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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

SRT Viper TA (Time Attack) Is Ralph Gilles’ Answer to the ZR1: Video

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By Darryl

2014-SRT-Viper-TA

With every new automotive product comes the fine-tuned scrutiny of publications when they put them to the test. Case in point, Motor Trend recently put the new SRT Viper through its paces and pitted it against the current Corvette ZR1. They took it to the infamous Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway where the ZR1 came away with the over-all win at helm of the ever-so-consistent driver Randy Pobst.

The results, despite Randy Pobst hinting at his “…hard time with cars that don’t handle well,” ended up in a preverbal up-setter on the SRT side with SRT CEO Ralph Gilles in an upset state of mind. As an answer by Gilles and his team, SRT shot back in the end with an updated Viper dubbed the Viper TA, TA standing for Time Attack. The SRT Viper TA looks to be a track-focused version standard with the Carbon Fiber Aero Package (adds a functional two-way front splitter and rear wing adding 300 pounds of downforce at 150mph, re-worked suspension (different spring rates), the Track Package taken a step further (lighter brakes about twice as thick, lighter matte wheels, Pirelli P Zero Corsa performance tires) and it even gets emblem stickers to save weight. Over-all, the Viper TA is said to be about 11 pounds lighter than the base SRT Viper.

To conclude, the Viper TA put the smack-down on the track as Randy Pobst took the wheel setting a production car record around the Laguna Seca Raceway, beating the Corvette ZR1’s time by just .08 seconds.

Hit up the Motor Trend video below for the full recap and test run of the SRT Viper TA, which there will be only 33 fine examples produced and sold in 2013 at a price of about $116,000.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

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