2013 SRT Viper
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SRT Viper
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Year:2013
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Make:
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Make:
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Model:
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Model:
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Engine:V10
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Transmission:Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission
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Horsepower @ RPM:640
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Torque @ RPM:600
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Displacement:8.4 L
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car segment:
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body style:
When the last model for the previous generation Dodge Viper rolled off the assembly line, many of us took comfort in knowing that the next generation had already been confirmed for production. The new generation SRT Viper was rumored and teased for a good amount of time, building up the suspense for the new design and powerful engine. Now, it’s finally here, bringing its new look and ditching the Dodge title in the process.
The new SRT Viper has received an all-new, timeless exterior design with a new carbon-fiber hood, roof, decklid, and aluminum door panels. As a first, the Viper will be offered with LED taillamps that integrate stop-and-turn illumination in one element.
Under the hood, the new Viper features a new 8.4-liter all-aluminum, V-10 overhead-valve engine that will deliver a total of 640 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque. The new engine will be mated to an improved Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission.
For the new generation, the Viper will be offered in two different versions: standard and GTS. The GTS will offer more technologically advanced solutions, like two-mode active suspension for those clients who want to enjoy it on the race track.
UPDATE 04/24/2012: SRT has unveiled another video for their new Viper. This time, the company goes into detail about the history of their gorgeous sports car. Check it out!
UPDATE 09/11/12: Are you wondering how much the SRT Viper is going to cost? Wonder no more because SRT has released the official price of the iconic American sports car. Find out how much it’ll burn a hole in your wallets after the jump.
UPDATE 09/12/12: Chrysler has unveiled a new video of the new SRT Viper during its automotive test drive at Gingerman Speedway, South Haven, Michigan.
UPDATE 11/21/12: We have just added a series of 110 new high res images to our SRT Viper picture gallery. SRT also announced today the official performance numbers for the SRT Viper. It features a top speed of 206 mph and a 0-to-60 mph time in low-3-second range. The Viper launches through the 1/4-mile in the mid-11-second range. It is capable of running a 0-to-100-to-0 mph relay less than 12 seconds and boasts braking distance from 60 to 0 mph of 106 feet. Lastly, the SRT Viper’s coefficient of drag (Cd) is a slippery 0.369.
UPDATE 12/05/12: SRT has released a new video of their 640-horsepower serpent, complete with awesome background music that further ramps up the awesomeness of the American sports car! Check it out by clicking the photo above.
Hit the jump for more information on the 2013 SRT Viper.
Latest SRT Viper news and reviews:
Dodge Viper GTC: Is It Worth The Price?
The Dodge Viper is one of the most distinctive sports cars ever made. It started in the 1990s, with the idea of recapturing the spirit of the 1960s Shelby Cobra and Carroll Shelby, himself, was attached to the Viper’s development. Sadly, the last Viper rolled off the production line in August 2017, and it doesn’t look like there’s going to be a new one. And while prices have remained steady, one question remains: is it worth it? YouTube channel Raiti’s Rides gives a good answer.
Meet Kratos - A 3,300 Hp Dodge Viper And Current Roll Race Champion
“That Racing Channel” continues to supply us – the audience – with great automotive content, showcasing some of the most epic builds in the world. We’ve made it clear that we love Dodge Vipers and apparently, so do the people at “Nth Moto”, who are also the creators of “the Juggernaut” – a 3,200 horsepower Dodge Viper GTS. Now, they’ve come up with an even crazier Viper, which also happens to be the roll race champion. - meet “Kratos”.
Can A Stock 2000 Dodge Viper GTS Keep Up With Modern Muscle Cars?
The YouTube channel Four Eyes is mostly known for the host’s 2007 Ford Mustang GT project car. However, he now has a new project – a 2000 Dodge Viper GTS. The goal is 700 wheel-horsepower without any form of forced induction, but while it’s stock, he decided to see how the 20-year-old snake measures up against some of the Muscle cars currently on sale. Can the old Viper still perform?
Budget Direct Renders Six Unique Manufacturer Collaborations
One of the great things about car renderings is the ability to let your imagination go crazy. You can use an existing car model and re-imagine it without a roof, or you can get really creative and redesign it in a different body type altogether. There’s something to be said, then, for renderings that take two models from two different automakers and combine them to create an entirely new model. It’s the kind of Transformers-like job that we should be seeing more often in the real world. Or should we? The truth is, BudgetsDirect undertook this very exercise, and the results are all “interesting,” to say the least. As an added bonus, we’re doing our own part and renaming these creations in the best way we can.
