Fox News showed new 620 hp 'Vette at the Detroit Auto Show...what next?

[viperprowler1]

Any thoughts on what Viper has up its sleeve to put this new big hp 'Vette in its place?

[Alexarz]

At press time the Viper will offer its buttocks.

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Dodge doesn't have anything up it's sleeve. It's out. The 2008 ACR. Which is twice the track rat that Vette will ever be.

[wallbanger]

zr1 was also on the today show this morning as they had a brief view of the "exciting" cars of Detroit auto show

[Vipermann]

Originally Posted by Chuck 98 RT/10

Dodge doesn't have anything up it's sleeve. It's out. The 2008 ACR. Which is twice the track rat that Vette will ever be.

Amen.

I'm looking forward to some head-2-head comparisons of lap times. Once everyone sees how the ACR beats the ZR1 (and almost everything else), we can go back to complaining about other things.

[xlr8ion]

Is the ACR at Detroit??? I know it was at LA show.

[Brian GTS]

It doesn't matter to me. The fact is that the 08 Viper is naturally aspirated and generating about 620hp.

Chevy is squeezing about every bit of horsepower they can out of that V-8 just to keep up with our naturally aspirated Viper V-10.

That is what makes the 08 Viper superior in my opinion. The SRT designers should be commended for this feat!

[sun diego]

The factory can add the 75 hp in bolt-ons as standard equipment. Belanger headers add 50 hp.

[Andrew/USPWR]

I still say Dodge should make a $150,000 ACR/Twin Turbo and end this game once and for all. 1000hp nuf said. IMO

KO no eight count needed

[redtanrt10]

Originally Posted by xlr8ion

Is the ACR at Detroit??? I know it was at LA show.

Yes, the red/black LA car, raffle car is on display along with a blue vert.

Have to admitt the ZR1 looks very nice up close. Color is a dark charcoal, and man those brakes are big. But think they made a mistake with the clear center section of the hood, looks like an afterthought, and unlike a ferrari, etc, what do you really see on the vette?

[SquadX]

15" rotors is hugh. Does any one know if something similar is avaible for the Viper? Closest I've seen is 14".

[Bill Pemberton]

Dang, that is blatant false advertising on the Vette's part. I was told specifically by a GM engineer, that the clear part on the hood was a built in GE cooktop range for cooking up burgers and dogs when tailgating at your favorite NFL game. I am out if it doesn't have that function to go along with my cupholders and heads up display.

[Brian GTS]

Yes, that hood window is ridiculously tackey. I couldn't believe it when I saw it in the mags.

[Paul Hawker]

Don't believe that supercharged Z1 will hold up to track use. More of a street poser for rich guys. (nothing against rich guys)

[kman]

I will be shocked if that vet comes out with only 620 hp. With the 08 viper and Nissan gtr showing there hands early, they still have time to squeeze more out of the zr1 if it's possible. They have no choice but to beat the posted 0-60 and 1/4 mile times of both these cars. If they don't, this vet will be the biggest over priced flop ever released. Every article always says at least 620HP, which leads me to believe they're trying to squeeze more out of it and won't release final hp numbers until it hits showroom floors in the spring.

[Kenneth Krieger]

It all comes down to one thing and one thing only......PASSING EMISSIONS! They can "squeeze out all they want" however, it won't pass emissions! We have heard over and over that SRT engineers made the new motor breath out 800+hp, but they had to tune it to "pass emissions!" That's the name of the game now in this GREEN world of ours. This is probably the last real hp that we will see under the guidelines of push rod engines, and large displacements. We have to come to grips that not all people are car nuts. Most people are just nuts! There are so few of these high hp cars that pollute VERY little in comparison with trucks. Yet, we have to have them thrown in with the EPA regulations of so many miles per gallon on average by the year 2012 to begin with and even more restrictions by 2018. It's hard to face, but all of us will soon be driving a Prius type car in the next 10 years, and probably hydrogen fueled in the long run. Get your kicks now......it's slowly coming to the end for us "car nuts!"

[kman]

I hate a kick in the pants from reality!

[AviP]

Originally Posted by Kenneth Krieger

Get your kicks now......it's slowly coming to the end for us "car nuts!"

Thank goodness for grandfather laws! I think we'll be fine for a while albeit at $10 gas.

[SylvanSRT]

the thing that kills me about the center window in the hood of the vette is that the engine you are seeing is trim COVER not even the engine itself, unlike the ferrari and lambo cars where you look at the actual intake. they put a frickin window in the hood to look at a fancy piece of plastic not even the engine

[Vypr Phil]

Originally Posted by SylvanSRT

the thing that kills me about the center window in the hood of the vette is that the engine you are seeing is trim COVER not even the engine itself, unlike the ferrari and lambo cars where you look at the actual intake. they put a frickin window in the hood to look at a fancy piece of plastic not even the engine

Well, this just shows you how easy it is to fool most of the people out there...

Phil

[Vic]

Originally Posted by SylvanSRT

the thing that kills me about the center window in the hood of the vette is that the engine you are seeing is trim COVER not even the engine itself, unlike the ferrari and lambo cars where you look at the actual intake. they put a frickin window in the hood to look at a fancy piece of plastic not even the engine

Thats the intercooler cover, aluminum.

Still boring to look at. Makes me wanna spray paint the window to body color. What a dumb idea that was. Its not like there was this beautiful engine, and they just couldn't bear hiding it. It was more like, gee, how can we make this car look different? They might as well have hung a fox tail from the antenna. That would be just as dumb, attracted as much attention, and been cheaper, too.

Here's my take on the ZR1. (Everyone is waiting for my review, and as I take the podium, the hall is filled with the deafening roar of enthusiastic applause)

Those magnetic shocks allow the weight to transfer rearward under hard launches. They sense and react in a couple/few thousandths of a second, softening the rears, hunkering down for the hole shot. You can have all the power in the world, but if you can't hook up, its just smoke. Those magnetic shocks help those 620 Hp to make it to the pavement. They also stiffen the outer corners under lateral G's, to minimize body roll. The massive Carbon/Ceramic brakes are essentially fade free. Its about 5.4 pounds/Hp, which looks pretty good, compared to my GTS at about 7.65 pounds/Hp. The 08 Coupe is at about, what, 5.75 pounds/Hp? With the Mopar stuff, which I haven't seen yet, another 75 Hp would get an 08 Coupe down to 5.11 Pounds/Hp. As a track car, I'd say the Viper will hold up lap after lap, with its natural aspirated powerplant, whereas the ZR1's blower MAY heat soak, we'll have to wait and see on that. Supposedly it was tuned on the Ring, so maybe the heat dissapation issue had a shakedown. Who knows... Anyway, the ZR1 is pretty sophisticated, and in the right hands, a formidable opponent. I wouldn't mind adding one to my collection. (Which would number (2) then)

Me, I'm going for the high flow heads, Stop Tech brakes, lighter rims, etc, to keep the GTS semi-current. I wish Dodge had continued to develop the GTS. They could have made it lighter, more powerful, etc, while keeping that incredible shape. Oh, well, whadaya gonna do? Gotta roll with the times....

[Limit]

I think if the Viper becomes discontinued for a few years, when they bring it back. It should be exactly like the GTS just with better performance.