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 5RT10 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.
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