GM Files Federal Trademark for Corvette Grand Sport

8
3875

GM Files Federal Trademark for Corvette Grand Sport


Is Chevrolet planning a Grand Sport model for the C8 Corvette and beyond? That’s the question on our minds as we have learned General Motors has filed a trademark for “Corvette Grand Sport” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 26th.

The trademark for “Corvette Grand Sport” falls in the category of “Motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles” and the serial number is 97430541:

Corvette Grand Sport Trademark Filing


Alrighty, then! How about we take a walk through the different outcomes in which the Corvette Grand Sport becomes a reality once again.

First, it’s quite possible that GM is simply protecting the existing model name which they have used a number of times during the 70 year history of the Corvette, starting in 1963 and most recently in 2019. We did find a previous registration date for Corvette Grand Sport in the USPTO archives dated May 29, 2012.

There has been no official discussion if the Grand Sport model would be offered for the C8 generation although the model was a top seller in the C7 and C6 generations. Chevy has never said the Grand Sport name would be returning to the C8 nor do we expect them to be discussing future products until they are good and ready to make it official.

The automotive blogosphere has pretty much adopted the idea that the upcoming C8 hybrid model will be called the E-Ray, which was first trademarked in 2015 by the automaker and renewed again 2020. The word from our friends at Muscle Cars and Trucks in October 2020 was that E-Ray was the front runner name for the widebody C8 Corvette that would be following the Z06. But that doesn’t mean GM is going along with that plan. It’s quite possible the Grand Sport name returns as the C8’s “grand touring model” traditionally slotted between the Stingray and Z06, while the E-Ray is relegated to a powertrain name (if used at all).

There is a lot of history in the Grand Sport name and I would call it the preferred name among Corvette enthusiasts and even those who are highly enthusiastic about the upcoming hybrid model. I do like the E-Ray name, however, by the time the E-Ray/Grand Sport arrives next year, we may already be tired of how automakers are putting the “E-” on existing model names to signify “it’s electric!”


Source:
Trademark Office

Related:
GM Abandons Trademark for Corvette Manta Ray as E-Ray Appears to Win the Name Game
General Motors Re-Registers the ZORA Trademark with the USPTO
RUMOR: E-Ray Hybrid Model May Replace the Grand Sport in the C8 Corvette Lineup

 



-

8 COMMENTS

  1. Maybe the GS should be the hybrid and E-Ray should be fully electric and let’s not forget the Zora name.

  2. Last month at the recent Corvette Bash at the Corvette Museum, in a Q&A session, Harlan Charles was asked if there might be a C8 Grand Sport. ever cheeky, Harlan said, “Yea, I heard that rumor…” <– He got a nice chuckle from the audience.

    Corvette engineers and product planners never, EVER talk about future products, so DON'T even try to ask, you'll NEVER is a straight or complete answer.

  3. All I have to say is… IT’S ABOUT FREAKIN’ TIME! 🙂

    The Grand Sport saved the C6 and greatly assisted the success of the C7 models which is something the bean counters at GM would be stupid to ignore.

    That, plus the fact that there is an active (dare I say “passionate”?) community of Grand Sport enthusiasts out there chomping at the bit at the prospect of a C8 GS. I admit, I’m one of them, but I’m not about to trade in my luscious, custom built Heritage Edition C7 GS for a regular production C8.

    I’m not against the E-Ray. Far from it, I applaud GM for pursuing the technology. I just want the next Grand Sport, if any, to stand on it’s own following the previously successful formula… Z06 looks and handling with a base ICE engine… or perhaps just a few more ponies to make it that more special. 😉

    C’mon GM. You know what we want so get on with it! 🙂

  4. I HAVE A 13 GRAND SPORT AND LOVE IT.I GET SO MANY COMPLIMENTS ON THE LOOKS OF THAT CAR.IN THE LAST 7 YEARS I’VE PUT OVER 60,000 MILES ON HER AND ONLY CHANGED THE BATTERY ,TIRES ,AND BRAKES.

Comments are closed.