Right from the start, the
Dodge Viper SRT-10 was a very hot rocket of a supercar, able to hold almost anything in a straight line, and in mid-range acceleration. Now, the independent Chrysler organisation has come up with an updated design and a yet more powerful engine. The new Viper is available as a couipe and roadster.
The new car looks different, yet retains the unmistakably macho front end with the wide grille. Now, though, in addition to the central air intake in the hood there are louvers to let the air out.
Side exhausts
The air outlets behind the front wheels are bigger than before, but unusually, the massive exhausts come out at the sides, just below and to the rear of the doors.
This arrangement leaves the rear of the underside of the car clear for an undertray and big diffusers to help keep the back end down at speed. Altogether a great looking car.
With 600 bhp, the new car will rocket to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds, which pushes the performance up with the hottest of supercars – at least in a straight line. The brakes have been improved to match, and the suspension and tires have also been modified to cope with this newcomer in the 200 mph plus club.
Alloy 90-degree 8.4 liter V-10
The heart of the Viper is the all-alloy 90-degree V-10, which started life as a truck engine. It remains a pushrod ohv unit, which limits the engine speed to 6,100 rpm, but has been bored out to 8.4 liters to give a lot more power and torque. Power output is up 90 bhp to 600 bhp at 6,000 rpm, and maximum torque is 560 lb ft (760 Nm) at 5,100 rpm.
In a smaller engine, the high speed of maximum torque would suggest that this engine did not have much torque low down, but with 8.4 liters to play with there is plenty of torque at almost any speed. Low speed running is improved with the aid of variable valve timing on the exhaust valves, obtained by a unique design of camshaft.
To transmit the extra torque, Dodge has joined those using twin-plate clutches, which give extra friction area and reduced inertia. This makes life easier for the gearbox.
As before, there is a Tremec six-speed manual box, but this is the TR6060 which has sufficient capacity to handle the power. It also has triple cone synchromesh, which allows faster shifts.
Good weight distribution
Thanks to the V-10 being quite long, and fairly well back in the new car, the weight distribution is 48:52 front-to-rear, which should give the car plenty of traction and is a good basis for getting the car to handle well.
Double wishbone suspension is used front and rear, but the geometry has been improved, while the car now rides on 275/35ZR 18 front and 345/30ZR rear tires. Those rear tires are pretty massive compared with the front ones for such an even weight distribution, which will make the car tend to understeer.
Massive 14-inch (356 mm) diameter Brembo discs are there to stop you quickly, with the help of ABS.
Not a heavy car
Nor is the new Dodge Viper SRT-10 heavy. The coupe weighs in at 3,445 lb (1,564 kg) which gives a power-to-weight ratio of 380 bhp per tonne. That is a high figure, which accounts for that truly kick-in-the-back acceleration. The convertible is slightly lighter.
All-in-all, a further expression of the American muscle car, no doubt on the way to being a dinosaur owing to the poor fuel consumption, which gets it loaded with a 'gas guzzler' tax in the USA.
