There are two questions here: What's the much-anticipated new-gen Viper coupe all about, and how does it compare with the 505 horsepower, aluminum-chassised Corvette Z06? We have the lowdown on the former and advance intel on the latter.
This hardtop, hatchback version of the SRT10 roadster is about what you'd expect: It's architecturally and mechanically the same as the open version, save for a big new decklid, revised rear-end styling, and myriad detail changes. The Viper's face still looks beastly in your rearview mirror, its 8.3-liter V-10 still sounds like the devil spitting gasoline out the sidepipes, and it'll turn a pair of expensive, foot-wide rear tires into a smoldering pile of rubber residue with no more effort than it takes to fall out of a boat and hit water. In case you feared that a cozy, enclosed cabin would mean any less ballsy a snake, forget it. Take the word "testosterone" out of the dictionary, replace it with "Viper SRT10," and nobody would know the difference.
As of this writing, neither Motor Trend--nor anyone else--has track-tested an SRT10 Coupe alongside a new-gen Z06. But we have run them each on different tracks, on different days, and with different drivers. While these numbers (below) aren't conclusive, they do provide a look at the highest-stakes domestic performance matchup since the original Corvette/Cobra wars of four decades ago.
This particular Viper coupe was slower than we expected, as we've tested SRT10 roadsters under four seconds to 60 mph, around 12 seconds in the quarter mile, and with stopping distances from 60 at under 100 feet--numbers consistent with SRT's claims. Perhaps it was that this particular car required a 1-2 shift to hit 60? The Supervette looks faster at first blush, but don't make any bar bets until we have production versions of both cars in the same place at the same time, being pedaled by the same test driver.
Coupifying the SRT10 was straightforward. The chassis, the bodywork forward of the trailing edge of the doors, the powertrain, and most of the interior are unchanged. A double-bubble-shaped roof panel flows into a rear hatch that opens high and wide to reveal 6.2 cubic feet of luggage space. That unique roofline treatment (a popular element of the original Viper GTS) not only looks cool but increases headroom without making the car look bubblish. The rear fenders and fascia are new, and, in a worthy tribute to the first-generation Viper coupe, use the same taillight units.
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