I am very glad to see the Viper back in production - coming. I am also glad to see it is declared as the halo car for the SRT line. I am glad to see the rumors aiming it to more mainstream. Also the rumors that it will go racing. All this is good for the Corvette as I believe there's nothing like competition to motivate GM to make Corvette better. Even the person who heads GM understands that - I hope.

The announced NSX will have little if any impact on the sales of either the Vett or the Viper - IMO. Honda did impact everyone with the original NSX by showing you could build a high performance car that was not a garage queen. But that time is long past. Honda sport cars are always low on torque, so it will be interesting to see if the new NSX has the rumored battery augmented awd and that if that augmentation is used to make up for the low torque from the gasoline engine. If priced correctly, it looks like competiton for the Porsche, Audi and Ferrari buyer. I guess it that sense it fits the luxury market where the Vett competes. But I can't see a Vett buyer cross shopping the NXS.

I do see a Vett buyer cross shopping a Viper if the Viper has the announced move toward the mainstream driver.

 

At one point they were talking about Viper as being another modified Alpha Romeo with Chrysler badge on it. But the recent news indicate, that it's still from the viper generation now. So I wonder if it's still the same engine design just larger or new engine?

As far as NSX goes, as you said, the low torq is huge turn off to anyone who has had big torq cars before. Torq is very addictive and it's hard to forget and settle for something that doesn't have that kick-in-the-butt feeling.

But I think many Corvette owners will be looking/considering the new Viper.

 

Yeah, the Viper needs a rethink. With the C6Z and ZR1 the only viper really worth buying is the ACR.

That said, the viper definitely has more presence than the Vette. You see a Vette ZR1, and you're like "Super car....?"

You see a Viper base model, and it's "SUPER CAR!"

Performance doesn't factor in as much as price and exclusivity. Just ask Aston Martin.

That said, they're going to have to step up the Viper if they want to run with us now. The old one is just a skittery over-priced battleship.

 

The upcoming Jaguar CX-16 will be direct competition not only in price range but power too. Suppose to be around $60K-$100K.

Ford is rumor to be bringing back the GT-150 too with the new Mustang Shelby GT500 engine in it too. Could be direct competition in the ZR1!

 

A friend of mine who has an KXR was telling me the dealer had told him the CX-16 will be around $85K for US version.

 

2013 gt500 is going to be the bench mark for street performance IMO. The modding capabilites on thoes cars is like cheating. JMO

 

Any performance increase with the new Viper over the existing Viper is going to be serious competition for all lines of Corvette C7, IMO. The "old" Viper ACR holds every road course record it chooses to grab.

 

That's the trick though; the ACR relates to the viper bout the same way that the ZR1 relates to the base model. The ACR is better than any Corvette for any performance drive, but the standard viper isn't quite as good as the Z06 or the ZR1, despite being "cooler."

 

interesting

 

The ACR is stickier tires and aero, while the ZR1 has a different engine and suspension.

The standard Viper is very stiff competition for a Z06, and I think a bunch of folks on here think it's better on a track.

 

To be perfectly honest, that's the only other car I'm considering right now. If the C7 isn't a drop-dead stunner and the C-X16 looks exactly like the concept car I may find myself in the driver's seat of that Jag. It's one of the most amazing looking cars I've seen in years.

 

Is the viper ACR even street legal? I mean, it has a gigantic wing in the back, racing tires, a proper, 1 inch off the ground front splitter, etc. So, yeah, sure, it may hold every single lap record there is for a non "race" car, but that's about all you can do with it. You're not going to see a viper ACR on the freeway, or around town, and theres a reason for that.

 

it is not street legal because of the tires and the front splitter.

 

The ACR was street legal while the ACR-X was intended for track use only. The cars are generally gutted race cars not worthy of living with on a daily basis.

Heck, the Viper base coupe has no electronic driver aids, is rough and radical for daily use, the seats pinch your ***, and entry and exit is hard if you are big. Most ACRs may be difficult for larger drivers.

 

I like Corvetttes but if Lexus actually makes this sport car for $60-$100K and it still looks like this; I may jump ship!
It called the Lexus LF-LC sport coupe design and will be shown at the 2012 Detroit Auto show starting on Monday!



I take that back; it has an ugly front end; the same one used on their 2012 GS350!

 

That thing is stunning from the side but the grill looks like a shrapnel wound. What the hell were they thinking?

 

Some will consider a new Viper for the "Buy American" impact. But I'd like to see a C7 that doesn't need the "Buy American" pitch to win Corvette buyers.

Corvette competes with cars selling from $45K to >$130K. It's a tall order. The ZR1 competitors are wildly different from a Corvette base 1LT.

The Acura brand is a mess right now, sales down, poor styling choices, and no halo car. Honda has deep pockets and they won't let it go on for long. I could see Acura reintroducing the NSX, and if they do it won't have flaws of the past. Lexus is trying to put some sizzle in their brand with the LFA. I saw one yesterday at Cars & Coffee, it attracted a big crowd and was awesome looking.

Cheers,
JB

 

It's seems like it's the same carp or fish-like mouth that adorns a lot of Japanese styled cars lately.

And the badge on the side of the car isn't great either.

Agree with the OP, the Viper coming back is a good thing. Competition always improves the breed.

 

Acura did an angular thing to all their cars that I didn't care for, it reminded me of origami.

 

Looks like a Transformer that's about to puke...