Tag Archives: Laguna Seca

Automobiles

Video: SRT's Ralph Gilles addresses the infamous <i>Motor Trend</i> Viper vs. ZR1 test

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By Jeremy Korzeniewski

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In one of the most interesting roundtable discussions we’ve seen in quite some time, the boys from Motor Trend, along with pro racing driver Randy Pobst, sat down with SRT head honcho Ralph Gilles to discuss the 2014 Viper. And the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, naturally. As you may remember, Motor Trend has filmed two videos pitting the latest Viper from SRT against the standard-bearing ZR1, with the Viper losing the first battle but barely eking out a victory with the upgraded TA model in the second.

A few interesting tidbits sneak out regarding the Viper, such as the fact that an ACR model isn’t ready “yet,” as well as the story of how the TA model came into existence after the first test by Motor Trend. Apparently, that test also resulted in a slight softening of the regular Viper’s suspension for production. Interestingly, Gilles doesn’t seem ready to admit defeat even in that first testing session, saying that the Viper used by MT was a pre-production model and that it had been out of alignment – that said, he does offer up an apology of sorts for “throwing gas on the fire” on social networks after the video hit the web.

Moving away from the Viper toward the end of the discussion, Gilles touches on the new Camaro Z28 and mentions that “the Challenger is under the knife as we speak… and we’re going to come with an answer to [the Z28] and an answer for our friends at Ford.” That sounds mighty intriguing… though Gilles also admits that a Cuda isn’t coming “anytime soon,” but that it is “a couple years out” on a different platform than the Challenger. Fortunately, it sounds like the next-generation of the Challenger SRT will make an appearance in New York in 2014.

There are plenty more interesting tidbits in the video, so we suggest you take about 20 minutes of at the end of your day to watch it yourself. Scroll down below to watch it, along with the two MT videos comparing the Viper and ZR1 at Laguna Seca.

Continue reading SRT’s Ralph Gilles addresses the infamous Motor Trend Viper vs. ZR1 test

SRT’s Ralph Gilles addresses the infamous Motor Trend Viper vs. ZR1 test originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Official: Viper TA track-special unveiled to avenge loss to ZR1 [w/video]

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By Jeremy Korzeniewski

SRT Viper TA

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Ready for round two? Friend of Autoblog and Motor Trend personality Jonny Lieberman has helped SRT whip the covers off the new Viper TA (which stands for Time Attack, apparently) by putting professional racecar driver Randy Pobst behind the wheel and pointing him at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with cameras in tow.

What those cameras captured includes plenty of footage of a Crusher Orange SRT Viper TA running amok at The Corkscrew and generally bludgeoning the race track into submission. Updates to the Viper package for TA duty include bigger brakes from Brembo, a Carbon Fiber Aero Package that includes a massive rear wing and a Track Package that boasts better wheels and Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.

Weight savings are found via a new carbon fiber X-brace underhood along with badges that have been replaced with stickers (seriously). Perhaps most importantly, the TA comes equipped with the two-mode remote reservoir shocks seen on the more expensive GTS. While the GTS offers Street and Track modes, the TA goes a step further with Smooth and Rough settings – no Street mode here.

The result? According to Motor Trend, the TA is the fastest Viper it’s ever tested, reaching 60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds and a quarter-mile ET of 11.3 seconds at 129.3 mph. But is the TA good enough to beat the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the car that beat the Viper the last time MT put them together at Laguna Seca? Scroll down below to find out, and join us in waiting for round three, when Chevy releases the next generation of its Corvette for the track.

Continue reading Viper TA track-special unveiled to avenge loss to ZR1 [w/video]

Viper TA track-special unveiled to avenge loss to ZR1 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Report: DeltaWing coming back with major updates, enclosed cockpit

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By Jonathon Ramsey

Nissan DeltaWing on track

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The development of the DeltaWing is making a break and taking a left turn, with a report on Speed revealing that almost none of the partners who helped make the car possible are involved in its racing plans for 2013. That includes Ben Bowlby, the man who dreamed it up, Dan Gurney’s All American Racers, Highcroft Racing and Nissan – all of them have apparently stepped away. The only potential supplier left is Michelin, and it’s only potential because Michelin hasn’t commented on the matter.

Don Panoz remains, and there’s a lot of work going into the three races planned for the DeltaWing this year. A new 1.9-liter race engine with a billet block, direct injection and twin turbos, based off two different Mazda engines, is reportedly being built for the program. Lighter than the Nissan engine formerly used and running on the dyno now, output is at 345 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, meaning it is also more powerful than the Nissan engine.

Its first outing will be at the 12 Hours of Sebring next month, where it will move up to the P1 category. After that, the radical racer will be enclosed – Bowlby originally envisioned a coupe – and it is expected to race at Laguna Seca on May 11 and at Baltimore on August 31. Assuming the racing and performance targets are met, plans are to bring the coupe version of the DeltaWing to market.

DeltaWing coming back with major updates, enclosed cockpit originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Video: <i>Motor Trend</i> pits SRT Viper against Chevy Corvette ZR1

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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Last month, Motor Trend took over Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to perform one of the first head-to-head comparisons between the current Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and its newly redesigned nemesis, the SRT Viper. We’ve already gone over the article and amazing photographs of this epic all-American battle, and now, MT has provided a video of the deed in its latest “Head 2 Head” installment.

As we’ve already reported, not only did the ‘Vette come out victorious when it came to lapping Laguna Seca, but it also set a new track record for a production car with a time of 1:33.70 beating the previous time by 0.2 seconds and beating the Viper by more than two seconds. In straight-line performance, both cars ran an identical 11.4 seconds in a quarter mile sprint. In the video, MT‘s drivers point out that the ZR1 has better braking and cornering on the track while the Viper’s raw power and rough ride were mentioned on multiple occasions. One of the interesting notes is that the video points out the “deafening” cabin noise and “rock-hard” seats in the Viper, but SRT responded by saying both issues will be fixed by the time the car goes on sale.

Scroll down to watch the whole video showing both the Viper and the ‘Vette tackle one of the toughest tracks in the country.

Continue reading Motor Trend pits SRT Viper against Chevy Corvette ZR1

Motor Trend pits SRT Viper against Chevy Corvette ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog