Saturday, April 30, 2016

McLaren Offering Up Immaculate F1 Supercar, For a Price

McLaren Offering Up Immaculate F1 Supercar, For a Price

Posted on 30 April 2016 by Andrew T. Maness


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In the final year of F1 production, McLaren only built 64 examples of its fames road car. Now, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) is offering you the chance to buy chassis #069. Of course you’re going to need some very, very deep pockets if you want to bring this beauty home, because the 60th car to roll out of the Woking, England, shop between 1993 and 1998 isn’t going to be anywhere remotely close to affordable for anyone not in the 1%.

This example of the sublime F1 is offered with just 2,800 miles on it, and has been maintained by MSO’s Heritage division. The magnesium 17-inch wheels are coated in black, and pair perfectly with the Carbon Black paint. In the cockpit, the stealth theme continues with a black and red leather central driver’s seat, and the passenger seats are upholstered in black Alcantara. The fitted luggage, Facom titanium lightweight tool kit, and Facom tool box are not pictured in the McLaren press release, but I’d wager all it’s all black as well.

RELATED: The Iconic F1 Inspired the McLaren P1 GTR

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Beyond looking supremely badass, the F1 has all the go to backup the show. The hand built 6.1-liter V12 rests in an engine bay lined with gold, and rolls on a full carbon fibre chassis, the first road car to do so. With a combination of a 627-horsepower motor, and a 2,500-lb curb weight, it’s no surprise that it broke the record for fastest production road car with a speed of 242.8 mph, and still holds the title for fastest naturally-aspirated production road car ever built. Oh, and if you care about such things, it does 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, and 0-100 in 6.3 seconds.

Bottom line: it’s stupid fast, stupid pretty, and stupid expensive.

RELATED: Check Out More Photos of the McLaren F1

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The 1990s were littered with automotive failures, and the supercar segment was no exception. The Jaguar XJ220, Bugatti EB110, and Ferrari F50 (come at me bro!) haven’t aged as well as the McLaren F1. It’s the sole exception to the rule. How a small company from the U.K. primarily know for building Formula 1 cars is still beyond my comprehension.

A Viper, A Track, and the Racing Spirit of Bob Bondurant

A Viper, A Track, and the Racing Spirit of Bob Bondurant

Posted on 30 April 2016 by Jeff Perez


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The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Chandler, Ariz. is now "The Official High Performance Driving School of Dodge/SRT"





“Left, right, left—gun it!” All 645 horsepower roared from underneath the hood of the track-focused Viper GT I was driving. Mumbling to myself, trying to remember everything I had been taught just a few hours earlier. The rugged Tarmac bounced the car up and down like it was riding on jello, my foot 3/4 of the way down, trying to get to 100 before having to slam the brakes and quickly pitch it into a right turn.

This was Bob Bondurant’s dream, as he watched on willfully from the pits, probably critiquing me like a stern schoolteacher. He wanted me to push the limits of not only the car, but myself, on a course that’s arguably one of the most technical I’ve ever driven, not to say that I’m some sort of track expert or anything.

It was on that Tuesday in the middle of the Arizona desert that I learned to drive. Truly, actually, learned to drive. It’s the same experience anyone who buys an SRT product, or Hellcat, or Viper goes through, all paid for by Dodge, of course. Except, we were getting the condensed version of that.

Before I was able to work my way up to that curvy little track, though, we had to start from the bottom; learn our ABCs of basic driving. That meant a bit of time going sideways—controlled, of course—all perfectly coordinated by the team at Bondurant’s racing school.





RELATED: Learn More About the Track-Focused Dodge Viper ACR

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‘Chargers on stilts,’ is one way to put it. Two SRT Chargers controlled vaguely by a surrounding brace and four rotating wheels on the corners. Instructors are able to lift or lower the cars, depending on the exercise. Our exercise was to go sideways, and learn how to control the car.

“Feather the throttle; use it as a sort of rudder,” the instructor urged as the car was the other way from where we started. “Just gently turn in, don’t toss it.”

Normally owners get 45 minutes on this course—we got about five to perfect our drifting skills. I never did, I was mostly sliding around crazily before they told me to get out as two of my colleagues giggled from the back seat.

But you definitely do learn, if even just a little bit. Always keep your vision forward, even if the car isn’t, use the throttle not just for moving forward, but sideways. For a group of “experienced” journalists, it all seemed a bit trivial. But for any new owner of one of these cars, it’s a much-needed exercise.

