe and $5,360 for the droptop. The Grand Sport package essentially obviates the need for the $1,695 Z51 package, however, so you're basically looking at $3,500-$4,500 for the retuned suspension, widebody stance, Z06 brakes, improved 0-60 mph times, and aeshetic and exclusivity benefits, which doesn't strike us as a bad deal.
[Source: Corvette Blogger]

Dino Roso design study takes another stab at reviving Ferrari's classic 246 GT

Good or bad, everybody's got an opinion on the styling of contemporary Ferrari offerings - a fact that could go a long way toward explaining why everybody and their cousin wants to have a go at designing the Italian stallions themselves. The latest to join the fold is Paolo Roso, an apparently aspiring automotive designer. His project? The Dino Roso, a project that aims to reinterpret the classic 1967 Dino 246 GT in a radically different form.
While we have to admit we're not big fans of the front end (and we have to wonder how the driver is supposed to see around those enormous pillars - rollover protection isn't an issue in fantasy) - there are certain attractive elements to the design. If you care to see for yourself, it's on display through October in 1:10 scale model form at the "Sognando l'automobile" (Dreaming the Automobile) exhibit at the Museo dell'Automobile Bonfanti-Vimar in northern Italy. Or if your passport is out of date, you could always just click on the thumbnails below to view in our high-res gallery.

Vizualtech renders time-attack Nissan 200SX

Vizualtech Nissan 200SX time attack

The folks over at Vizualtech, the 3D rendering firm that brought you the Audi R8-inspired catamaran and a Le Mans-ready Dodge Challenger are at it again. This time, the team has put together a stunning widebody Nissan 240SX for time attack duty.
Evidently designed for an unnamed Swedish client, the turbocharged, 600-horsepower 200SX was inspired by a GT 500-class Japan GT Touring Car (although apparently they've taken a few theoretical liberties, as the GT 500 class is capped at 500 horses). That aside, we think this is a killer-looking job, one that we'd happily check out at the track.

Lamborghini Murcielago successor not coming until 2012

Lamborghini supercars tend to have a relatively long lifespan. The Countach stayed in production for sixteen years from its introduction in 1974 until the Diablo replaced it in 1990, which in turn anchored Sant'Agata's line-up for eleven years until the Murcielago was introduced in 2001. Now eight years in production, the steel-bodied Raging Bull has grown pretty long in the tooth, even if it can still hold its own against its contemporary competition.
In order to keep it fresh, the Murci has spawned a seemingly endless succession of variants, from the original through the LP640, 40th Anniversary and Versace editions, fixed roof and roadsters versions, the Reventón, LP650-4 Roadster and LP670-4 SuperVeloce. Lambo's done a good job of keeping its biggest, baddest fighting bovine with the times, but they know it's about time this aging bull be put to pasture. However if the latest reports are any indication, it may yet be a couple of years more before the Murci meets its replacement.
When it does come along, though, Auto Motor und Sport says we can expect the new flagship Lambo to ditch the Murci's outmoded steel chassis in favor of an aluminum one - likely based on the Audi R8's. Draped in aluminum and carbon fiber, the chassis will, in all likelihood, carry a revised version of the Bizzarrini-designed V12 that was the company's first engine and which has, with considerable modification, carried on in the company's supercars ever since. While the wheelbase is expected to carry over from the outgoing Murcielago, the front overhang is expected to shrink, while all-wheel-drive will continue to put the power down to the tarmac.
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

Next Tesla Roadster aims at 911 Turbo with AWD and usable space

Electric drivetrain aside, the Tesla Roadster isn't the most practical sports car on the market. Like its Lotus counterpart, the Roadster is lacking space for both passengers and parcel, something Tesla CEO Elon Musk is all-too-happy to admit. But as you'd expect from the plucky upstart and its confident chief executive, Tesla has big plans to expand beyond the Roadster and Model S sedan, and it's got the Porsche 911 in its sights.
Although we've known for some time that Tesla plans to base future models on the Model S platform - ranging from a base model to a full-fledged GT - the automaker's been tight-lipped about the specifics of future sports cars. However, Musk let it slip during an interview that a 911 Turbo shares a space in his garage with a Roadster, and he loves its ability to schlep the kiddies to school in its diminutive back seats. Inspired, Musk said that the next Tesla sports car would be a 2+2, boasting 10% more room for rear-seat passengers and 50% more trunk space than the 911, along with all-wheel drive. Additionally, the Model S' flat architecture means that styling won't be completely influenced by the drivetrain, allowing for "greater functionality with avant garde, aggressive" styling. Although this new coupe's future is largely dependent on the success of the Model S, if Tesla can keep the lights on and continue R&D, we might see the GT as early as 2012 or 2013.

2009 Porsche Boxster S vs. BMW Z4 sDrive35i, Audi TTS, Chevrolet Corvette

With all the doom and gloom out there—evaporating 401k plans, exploding mortgages, pay cuts, Paula Abdul—this might seem like a bad time to buy a roadster. Two seats, flashy looks, extrovert performance, and a voracious fuel appetite are bound to anger your foreclosed neighbors faster than the Senate Finance Committee can bully you into returning your annual bonus. But if you haven’t already spent your ill-advised home-equity loan, now is the time to reward yourself with an automotive indulgence. If you are someone who still has a positive net worth, you can jump-start this knocked-down economy just by spending. And we’re here to help you make the best choice.

Keep Reading: 2009 Porsche Boxster S vs. BMW Z4 sDrive35i, Audi TTS, Chevrolet Corvette

2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport pricing announced

According to Dave Salvatore of Kerbeck Corvette the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport will start at $55,720 for the coupe and $59,530 for the convertible. As the folks over at CorvetteBlogger point out, that’s about $6,205 more than the base coupe and $5,360 for the base convertible.

Refresher: Power comes from a LS3 6.2L V8 producing 430-hp and a peak torque of 424 lb-ft when mated to a standard exhaust system. Output is increased to 436-hp when mated to the optional two-mode exhaust system. The model will also feature widebody styling along with a racing-bred suspension. The Corvette Grand Sport can be ordered with 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT trim packages.