VIDEO: Corvette Grand Sport launch control tested... in dealer lot
by Jonathon Ramsey on May 30th 2009 at 12:33PM 
Click above to watch the Corvette Grand Sport launch control
The Corvette Grand Sport features a launch control so simple your little sister could use it while she puts on her mascara at the light. It is also blisteringly effective and makes a whole lot of the right noises, as you can see in this video of a demo run in a dealership parking lot. How's that for a test drive? Follow the jump to check it out. (Note: no warranties were voided in the making of this video.)
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Matt 12:40PM (5/30/2009)
Looks like way to much wheel spin to be an effective launch control.
Reply
Nick Vrana 12:47PM (5/30/2009)
I don't know, despite the amount of wheel spin he hauled ass out of there. I'm curious to see a heads-up between a good driver on a non launch control one and someone in a launch control one.
Good show one way or another.
timwang2006 12:48PM (5/30/2009)
Like Clarkson said for the F430, launch control is for showing off and making noises/smoke. A Perfect launch should lock the tires in the first few revolutions.
Joe K. 12:48PM (5/30/2009)
Maybe, but something has to give under that amount of force... I'd rather the wheels let go than the dif, driveshaft, or tranny...
Nick Vrana 1:42PM (5/30/2009)
I'm with Joe on this one, sometimes some spin is the most effective way to get the car rolling until the wheels finally connect without breaking everything else. I agree that a perfect launch has no little to no spin, but it also may be diminishing returns as far as the damage to the driveline and how much faster you accelerate.
FThorn 2:05PM (5/30/2009)
regardless of how big a dealer is, it's pretty bold to say they won't lose their franchise (go under) in this day of Marxist regimes.
BigMcLargeHuge 2:47PM (5/30/2009)
I think Popular Mechanics did a side-by-side test and found you can go faster doing it yourself.
If doing it yourself is fastest, I'd be tempted not to bother with the LC.
timwang2006 10:36PM (5/30/2009)
I'll agree with you that I would much rather see some tires smoking than the tranny but couldn't that be solved by easing on the throttle? Its not an on-off switch you know. But hey, stock Civics can break loose their front tires these days so the Corvette might as well do it too. (Not comparing the two by the way :)
Matt 12:28AM (5/31/2009)
I have launched controlled, M3's, M5's, and the F430 (normal launch mode) and none of these cars exhibited excessive wheel spin like this.
The whole point of launch control is to control wheel spin by selected the proper launch RPM, modulate the throttle by wire, and computer management of the traction control for the perfect launch. See example of correct launch control below.
F1 Imola 2001 - Schumacher Launch Control Setting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbYmvJluWgQ
Do you really need a button on the Corvette to do a smokey burn out??? This by definition is NOT launch control. This switch should labeled "REDNECK"
Pingu 1:30AM (5/31/2009)
Dont forget that Launch Control and other electronic aids such as paddle shifters is all about consistency, ofc it's possible to get a better/perfect start with clutch/throttle control but chances are that you will mess up once in a while, you wont with launch control.
boosted awd 1:46PM (5/31/2009)
+1
clicketyclack 3:53PM (5/31/2009)
Typically, when making timed acceleration runs, you want to have about 8 feet of slight wheelspin to achieve the best launch.
On another note, I hate when people scream over the sound of the engine. Even worse is when they play stupid techno music over the video so you can't hear the car. It's so inconsiderate to the rest of us. Let's all make a pact to always keep quiet when filming a desirable car. If you can do it for tennis, you can do it for tire smoke and RPM's.
Kinsey 4:11PM (6/01/2009)
Ya i was just gonna say. I don't think he had launch control even on since the wheels aren't supposed to spin at all.
Todd 12:40PM (5/30/2009)
Live it up guys, keep damaging the cars you have in stock, then sell them to buyers, and don't tell'm...
...at least you'll have something to laugh about after your dealership closes and you're out of a job ( later this year, I'd say October ).
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dwightB 12:45PM (5/30/2009)
burn. lol
Tim 1:43PM (5/30/2009)
Reading comprehension FTW... if you had read the info attached to the video you would have seen that the Vette is not from their inventory, it's a GM owned car.
Les Stanford is one of the largest Corvette dealers in the country. They won't be losing their franchise anytime soon.
klh 1:47PM (5/30/2009)
It's a Corvette - doing a burnout isn't damaging anything.
dwightB 2:35PM (5/30/2009)
@ Tim
If it's not information that is available on Autoblog (which is where you're reading this right now) and is only found when clicking a link and reading the video description on YouTube, then reading comprehension has absolutely NOTHING to do with it.
Knowing when certain phrases pertain to your argument FTW...
tankd0g 3:39PM (5/30/2009)
"GM Stock" is another work for a "Demo". And "any time soon" is subjective. The company is down the tubes, all the dealers must eventually follow.
That One Person 3:50PM (5/30/2009)
Tim...the funny thing is, this isn't a dealer lot. It's the alley behind the Caddy dealership...which is a city alley. It took me a moment to figure out where this was until I saw the Lincoln-Mercury sign in the background..