RELATED: See Photos of the 707-Horsepower Dodge Challenger Hellcat

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Move from the sliding course into a Ram Van, seat belts buckled, as one of the many instructors takes you on a run through of the track. Hitting an apex in a Ram Promaster, even as a passenger, is a pretty hilarious experience. It would be even more thrilling when we put on he helmets and did it ourselves—in slightly more track-worthy vehicles.

Charger Hellcat, Challenger Hellcat, and Viper. All three models lined up side-by-side, emblazoned with the “Bondurant” logo across them in green and yellow. “Work your way up” from Charger to Challenger, and eventually Viper, someone said. It should have been the other way around.

I got in the Charger Hellcat and immediately regretted my decision. This car wasn’t made for the track, and my lack of experience didn’t help either. Spinning tires when it shouldn’t, skipping angrily under hard braking; but I did make it around, thankfully, even if it was slower than almost everyone else.

After lunch we got back to work. This time I needed to get in the Viper, even if it was the most viscous vehicle of the three. But it wasn’t so much vicious as it was just really damn good.

RELATED: This Viper Packs 1,000 Horsepower and Looks the Part Too

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Love or hate the Viper, it’s one of the most beautifully focused vehicles one could take to the track. If you’re an owner, it’s something I couldn’t suggest doing more. It carves corners, making you clench your butt cheeks as it slides perfectly into position. The power band between second and third gear is just intoxicating. Thankfully Bondurant fit a huge wing on the back of its cars a la ACR, which gives it something like 200 extra pounds of downforce at speed. Much needed downforce.

“Left…”, I was finally getting the hang of it, after 10 or so laps. “…right”, the technical aspects of the track forced you to push your limits. “….left”, the final turn before the straight that almost wants you to overcook it and end up the wrong way. “Gun it!”, the Viper bouncing up and down angrily, Bob Bondurant standing in the pit watching me try and make up ground—on a lead follow, mind you.

At that moment—100 mph down a bumpy straight—you feel Bob Bondurant’s racing spirit living in you. You feel like you’re at Le Mans, or Sebring, pushing your limits with the knowledge of Bondurant behind you, if only a teaspoon’s worth. In reality, you’re blasting down a course that most expert drivers would shrug off, but it’s all the techniques learned throughout the day that makes it that much more of an experience.

The Bondurant Driving School wants you—nay, forces you to be a better driver. Something everyone should aspire to be.

Ford Could Be Working on an 800-HP Shelby Mustang

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.
 
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Back in 1965, famed racer Carroll Shelby took Ford’s youthful pony car, added a high-rise intake, Holley carburetor, tri-Y headers, plus a handful of other modifications, and the end result would become a track legend—the ’65 Shelby GT350 Ford Mustang. 
 
Two years later, another famous Mustang would emerge from the house of Shelby—the storied 1967 Shelby GT500, a big-block V8 monster with serious straight-line speed.

Fast forward to modern day and Ford has rekindled its GT350 nameplate, but the question in the minds of many Blue Oval fans is this, “will a new Shelby GT500 follow suit,” perhaps even in two years?

While Ford has in no way confirmed or even hinted that such a car will arrive, the Internet is yet again abuzz with rumors pointing to the contrary.

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The latest comes from Torque News, which cites “a guy who knows a guy who works for Ford,” and they state that a new Shelby GT500 is in the works, soon to pack a twin-turbocharged V8 with anywhere from 750 to 800 horsepower.

Admittedly, that’s far from a concrete source, but if there’s a grain of truth in that, the Dodge Challenger Hellcats and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s of the world better be on guard.

From a status standpoint, the move would surely make sense. Ford can’t possibly be thrilled about all the buzz that surrounds Dodge’s 707-horsepower Hellcat muscle cars, and even more so considering the Hellcats usurped the late-great GT500’s title of housing the “world’s most powerful production V8.”



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If indeed Ford is eyeing a horsepower war though, it has a good car to do it with as well. The current generation S550 Ford Mustang GT (with 5.0-liter V8 in tow) weighs around 700 pounds less than the Hellcat-powered Challenger, which (if generating the alleged power figures) ought to make it more nimble on the road.

