Ralph Gilles has been a symbol of corporate incompetence and car brand mismanagement for a very long time now, specifically, ever since he took over the Dodge Viper and was put in charge the ghost SRT "brand".
As it is right now, between lack of significant performance improvement, rehashed design and super retarded pricing and marketing and continuous journalistic SNAFU's, Gen 4.5 (it is not really a new car) Viper is on the brink of extinction.
Enter Ralph Gilles and his super stupid counter measure: SRT Viper TA.
Right off the bat, the name, it actually stands for Time Attack but in reality, how many people will not associate TA with Trans Am? For many many years, this is what TA stood for among car enthusiasts. So how many, especially not Viper aficionados will realize that TA is not for TRANS AM? Great marketing move right here, Ralphie boy.
Let us go down the failed and stupid list more.
There is already a TRACK PACK option available on base SRT 10 and GTS versions of the new Viper. Apparently a third option was needed? The real stupid thing here is that the base SRT with track pack is actually lighter than the TA, just because the supposedly "track oriented" car had to have the dual mode suspension from the "luxury" oriented GTS. Why not make this an actual track car and offer simple adjustable coil overs with multi mode MANUAL damping control, something that could actually be used on a track?
Now, there are the brakes. Any particular reason why light TWO PIECE rotors could not be used?
This car is already stripped off, fewer amenities than the base SRT, why not put the car to some good use and make it really track worthy?
Finally, the aero bits. These pieces can be had on any version of the Viper, including the GTS. Any particular reason why there are no TA specific pieces here? The generic aerodynamic aids are laughable at best, why not offer something that could actually function on the track?
Will TA change the wave of Viper failure? Not a chance as a matter of fact. Yes, there will be a few buyers but what will happen to GTS that costs over 20k more? Better yet, why anyone with an ounce of brains not go for the base SRT Viper and add the track pack to save the weight TA adds? Asking rhetorically of course.
