| First Drive | Brighton, England | Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible |
Key Facts
Model tested: Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible
Pricing: £73,228
Engine: 6.2-litre V8 petrol
Transmission: six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Body style: two-door roadster
Rivals: Maserati GranCabrio, Mercedes-Benz SL, Porsche 911 Cabriolet
CO2 emissions: 293g/km
Combined economy: 22.4mpg
Top speed: 186mph
0-62mph: 4.7 seconds
Power: 437hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 575Nm at 4,600rpm
In the Metal: 
Things don't seem to have moved on since the eighties for Corvette, as this Grand Sport Convertible still bears a resemblance to the car Face drove in the A-Team TV series. Whether you see that as clear family lineage or lazy design is down to personal taste. One thing's for sure, this big brash American (especially finished in bright red) certainly stands out on our roads.
It's the interior that is the least convincing though, with acres of cheap looking and feeling plastic covering the dashboard and doors. The audio and climate controls are particular low-lights, along with the mixture of manual and electric adjustment for the steering wheel. But while there can be many arguments about the quality of the fittings, there is no questioning the levels of standard equipment in here.
Driving it:
With a 6.2-litre V8 engine squeezed under the bonnet you could expect the Corvette to offer lots of low-down push, but in reality this isn't the case. Peak torque doesn't make an appearance until 4,600rpm, so you really do have to work the unit harder than initially expected.
It doesn't rev particularly quickly either, though the rumble from all eight cylinders as you do goes some way to make up for any lack of response. Still, keep the right pedal firmly pressed and things get more exciting, the rear end squirming as the massive 325-section 19-inch tyres give up the fight for grip as you lunge towards the horizon.
It's an addictive exercise, and the plastic sports car offers genuine supercar levels of straight-line performance. The automatic gearbox as fitted to our test car (a six-speed manual is available) dulls the experience slightly though, even when manipulating the paddles behind the wheel.
But what really holds the Corvette back is the size of the thing, its width and numb steering making it especially difficult to place accurately on British roads. We also noticed the nose grounding out on the occasional dip in the road, despite the firm edge to the Magnetic Selective Ride damping system.
What you get for your Money:
The problem here is the exchange rate - in America this car starts at $59,600 (or £37,326 at today's rate), which makes it conspicuously good value. Over here though its £73,228 list price matches it against some formidable competition including the new Porsche 911 and the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz SL - both of which offer more polished performances.
And though it comes well equipped, quality is poor, while running costs are guaranteed to be frightening thanks to high CO
2 emissions and average fuel economy of 22.4mpg - which translates to the mid-teens in the real world.
Worth Noting
Believe it or not the existence of the Corvette brand is down to Jaguar and its wartime XK 120. American soldiers returning after the Second World War were enthralled by the UK's lightweight sports car, and keen to tap into this 'new' market General Motors commissioned legendary designer Harley Earl to pen such a rival. The first Corvette (originally named 'project Opel') also used a 102-inch wheelbase like the Jaguar and a straight-six engine - the first V8 Corvette didn't arrive until 1955.
Summary
There is undoubtedly a curious appeal to the Corvette Grand Sport Convertible. It makes all the right noises, is well-equipped and stands out even next to the most outrageous of rivals. However, you'd have to be a true muscle car fan to justify it over its contemporary rivals - and for that reason we'd expect it to remain a rare sight on our roads.