And whereas the last-generation Shelby GT500 netted its colossal 662 horsepower thanks to a supercharger, a turbocharged V8 setup would seem the likely route to go for the Blue Oval in any future GT500 endeavors. Ford already sells the current Mustang with a turbocharged four-cylinder, the Ford F-150 with the popular EcoBoost V6 engines, and the all-new Ford GT is going twin-turbo.

Of course, absolutely nothing has been confirmed about any new Shelby GT500, so we’ll all just have to wait and see. Nevertheless, consider our collective attentions piqued.

Photo Credit: Ford

 

Like Horsepower? You Can Win an 850-HP Ford Mustang and 2017 Raptor

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.
 
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The best things in life are rarely free, but for one Blue Oval fan, well…they will be. 
 
The good folks over at American Muscle, one of the go-to retailers for aftermarket Ford Mustang and F-150 bits, have announced a giveaway of epic proportions. In celebration of their tenth anniversary, the Pennsylvania-based firm will offer up not only a tuned-up 2015 Ford Mustang GT, but also a 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor and a custom-built race trailer. And all for free.

According to the company, it’s a package worth well over $100,000 and one person will win it come November 25th of this year—a happy day-after-Thanksgiving, indeed. Looking to enter? Tap these words.

 
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The ’15 Mustang GT may be going on two years of age at that point, but it’s far from your garden-variety pony car. American Muscle has doused the Ford Mustang in a sultry Tangerine Orange custom paint scheme, added an aggressive MMD styling kit with a new front splitter, hood scoop, and rear lip spoiler, as well as outfitted the fastback in racy RTR wheels. And there’s plenty of magic going on under the bonnet too.

The 5.0-liter Coyote V8 has now been outfitted with a Whipple 2.9-liter supercharger, a freer-breathing 132 mm throttle body, uprated fuel injectors, Kooks long-tube headers and exhaust, plus a dual disk McLeod clutch, Hurst competition shifter, carbon fiber driveshaft, as well as BMR, Koni, and Viking suspension components to ease that power into the ground.

All told, the heady Ford Mustang now generates 850 horsepower at the engine, and puts 725 hp and 484 lb.-ft. of torque to the ground. Curious to see the Mustang build come together? You can take a look at the comprehensive build overview, below.





As if that weren’t enough, American Muscle is throwing in a custom aluminum racing trailer to transport that sporty ‘Stang to the track, along with a tool box filled with Eastwood tools, a spare set of drag racing wheels and tires, and oh yeah… a 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor to tow it all.

Not a bad way to become king or queen of your local track day.

Photo Credit: American Muscle.

 

Friday, April 29, 2016

Sleeper Alert: This AMC Rambler Wagon Has a V8 Surprise

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.
 
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Looks can be deceiving. From the outside, this 1969 AMC Rambler wagon looks like an honest survivor—showing its 47 years worth of sunbaked paint, dings and dents, and a piece of missing trim here or there. In many ways it is, in others… it’s not. 
 
That’s because while the outside screams “vintage ‘60s family wagon,” the engine bay screams “street sweeping muscle car.” Pop open the hood and you’ll find a built-up General Motors LS1 V8 that lets out an absolutely guttural howl.

If that’s your cup of tea and you fancy embarrassing modern performance cars at the race track—who doesn’t?—this AMC Rambler “sleeper” recently came up for sale online, and for perhaps a bit less coin than you might expect.


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According to the listing, the aim of the custom build was to keep the Rambler close to the same weight as originally delivered (about 2,820 pounds) all while upgrading its engine and drivetrain with lightweight and high-performance components. And the biggest and baddest of those mods is the engine.

The 5.7-liter aluminum block V8 (the type you’d find in a C5 Corvette) features a scad of new internal components—from valve stem seals to rocker arm upgrades—and pairs with an Allstar Tri-Core radiator, Holley oil pan, custom engine harness, and Aeromotive Stealth fuel pump. Horsepower figures aren’t given, but in Corvette form the LS1 V8s gave at least 345 ponies. It makes its presence known through a custom X-pipe exhaust.



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Instead of bolting to the Rambler’s tired manual gearbox or three-speed automatic, the LS1 now lives next to a T56 six-speed manual, which puts power to the rear wheels through a modified transmission tunnel and a custom built Ford 8.8-inch rear end with a Ford Racing limited-slip differential. Zesty indeed.

