Official GM GS Reveal, Including Press Release and GM Photos

[John]

At long last we have official information from GM on new Corvettes, specifically on the four Grand Sport Coupes, one for each of the four,
all-season-long C7.R # 3 & # 4 drivers. [This thread not publicly viewable until 11:46 AM EST.]

Individual four cars/drivers are in post # 2.

[Quote=Media.Chevrolet]For Release: Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, 11:45 a.m. EST
Champion Corvette Racers Design Unique Drivers Series Models

Special edition vehicles honor winning Corvette Racing drivers with four distinctive appearances!

DAYTONA, Fla. — Chevrolet today introduced the 2019 Corvette Drivers Series special edition
Grand Sport models designed in collaboration with the Corvette Racing team.
Each of the four versions has a specific exterior color and unique graphics package inspired by
Corvette Racing drivers Tommy Milner, Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia.
“The Corvette Drivers Series celebrates Corvette Racing’s winning legacy, which is driven by a
world-class team of drivers from around the globe,” said Steve Majoros, director of Chevrolet
passenger car and crossover marketing. “Each driver worked with Chevrolet designers on the
graphics for their respective edition, giving the cars distinctly personalized appearances.”
Offered on Grand Sport 1LT, 2LT and 3LT trims, the color and graphics packages for the
vehicles include:

• Tommy Milner Edition: Elkhart Lake Blue exterior with silver stripes and red hash
marks, body-color mirrors, black wheels with red stripe and red brake calipers. Jet Black
Suede interior (leather seats on 1LT) with red seat belts.

• Oliver Gavin Edition: Shadow Gray exterior with Torch Red center stripe and Torch
Red hash marks, Carbon Flash mirrors, black wheels with red stripe, red brake calipers.
Adrenaline Red interior with red seat belts.

• Jan Magnussen Edition: Arctic White exterior with Crystal Red stripes and gray hash
marks, body-color mirrors, black wheels with red stripe and red brake calipers. Jet Black
interior with red seat belts; red stitching on 3LT trim.

• Antonio Garcia Edition: Racing Yellow exterior with “Jake” stinger stripe, red hash
marks, Carbon Flash mirrors, black wheels with red stripe and red brake calipers. Jet
Black interior; yellow stitching on 3LT trim.

Each edition receives a driver-specific interior plaque and other unique trim details, and models
with the 3LT trim include carbon fiber interior trim.

“Customers can select the version of their favorite Corvette Racing driver or simply choose the
one with the color and graphics that appeals the most to them,” said Majoros. “And like the
drivers they represent, each special edition is a winner.”

Similar to the Corvette Racing C7.R race cars, the Grand Sport-based Drivers Series models
feature a naturally aspirated V-8 engine. The 6.2L LT1 engine is rated at 460 horsepower (343
kW), and also like the race cars features a dry-sump oiling system designed to support high-
performance track driving.

Additional features:

*Wide fenders and rear quarter panels that accommodate large 19x10-inch front and
20x12-inch rear wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Super Sport run-flat summer-only
tires.
* Functional brake ducts and enhanced cooling package.
* Brembo brake system with 14.6-inch (370 mm) rotors and six-piston calipers in front and
14.4-inch (365 mm) rotors and four-piston calipers in the rear.
* Magnetic ride control, specific stabilizer bars and unique springs.
*Electronic limited-slip differential.
* Five-position Driver Mode Selector that tailors 12 vehicle attributes to fit the driver’s
environment.
*Available Z07 package adds larger carbon ceramic-matrix brake rotors and Michelin
Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer-only tires
*Leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel.
*Front Curb View Camera2 on 2LT and 3LT trims.
*Head-up display included on 2LT and 3LT trims.
*Heated and ventilated leather-appointed seats on 2LT and 3LT trims.
*Leather-wrapped interior with suede upper interior trim included on 3LT.

The Corvette Drivers Series packages are available this spring and have an additional MSRP of
$4,995 for 1LT and 2LT trims and $5,995 for the 3LT trim.

FAST FACT: Since 1999, Corvette Racing has won 99 races in IMSA competition. That’s the most of any professional sports car racing team based in North America.

Here are the accompanying GM’s official press release pictures

[John]

Official four GS versions close up. (Not publicly viewable until 11:46 AM EST).

[tooold2race]

Yawn! (Oh, sorry.) Did anyone check the spelling yet???

[tooold2race]

Now that I'm done yawning I feel a bit ashamed. All in all, they look pretty good (…. and I'm a 'black wheel' guy anyway). I certainly wouldn't pay the premium to buy one of those, versus ordering a Corvette exactly how I wanted it to look. On top of that, none of 'em are 'verts' so that eliminates that all together.

If they help sell a few extra Corvettes then that's just fine. The problem is that they will likely be very collectable (in 20 or 30 years) since so few will actually be ordered.... but the collectability will only apply if you pick the right driver!

