Automobile magazine contributing writer Ezra Dyer test drove a 2013 Viper. He seems to get that the Viper and Corvette do not run in similar circles. I love his quote, “The difference between the Corvette and the Viper is that the ’Vette wants to be a new Ferrari, while the Viper wants to be a 1965 Shelby Cobra. Either that, or a big rock on a catapult. It hasn’t decided.” Read the entire article at The New York Times.
There are two ways to make a Viper faster; more power and/or less weight. In the “less weight” department, carbon fiber is a favorite. This Viper is debuting at SEMA, and has been treated to a diet program thanks to Vivid Racing. Bits include a new hood, front lip, canards, side skirts, front diffuser, tail light surround and carbon fiber wing. Also some very tasty Niche wheels. See more at Carbuzz. More pictures after the jump!
Would you like your name to be forever associated with Mopar? To be referred to with the same reverence that we hold for Petty, Garlits, Exner, Engel and Walter P himself? OK, maybe not, but it would be something to brag about. SRT is asking for suggestions for the new shade of blue that will be available on the 2014 Viper. Submit a name that they like and you could win a trip for two to the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona! Don’t delay. The deadline for submissions is Oct 24th. Would “Gilles Blue” be sucking up? Get the details at SRT.
Have you been considering a new Viper but you’re a little disappointed with the stock power output? One man’s answer was to turn to RSI Racing Solutions. They built this twin turbo V10 monster pushing 1350 HP on race gas, 1000 HP on pump gas. That should be more than adequate. See more details here at Car Buzz. More pictures after the jump.
The guys at Grassroots Motorsports wrote up a ton of tech tips for 2003 to 2010 Vipers in their current issue. However, they couldn’t fit everything in the mag, so they posted the rest online.
In the new Edmunds comparison test, the Viper was significantly faster 0-60, in the quarter mile and around Willow Springs. But it still lost! What gives? Read the review and watch the video after the jump and let us know what you think.
So I guess Motor Trend doesn’t like the Viper. Maybe they were mad that SRT gave them a beat press car with some hard miles and worn out tires. But the only car in their test that actually beat the Viper around Laguna Seca was the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series, a car that costs more than twice as much. Hmmm. So which one is the best driver’s car? Oh, a Porsche that was three seconds slower. Video after the jump.
Edmunds, a site best known for minivan comparisons and new car shopping tools for non-enthusiasts, is trying to pick a fight with Ralph Gilles in Twitter. The Edmunds people have scheduled a comparison test with the new C7 Corvette and claim that Ralph is “scared” to send the new Viper. Ralph claims all the Vipers are booked right now, owing to “Pebble beach, ALMS, Dream Cruise, peak time.. many shows, simply that time of year..” Scott Oldham counters that Ralph is “full of sh##.” Ralph Gilles replies “we are out of cars and clearly told you one is coming next month. Why are you being an A##” and “I am dissapionted with your aggression…” You can read the full exchange on Twitter.
Does Edmunds think this kind of thing helps their credibility or will increase their readership? Ultimately, I agree with Ralph that, while it will be interesting, “I don’t understand how an ultra low volume 180hp more powerful exotic needs to be compared?” At the end of the day Mopar people buy Vipers and Chevy people buy Corvettes. And arguments on Twitter are lame.
I just figured out that Ralph Gilles is on Instagram. He shot this cool pic at the Viper event I attended last month in San Carlos, California.