Juxtaposing those aged wheel wells, the AMC Rambler also boasts a new Control Freak front subframe with double wishbone suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, while out back resides a new four-link rear setup with adjustable Viking coilover shocks at both ends.



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You wouldn’t know all that lived under its skin from the outside though, apart from the telltale 17-inch MB Old School Wheels and massive Wilwood brakes, which might pique the interest of passersby in the know. Fittingly, the build was nicknamed ‘Project Old Lady.’

Currently, the AMC Rambler wagon “sleeps” on eBay with a reserve unmet.


 

This Aston Martin DBS Has Lived in a Barn Since 1986

BOLD RIDE
 
Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.
 
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For a moment, think of every major event that has occurred in your life since 1986 (if you’re old enough, of course). Many birthdays have come and gone, children have grown to become adults, and we went from listening to “Rock Me Amadeus” to well… Justin Bieber. 
 
In a nutshell, things have changed quite a bit, but not for everything.

In 1986, this Aston Martin DBS was rolled into a barn and locked safely away from prying eyes, and for the last 30 years, that is exactly where it has remained, until now. The dusty yet gorgeous Aston will cross the Silverstone Auctions block in May, where it’s expected to fetch upwards of £60,000 (about $87,000). New in 1968, it would have cost about £4,470.


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Few words can describe the emotional weight of these barn find images, but “haunting” seems to fit. The Aston’s three decades of shed isolation have written their story across its fastback bodywork, which now comes layered thick with dust, dirt, and a spot of bird dirt or two. Peer beneath the grime though and the DBS still wears its original coat of Mink Bronze paint.

Inside the grand tourer’s cabin, time has stood equally still, however the elements have been a bit less fair. The rich leather front seats and upholstery have grown grey and mottled with age.

And while no one has sat in the back seat of this DBS for ages, it would appear critters haven’t long given up roost there. Even so, it’s utterly jaw-dropping to see in its untouched state.



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According to the auction house, the Aston Martin was sold new on November 5th, 1968, to its first owner in Surrey, England, who held onto it for a little under two years. In April 1970, the DBS passed to its second owner—a ‘Mr. Pasqua’—who relocated the car to the island of Jersey (the largest of the UK’s Channel Islands).
For the next 16 years it would accumulate a scant number of miles before getting tucked away in a barn on the island, and to this day, the odometer reads just 30,565 miles driven. Then again, how far can you really drive on an island that’s only five miles wide and eight miles long.



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As for its model history, the DBS was the rather radical successor to the storied and much more sweeping Aston Martin DB6. It arrived new in 1967, intended to receive a new V8 engine, but it wasn’t ready in time for production so the first series housed the firm’s lauded twin-cam straight six.

On May 20th the Aston Martin DBS will find a new owner, but the question is this: do you restore it to like-new condition, or keep it as is… and untouched?

Here’s What Future US Military Ground Vehicles May Look Like

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.
 
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Historically there’s been a tried-and-true way of increasing a military vehicle’s level of protection—simply add more armor. Of late, the formula has created some of the safest war-fighting US military ground vehicles ever built, but the recipe has a major drawback, its sizable heft. 
 
 
The more armor you add, the heavier, less nimble, and more costly to develop the vehicle becomes. The Department of Defense’s latest endeavor to counter this trend is known as the GXV-T program (or “Ground X-Vehicle Technology”) and it’s being spearheaded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
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Its aim? Create nimbler, faster, and smarter armed ground vehicles which don’t compromise on safety and don’t break the budget to develop and manufacture. You can take a look at the agency’s conceptual renderings in the video, below.



According to DARPA, eight organizations have been given contracts to develop the new technology to make these future fighting vehicles possible, and this includes Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University as well as engineering firms Honeywell International, Leidos, and Pratt & Miller.

“We’re exploring a variety of potentially groundbreaking technologies, all of which are designed to improve vehicle mobility, vehicle survivability and crew safety and performance without piling on armor,” said Maj. Christopher Orlowski, DARPA program manager.

The agency previously highlighted four concrete goals of the US military program, which included reducing vehicle size and weight by 50 percent, slashing operational crew size by half, doubling driving speeds, and allowing access to 95 percent of battlefield terrain.

Further, the program also aims to implement autonomous evasion technology, which could allow the ground vehicles to independently avoid incoming threats by shifting, dodging, and repositioning in real-time—a truly revolutionary advancement if achieved.



