I think it's safe to say that Chrysler's SRT department may have a bit of a problem on its hands. That's because at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, Chevrolet dropped the gauntlet with its all-new Corvette Z06.
If you didn't see, it is a very, very impressive product with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 good for more than 620 horsepower and more than 630 lb.-ft. of torque. This is nearly on par with the outgoing C6 ZR1, which was considered to be the benchmark of American muscle. General Motors is also touting that the new Z06 has already been tested at a quicker pace over the ZR1 too.
The bad news is that the C6 ZR1 was able to beat out the all-new SRT Viper when the two were put together by a publication. Of course, Chrysler Group blamed the driver for not pushing the Viper to its limits, which is a pretty weak claim in this writer's opinion.
Now there's no way that the folks at the SRT division didn't know that Chevrolet was going to bring the goods this time around. While I don't think anyone really expected over 600 ponies from the Z06, the reality is that its the most hardcore version of the 'Vette. And, what did SRT give the Viper to take this on at the Detroit Auto Show?
A paint job and a trim package.
[Shifty eyes]
I don't think that's going to do the trick. While the Viper will never be a volume product, as a halo vehicle it should have a little something special up its sleeve to combat the Z06. Or, at least, one would hope.
Perhaps there's something more to the Viper I don't know about with that huge V10 powerplant. Of course, I'll find out if Chrysler sends a vehicle my way this spring.
Lexus is the exclusive sponsor of the 2014 Detroit Auto Show Photo Galleries.
2014 Detroit Auto Show
2014 Detroit Auto Show
