Sales are a strong indicator of a successful product. Shuttering your factory because inventory is stacking up on dealer lots is not. Viper sales are -63% YOY and last year (the launch year) was a terrible year for Viper sales. Corvette sales are +219% YOY. By comparison, in this price range, Nissan and Audi sold twice as many GT-R's and R8's respectively last month as Dodge sold Vipers.
When the base model costs $102,845 it had better blow by your SS. But when is the last time a new Viper pulled up next to you on the street? I have seen ONE in the wild since the new generation hit the streets.
I am GRATEFUL the Viper exists - it is a raw American sports car without question. The problem is it costs waaaaay too much for its performance and overall packaging. IMO the Viper needs a base model priced closer to the Corvette ($6X,XXX or so).
Not close? More like too close for comfort.
Edmunds.com
Horsepower: Corvette: 460hp;
Viper 640hp
Acceleration: Corvette: 12.39 @ 113.7;
Viper: 11.72 @ 124.1
Braking:
Corvette: 99ft; Viper: 110ft
Slolam:
Corvette: 73.5mph; Viper: 72.0mph
Skid Pad:
Corvette: 1.05g; Viper: 0.98g
Road Course: Corvette: 84.55 sec;
Viper: 83.94 sec
Price:
Corvette: $69,675; Viper: $101,990
Other than the straight-line horsepower advantage, the new Viper falls flat on its face. There is no reason a track-oriented car should be out-braked and out-handled by a car costing $30,000 less. Only six-tenths of a second faster around a road course for $30,000 more? That is
embarrassing and the reason Viper sales are so dismal.
With the new Z06 announced, no one is willing to commit to the Viper after seeing what the base model C7 did to it.
What policy is that? Corvette had the LS3, Camaro had the LS3, Corvette had the LS7, Camaro had the LS7, Cadillac had the LSA, Camaro had the LSA.
The Viper and Vette matchup was disappointing...for Dodge. The then new 2013 Viper GTS aimed squarely at the outgoing ZR1 with it's 5y/o drivetrain was STILL 2 SECONDS SLOWER around Laguna Seca, while costing $15,000 more. With the Z06 due to hit the streets in Q1 2015, and Dodge only offering 5hp bump for 2015, it is going to be ugly.
Except when it isn't.
MotorTrend Laguna Lap:
2013 Viper GTS: 1:35.8
2013 Corvette ZR1: 1:33.7
Lightning Lap @ VIR
2013 ZL1: 2:57.5
2013 Hellcat: nolo contendere
2014 Hellcat: nolo contendere
2015 Hellcat: ????
I think Dodge is scared to death of the Mancat running high 11's / low 12's in the hands of reviewers. They are only making the Autocat available which is guaranteed to be the faster straight-line version and even its reviews have been underwhelming to date. Both the auto and manual versions of the ZL1 were available when the car launched and yet EVERY reviewer received the manual version, knowing full well the A6 would be quicker.
125mph is impressive for a $60,000 car. It is even more impressive for a $55,000 car.
GT500
Car&Driver: 0-60, 3.5sec; 1/4mile 11.8 @ 125mph; 3891lbs
MotorTrend: 0-60, 3.8sec; 1/4mile 11.6 @ 125.7mph; 3871lbs
Motorweek: 0-60, 3.5sec, 1/4mile 11.7 @ 126.0mph
Edmunds: 0-60, 3.9sec, 1/4mile 12.1 @ 120.6mph; 3870lbs
Road&Track: 0-60, 3.5sec, 1/4mile 11.7 @ 128.1mph
One upped? In what way? The 2015 C7 Z06 has more power (and will be unquestionably faster) than the 2015 Viper with it's 5hp bump. The C6 ZR1, at the end of a 5 year run, still slaughtered the all new 2013 Viper GTS around Laguna Seca by 2 seconds. Chevrolet offers an affordable sports car that punches will above its weight class. Dodge has nothing to compete with it for less than six-figures.
Another 11.7?? I thought the Autocat was supposed to be quick?