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DARPA also lists reducing the vehicle’s detectable signature (visible, infrared, acoustic, and electromagnetic) as well as increasing situational awareness through 360-degree data visualization and the automation of minor crew functions.
“DARPA’s performers for GXV-T are helping defy the ‘more armor equals better protection’ axiom that has constrained armored ground vehicle design for the past 100 years,” says Orlowski, “and are paving the way toward innovative, disruptive vehicles for the 21st Century and beyond.”

The US Army and Marines likely won’t deploy anything of this magnitude in the next few years, however the recently-approved Oshkosh JLTV will begin to see service in 2018 and 2019.

Photo Credit: DARPA, Department of Defense


 

Hennessey Turned the GMC Yukon into an 800-HP Super SUV

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.
 
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Some cars you’d expect to have a lot of horsepower on hand—the 707-hp Dodge Challenger Hellcat or 730-hp Ferrari F12berlinetta, for instance. A GMC Yukon though? With 420 ponies it’s certainly no slouch, but far from a modern heavyweight hitter. That is, until now. 
 
The Texas tuning wizards at Hennessey Performance have waved their hands across the Yukon Denali and dispensed tunes of 550 hp, 600 hp, and 650 hp.

 But for those who really need a super SUV, they’ve turned the big Yukon Denali into an 800 horsepower monster. Dropping the kids off at soccer never looked so fun.



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Unlike some of the more conventional Hennessey modifications, which usually include a supercharger setup or twin-turbochargers, the firm’s HPE800 package entirely swaps out the Yukon’s stock motor in favor of a big 6.8-liter stroker version.

 Along with it comes a laundry list of racy upgrades including its balanced and blueprinted short block, aggressive crank and camshaft, aluminum pistons, billet steel connecting rods, ported cylinder heads, and lightweight intake valves with heavy-duty springs.
 
Even that isn’t enough on its own though. Hennessey also equips the behemoth V8 with a 2.9-liter supercharger, a burly intercooler, plus a new stainless steel mid-pipe exhaust and a high-flow catalytic converter.

The firm does say there’s an estimated drivetrain loss of about 15 to 20 percent once the big GMC Yukon puts its power to the ground, but even so the engine sure has a lot to give—a massive 805 hp at 6,000 rpm and 827 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,800 rpm.



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According to Hennessey, that’s enough to deliver a zero to 60 mph dash in a jaw-dropping 4.1 seconds, and if you keep your foot hard to the floor, the SUV will blitz the quarter mile in 12.2 seconds. For comparison’s sake, the Challenger Hellcat runs the quarter mile in 11.2 ticks of the clock on street tires.

Thinking of challenging one of these at your local drag strip? Perhaps a rethink is in order.

Sibling Rivalry: Camaro Vs Corvette

YAHOO NEWS : THE RIDE

Posted by  Brendan McAleer


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The bow-tie brothers come from a brawling family, and they're eager to take on their natural enemies: Camaro versus Mustang, Corvette versus 911. Thing is, when two born scrappers grow up in the same household, there's bound to be a fracas or two before the breakfast dishes are even cleared away. Sometimes mutual respect gives way to sibling rivalry. Here are ten times the Corvette and the Camaro ended up going toe-to-toe.

1968: a Camaro is first to be immortalized by Hot Wheels

The Drive

 



The Corvette was introduced in 1953 as a concept car, and by 1968 had grown into the mako shark inspired C3. But when Mattel's new toy line rolled out, based on the best of American car culture, it was a blue custom Camaro that was among the first Hot Wheels.The Camaro was first on the shelf for many young car enthusiasts, and first in their dreams.

1969: COPO Camaro vs COPO 'Vette

The Drive

 



Chevrolet pitched the Camaro to America as a “small vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” Initially, Camaro displacement was limited to 400ci to keep the General's mongoose from stepping on any toes. GM's Central Office Production Order program blew the doors off that plan, allowing well-heeled Camaro fans to order up a 2+2 with the 472ci nuclear option. The ZL1 was the most powerful engine GM offered to the public, and now you could get it in a Camaro.