In my opinion, this confirms that there will be a 2020 C7 with a real 'Special Edition' just like they've had at the end of the C4 and C5 generations. That, coupled with all the part number leaks referencing the 2020 model, cause me to believe that there will 2020 C7's at the big gathering in Bowling Green in Spring.

[JB]

Good to know these special edition corvettes announced january 25 th are 2019 corvette models.

had gm been planning c7 s for the calendar year 2020 ...these would be 2020 models produced after january 24 th or whatever the federal governement requires ..

i had a feeling it would be on the grand sport modelof the c7...which i believe has been responsible for about 49 percent of c7 annual sales..

i wish those who love these models the best

hoe gm sells a lot of these and cleans up c7 inventory sooner rather than later.

[John]

That’s a really good point JB, that they could well have been called 2020’s legally. Why I believe tooold2race’s above post (today’s post I just moved over fo our post he day) talking about that he expect a revised 2020 Stingray could be where GM is heading right around the corner. An NCM BASH reveal of a revised 2020 Stingray??? Repeating it here:

“n my opinion, this confirms that there will be a 2020 C7 with a real 'Special Edition' just like they've had at the end of the C4 and C5 generations. That, coupled with all the part number leaks referencing the 2020 model, cause me to believe that there will 2020 C7's at the big gathering in Bowling Green in Spring.”

[meyerweb]

4 grand for stripes and a dash plaque, and another grand for some carbon fiber bits inside. No thank you.

[xXColorShiftXx]

That’s a really good point JB, that they could well have been called 2020’s legally. Why I believe tooold2race’s above post (today’s post I just moved over fo our post he day) talking about that he expect a revised 2020 Stingray could be where GM is heading right around the corner. An NCM BASH reveal of a revised 2020 Stingray??? Repeating it here:

“n my opinion, this confirms that there will be a 2020 C7 with a real 'Special Edition' just like they've had at the end of the C4 and C5 generations. That, coupled with all the part number leaks referencing the 2020 model, cause me to believe that there will 2020 C7's at the big gathering in Bowling Green in Spring.”

Would this be the first time in Corvette history that the car got a "revised update" instead of a complete body change? because if thats the case then the mid engine car is a new platform branched off the Current car. and the FE will Live on and possibly be a different c8 in a few years, along side the Mid Engine.

[C8-wannabe]

How do we get in on the daily raffles?

[John]

Thank you David Smith for this descriptive picture.

[C8Driving]

While these Drivers Editions are not something I would want, I am easily imagine that they will be sought after by some.

[John]

CorvetteBlogger took reveal video and more:

Watch the Reveal of the 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Series

By Keith Cornett

Jan 25, 2019




It was a great day for Chevrolet this morning as the 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Series was revealed to a throng of Corvette enthusiasts at the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.

The reveal was held at the Chevrolet Experience Center and Chevrolet’s Director of Competition Mark Kent led the event as the four Corvette Racing drivers stood beside their special Drivers Series Grand Sports.

After the introductory comments from Mark Kent, he went down the line and asked each driver to reveal their special edition. Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen, Tommy Milner, and Oliver Gavin each pulled the cover and stood proudly next to their creations as Corvette’s Exterior Design Manager Kirk Bennion talked to each of them about the choices and where they found inspiration for their designs. Drawing a laugh from the crowd, Jan said his Arctic White Drivers Edition reminds him of the Ron Fellows Special Edition.


The 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Series editions were created by the individual drivers with collaboration with the Corvette design team. Starting with a Grand Sport Coupe, the drivers selected the exterior colors and graphics combinations. A special Corvette Racing decal shows on the bottom of the doors and an interior plaque displays the name of the Drivers Series as well as the unique sequence number for each car.

Pricing for the 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Series packages is $4,995 for 1LT or 2LT trims and $5,995 for the 3LT trim level package.

Here’s the reveal as it happened Friday morning, January 25th at the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Just a quick note that the audio situation was difficult with loudspeakers from the track being directed at the building. I did try to isolate the presentation as best as possible.

In addition to the video, here are our photos from today’s event. When we got to the site, we found Kirk Bennion and others doing some last minute prep on the cars by adding Corvette Racing door stickers to each of the cars. We came back later in the day to get the cars basking under the Florida sun.

https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2019...rivers-series/

[MidEngine]

That was an interesting video. Thank you CorvetteBlogger.

[ltomn]

My hearing aids didn't do a thing for that! But my eyes showed me that they all appear to have Carbon Fiber brakes.

[John]

Good eyes ltomn! Since there is a option for all Driver’s Series to have the Z07 package, and that package comes with the carbon ceramics, you have IMO discovered that that specific package is on every one of their chosen vehicles.