Say hello to the new SRT Viper. We’ll still call it a Dodge Viper, but whatever, we’ll let the marketing guys at Chrysler have their branding fun. The new Viper has been rumored for a while. A few years back, prior to Chrysler’s bankruptcy, the Viper’s future was uncertain. Street Racing Technology Chief Executive Officer Ralph Gilles alluded to this, saying:
“After a gut-wrenching period of uncertainty, the Street and Racing Technology brand team is extremely proud that our hand-built in Detroit, flagship supercar is back and ready to take on the performance car world.” They attempted to sell the car to the highest bidder, which failed. Then, Chrysler was overtaken by Fiat and the Viper’s future was in question yet again.
When Chrysler plants started up post-bankruptcy, Conner Avenue Assembly where the Viper is built was the first to reopen. That was an important signal – the car guys at Chrysler fought for the next-generation Viper to be developed. Thanks to some regulations that the Viper no longer fell into compliance with though, production was stopped until a new model could be readied. And here it is, ladies and gentlemen.
The 2013 is a fresh interpretation of the Viper. To our eyes, it is still instantly recognizable as the Viper. For instance, the shape and deep inset of the doors is a recognizable cue from the original. Also, the large rear gas cap. Details like that don’t go unnoticed. So, the playbook hasn’t been thrown out entirely. The car is much more refined though. The previous Viper always had a crudeness to it that, for some, constituted some of its appeal.
A lot of those rough edges appear to have been ironed out (for the most part) with the 2013. Out back there the look is almost, Aston-Martin like. It looks good and is our favorite view of the car. The new cockpit is impressive. The layout is still the same, but with more modern surfacing and textural elements. Technology now plays a central row, with a large screen dominating the center stack.
A traditional gauge cluster has also been replaced to provide for a screen that can show more car information. Now we’ll get to the information you really care about: what is under the hood. The answer is a naturally-aspirate 8.4-liter V-10 making 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. How is that for politically incorrect? We love it. 600-lb feet makes the Viper’s V-10 the most powerful naturally-aspirated production engine on the planet. Once again, the Viper has taken its place as an unabashed, All-American supercar. Until it hits the streets, check our gallery below
source:eurocarblog
