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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, SRT

Edmunds compares the Viper and the Corvette Stingray and finds that the Corvette beats the Viper in the majority of tests.

Alright, there’s no way the 455-horsepower Chevrolet Corvette Stingray beat the 640-hp SRT Viper, you say. Well, you’re partially right. Edmunds ran them down a quarter-mile drag strip and the Viper did it in 11.72 seconds at 124.09 miles per hour to the Stingray’s 12.39 seconds at 113.73 mph. The Viper did 0-60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds compared to the the Corvette’s 4.1-second run. But the Chevrolet definitely pulled above its weight, and we see once again that horsepower doesn’t mean everything after it beats the Viper in the other three tests.

The Corvette and Viper have long been arch nemeses, and SRT head Ralph Gilles had the Viper TA built after the Corvette ZR1 handily beat it by two seconds at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this year.

But no matter the test, if it isn’t in a straight line, Edmunds shows that the new base Corvette can outdo the Viper with much less horsepower. On the skidpad with narrower tires, the Stingray pulled 1.05 g compared to the Viper’s 1.01 g. The Viper’s horsepower advantage couldn’t overcome the Corvette’s predictable handling in the slalom test, where the V10-powered SRT maxed out at 72 mph to the Corvette’s 73.5 mph. Edmunds‘ Chris Walton describes the Corvette’s brakes as out of this world, able to stop it from 60 mph in 99 feet. The Viper does that in 110 ft.

The never-ending Viper vs. Corvette showdown continues, and it seems Chevy’s newest sports car has the fundamentals down pat – just add power. Edmunds didn’t pick an overall winner – we think a track test will solve that. But the video we included below is an early glimpse into the new Corvette’s performance potential, and so far we like the look of it.

Continue reading Viper beat again, this time by less powerful Corvette Stingray

Viper beat again, this time by less powerful Corvette Stingray originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Earnings/Financials

Though the first eight months of 2010, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz were in a dead heat in the race to be crowned the top-selling luxury brand in the States. But big-time September sales at Mercedes-Benz pulled the German marque ahead of Lexus by a substantial 3,000 units, really putting the heat on Toyota’s luxury arm. Could Mercedes pull off the upset to unseat Lexus for the first time since 2000? Not if Lexus can help it.

USA Today reports that Lexus announced during dealer meetings this week that it will slap up to $3,000 in incentives on the hood of its vehicles in an effort to entice buyers to shell out for a new L-branded car, crossover or SUV. In some cases, Lexus will reportedly also resort to cut-rate financing rate in an effort to spur sales.

The move is a bit surprising given Lexus’s penchant for asking for and receiving full retail for its products, though 2010 hasn’t been the best year for the Japanese premium marque. Given the fact that Lexus has earned its success on the heels of a terrific reputation for quality, the recall of millions of Toyota and Lexus models for unintended acceleration issues has likely hurt sales and certainly dinged its reputation. Add in the fact that the high-volume ES350 and top-of-the-line LS are a bit long-in-the-tooth, and it adds up to a possibility that Lexus may lose its hard-earned sales crown.

[Source: USA Today]

Report: Lexus may offer $3,000 rebate to beat Mercedes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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