Currently reading: New York motor show 2012: Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper will be known as the Dodge SRT Viper, it has been announced

The new Dodge SRT Viper has been revealed at the New York motor show. The new American performance icon is lighter, more powerful and features a much more premium interior that borrows some materials from SRT's Chrysler Group siblings Ferrari and Maserati.

SRT boss Ralph Gilles said that using a Ferrari or Maserati platform was considered for the new Viper, but the right proportions could not be met and instead the outgoing car's high strength steel platform was completely reengineered.

The structure is said to be 50 per cent stiffer than before, partly thanks to the adoption of a magnesium beam and cross frame.

The 8.4-litre V10 engine is 13kg lighter than that of the old Viper's. Peak power is improved to 631bhp at 6150rpm, up 59bhp, and peak torque is boosted to 600lb ft at 4950rpm, up 40lb ft and available 150rpm lower. The torque figure makes the SRT's engine the highest of a naturally aspirated engine in the world.

The bodywork is made chiefly from carbonfibre and weighs 32 per cent less than that of the old car’s. Superformed aluminium is also used for the doors and door sills.

The SRT Viper has been designed and engineered in Detroit and will be built at the re-commissioned Conner Assembly Plant.

Design features externally include side exhausts and 'snake eye' headlights. The front hinged clamshell bonnet also makes a comeback.

The car features bespoke Pirelli tyres, 355mm at the rear and 295mm at the front. The compounds are different front and rear, too.

Launch control is a Viper first, and other electronic aids include traction control and a four stage ESP system that can be switched off completely.

Inside, Gilles said lessons had been learned from Ferrari and Maserati, and customers had complained the old car's interior was "a bit of a joke".

The TFT instrument cluster is borrowed from the Dodge Dart and redesigned, featuring a glowing snake instead of a gear shift indicator.

The seats are sourced from the same supplier as Ferrari and help contribute to a 90mm increase in interior space.

Two versions of the SRT Viper will be offered, including a base model and a pluckier GTS variant. A racing version of the Viper was also shown, which will compete in the American le Mans Series.

 

Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

Join the debate

Comments
19
Add a comment…
Peter Cavellini 7 April 2012

Re: New York motor show: Dodge Viper

fhp11 wrote:

Peter Cavellini wrote:

fhp11 wrote:

Peter Cavellini wrote:
Well i'm not, an ideal opportunity has been missed, a V-8 hybrid, or is that too castrating for Uncle Sam?

That would be an opportunity to win the most rediculous powertrain application of the year award? yes??

V10 all the way for Viper.

You mean something they don't want to say they invented first?

Eh?

Come on man!, have your two Weetabix, this isn't that cerebral.

fhp11 6 April 2012

Re: New York motor show: Dodge Viper

Peter Cavellini wrote:

fhp11 wrote:

Peter Cavellini wrote:
Well i'm not, an ideal opportunity has been missed, a V-8 hybrid, or is that too castrating for Uncle Sam?

That would be an opportunity to win the most rediculous powertrain application of the year award? yes??

V10 all the way for Viper.

You mean something they don't want to say they invented first?

Eh?

mrcliodCi 6 April 2012

Re: New York motor show: Dodge Viper

Agreed on all points.

I'm looking forward to the Autocar video review.