1970: Camaros and Corvettes compete in same class at 12 hours of Sebring

The Drive

 








The 'Vette made its mark in endurance racing years before the Camaro even existed, but by the 1970s the Bowtie baby brother was an SCCA champion. When the 12 hours of Sebring rolled around, the Camaro was ready to punch above its weight, and Camaros and 'Vettes went toe-to-toe in the GT 5.0L+ class. The day belonged to the likes of Mario Andretti in his Ferrari 512S and Steve McQueen in his Porsche 908, but Dick Lang's 'Vette would finish first in its class, just ahead of the Camaros.

1975: Camaro goes gutless, Rally-Sport only; 'Vette still has 205hp L82

The Drive

 
 


By the late 1970s, the Mustang had given up all pretense of performance, and the Camaro would soon follow. The Z/28 took a hiatus, with the hottest version of the Camaro available being the 165hp Rally Sport. Meanwhile, even as V8s were being choked by the new emissions regulations, the 'Vette still had a 205hp L82 option. Power for both cars bottomed out, but the 'Vette was still the king.

1984: First run four-speed auto Corvettes are slower than Z/28 Camaros

The Drive

 

 quicker to sixty by a second or so.

1984 dawned with an automatic-transmission Corvette that could once again haul the mail. Problem was, the Camaro could haul it better. While the first C4 'Vettes were hamstrung by four-speed automatic transmissions, the five-speed manual Camaro Z/28 was

1998: Camaro B4C cop-spec interceptor vs. C5 Corvette

The Drive
 

 
By the late 1990s, the hierarchy had re-established itself. The Corvette was once again the fastest in the GM lineup, and the Camaro was its more practical, family-friendly cousin. And then the cops got hold of it. The B4C-package offered most of the go-fast goodies of the Z/28 Camaros with a no-frills approach that eschewed air-conditioning and leather seats for lighter weight and room for your utility belt. Now, Camaros were helping to haul in 'Vette-driving scofflaws.
 
2002: Camaro dropped, 'Vette continues
The Drive




Despite radically outselling the legend, the Camaro's sales streak would have a hiatus. The Corvette couldn't be touched, but in the early 2000s the Camaro went away for a while. The last of the third generation cars were outfitted for the 35th anniversary, but it wasn't much of a birthday party.

2009: New Camaro price overlaps C6 'Vette

The Drive

 


turned, thanks to the hype of the Transformers movie, the new Camaro was an expensive proposition. By comparison, the tried-and-tested C5 Corvette was a bit of a bargain, even if you didn't opt for the Z06 variant. If you were looking at a mid-trim Camaro, it wasn't just cheaper to buy the faster Corvette, the insurance was cheaper too.

2015: Camaro SS out-dynos Sting Ray


The Drive

 



It's the same engine, but little bro can bench more? That's embarrassing. According to official specification, the new Stingray Corvette makes 460hp from its all aluminium V8, while the Alpha-platform Camaro SS makes 455hp. However, when strapped down to Hennessy Performance's dyno, the Camaro put 431 ponies to the road, while the Corvette put down 410hp. That means little bro gets the top bunk.
 
 
  2015: Camaro ZL1 gets 10-speed first
The Drive

 



Chevy used to debut its technology in the Corvette first, while the Camaro got the hand-me-downs. But with the Camaro outselling the 'Vette by a factor of five to one, the General decided its tiny new 10-speed would get assigned to the younger sibling first. The Camaro ZL1 isn't officially out yet, but its 640hp supercharged V8 and 10-speed automatic should worry Shelby Mustang owners and Stingray drivers alike.

Dodge Viper Could Get a More Powerful Final Edition

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.
 
So maybe the people behind America’s favorite snake will call it a day at 11:59 pm on December 31st, 2017, and maybe they’ll deliver us a crazy final edition before they do so, that’s the latest report leads us to believe. While chatting up a member of the Viper team at a Dodge event in Phoenix, R&T asked if we might see one more variant of the car, and rather than direct “for the last time, NO!”, the publication was told “well, we do still have the 2017 model year”. Ok Dodge, you had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.




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If we are given one last Viper, it could be even more powerful and hardcore than the ACR, because that’s just how Dodge likes to roll. It would be a fitting farewell to the car that made America great again, and frankly, I think the Viper deserves to go out with as loud a bang as the law allows.

The more likely possibility is that “the final version would be one or more special editions of the ACR,” says R&T. I’m inclined to agree—but whatever the case, any extra Viper is a good Viper in my book. As long as it’s the car, not the snake. I do not care for snakes