2013 Dodge Viper SRT

The power of the V10 is now 640 horsepower

It seemed, for a moment, that would no longer have a future. A cruel fate, for what in effect was the most irreverent supercar of the nineties and noughties. We talk about the Viper, the muscle car that was born in 1992 with the intent to impress: design inspired by the muscular AC Cobra of the sixties (in fact contributed to the Carroll Shelby style) and an engine size almost embarrassing: 8-liter, ten-cylinder junction Dodge Truck. Twenty years later, the establishments Conner Avenue, Detroit, Viper back to life. Has lost none of his exuberance, because the muscles are always in sight and the engine is always huge (S10 8.4), but it has renewed in every single bolt to give a hard time with the latest supercars.

The 10-cylinder 8.4, although it is derived from the fourth and last generation (the SRT-10), has been lightened and strengthened, now delivers 640 horsepower and the beauty of 83 kgm of torque, the latter value from among the world record aspirated engines.

The change is always the classic Tremec TR6060 manual but the ratios of its six-speed transmission was shortened due to a reduced final.

Many efforts were then made to reduce the mass, with the adoption of aluminum and carbon fiber for the bodywork and a shell which is also lightweight and above 50% of the stiffened thanks also to the "X" on the engine, of the beams in aluminum magnesium and to reinforce the cradle which houses the engine. Now the Viper gives you a weight under 15 pounds (1495 kg with the SRT Track Pack, brakes, tires and components to be run), a power to weight ratio that rivals the most violent sport on the planet: 2.33 kg / hp.

The new Viper also appears a bit 'more electronics. They are well handled suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers DampTronic adjustable in two positions, as well as driving dynamics: we now have the launch control and a stability control can be set in four positions, to its total exclusion for fun to make smoking a gigantic Pirelli P Zero 355/30 ZR 19. The interior has been modernized: it is more spacious, welcoming and multimedia, with our new U Connect screen from 8.4 "to see both the details of the navigator, but also data on motor performance.

The new Viper SRT will debut in dealerships this summer already American, although unfortunately not yet given to know if it passes the borders of the U.S., maybe even in the light of the "hooks" of the Chrysler Group here in Italy. Certainly we can admire it on the race, since the launch of the same "street legal" (at the show in New York these days) was also presented to the GTS-R racing variant. Curated by Riley Technologies, Viper GT2 class debut this year in the American Le Mans Series with drivers Dominik Farnbacher, Marc Goossens and Ryan Hunter-Reay Kuno Wittmer, ready to give battle to the rival, the Chevy Corvette C6R .