Just last week at the New York Auto Show, we finally saw the Camaro that Chevrolet should have built from the outset: the 2014 Z/28 with the LS7 7.0-liter V8 under the hood.
Delightfully, SRT is on Chevy’s heels.
Speaking with Motor Trend last week, SRT CEO Ralph Giles admitted that Chrysler’s performance skunk works will have “an answer for the Z/28.” Apparently after having said that, the conversation sidetracked and the guys at Motor Trend never got many details.
Now, of course, speculation is running wild.
To keep up with the Z/28’s uproarious 500 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, the souped-up Challenger will have to make some big strides. Presently, the SRT Challenger with the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 makes 470 horses – not all too far from the normally aspirated LS7.
We think a simpler solution to SRT’s Z/28 problem would be to simply shoehorn the 2013 Viper’s 8.4-liter V10 underneath the hood. Making 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet, the Viper V10 could be a simple plug-and-play Z/28 beater.
As much as this idea gets our blood pumping, we’ll admit it’s extremely unlikely.
For a while now people have been speculating about a new SRT pony car revival: the Barracuda. According to Giles by way of Motor Trend, SRT has tabled the vehicle for the time being as the performance brand still sees life left in its aging Challenger.
What the Barracuda would be based upon right now is unclear. But based upon the fact that virtually all-new Chrysler products are Alfa-Romeo based, chances are good the Barracuda will be, too.
Do you think an Italian-based American pony car would be sacrilege – or just what SRT needs to modernize? Leave a comment!