Between 2016 and 2020 the list of supercars will include the Ford GT, the Mercedes-AMG Project One, the Aston Man Valkyrie, and at least one new car from Ferrari. But what are sports cars fans with smaller wallets supposed to do? We have some great cars like the Miata and BMW is bringing a Z4 replacement soon, but so many great cars don’t exist anymore. Especially in the “affordable” range.
So we started talking in the office about what sports cars we want to see revived, and we settled on a pair of classic sports cars and one car that is officially dead, but not out of showrooms yet. The Porsche 944, Honda S2000, and the Dodge Viper are all in our dream garage of dead cars we want to return. Keep reading to find out why!
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Crowdfunded Nürburgring Run Is A Fitting Send-Off For The Dodge Viper
Leave it to people power to get something done that an automaker of Dodge’s status wasn’t able to do. Most of you will probably remember a few months ago, a group of Dodge Viper enthusiasts started pooling their resources together to accomplish one goal: send the fifth-generation Dodge Viper to the Nürburgring to attempt a lap run. I didn’t think that it could happen, but I’m happy to have been proven wrong. The crowdfunding movement actually worked and a bone-stock Viper ACR found its way to the famed German race track. More importantly, it was able to set a lap time of 7:03.45, almost nine seconds quicker than the 7:12.13 lap time set by its predecessor back in 2011.
It’s true that the current-generation Viper ACR’s lap time is still a long ways away from the current production car lap record of 6:52.01 held by the Lamborghini Huracán Performante. But just because it’s still over 10 seconds away from the record, it doesn’t mean that the Viper ACR’s time at the ‘Ring was a complete waste. In fact, the lap time set by the American sports car placed it sixth-fastest of all time among production cars, faster than the Nismo-prepped Nissan GT-R, the Mercedes-AMG GT R, and the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06. More importantly, driver Dominik Farnbacher and the team behind the attempt will make a go at the track a few more times this week with the goal of besting the lap times of the Porsche 918 Spyder and the Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce. Looks like the Dodge Viper ACR’s quest for Nürburgring glory isn’t done just yet.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
Dodge Reopens Order Books For Viper and Viper ACR Models
Those who missed out on buying the Viper before Dodge closed all ordering earlier this year now have a second chance to get the sports car before the model is discontinued. Company officials have confirmed that ordering for the last production of the Viper will reopen by the end of the year.
Dodge chief Tim Kuniskis told The Detroit News that the company was forced to close the order books for the Viper back in October 7, largely because it had to figure out how many more orders it could accommodate by the end of the model-year production in mid-2017. “We actually had to shut down the ordering because we outran our headlights,” Kuniskis said. “We didn’t know if we were going to have enough parts to build all the cars that people ordered.”
A shortage in parts, specifically the custom-built carbon fiber aero wings, also forced Dodge to close the order books for the Viper ACR back in September 27. Turns out, the shortage even forced a handful of Viper ACR models to sit stagnant in Detroit as the company waited for the parts to arrive. Now it appears that the issues have been sorted out and production for the sports car is expected to reopen anytime soon.
The company didn’t say how many models it can produce, but the expectation, at least in the mind of Kuniskis, is that both variants of the Viper will sell out in short order, particularly the track-capable Viper ACR, whose demand is, according to the Dodge boss, “off the charts.”
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
Dodge Viper Making a Bumpy Exit as Dodge Puts Temporary Hold on Ordering
Back in late 2015, rumors began to swirling that said the Viper was about to be killed off after 2017, and sure enough, a few months later those rumors became fact. Originally thought to be canceled because of poor sales and profitability, an insider eventually told Motortrend that the Viper was being killed off because Dodge was unable to fit it with side curtain airbags. Unwilling to change its design, the Viper could no longer meet safety standards and its death warrant was signed. More recently, a dealer out of NC placed an order for 135 examples of the Viper (included several custom models) which was allegedly most of the remaining models. Now just a week has gone by, and Dodge has put a stop on Viper orders as it tries to regroup and determine just how many it can build before production officially comes to a halt.
For a dead car rolling, the Viper has soldiered on pretty well, with numerous special-edition models, and all of those 25th Anniversary models. And, while this most recent news sounds like the next step in the proverbial execution of an amazing machine, an e-mail sent from a Dodge spokeswoman to The Detroit News could indicate otherwise. Apparently, the order books will be reopened once Dodge can put down an official figure of how many it can really build.
And, for the record, that dealer out of NC wasn’t lying – it really did order 135 examples, according to Fiat Chrysler. However, whether or not that order really did account for most of the remaining cars has yet to be seen. Given Dodge’s sudden move to temporarily close the order books, it could be possible, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Want a 2017 Dodge Viper? You Might Have to go to Salisbury, NC to Get One
The 2017 model year will be the last for the Dodge Viper, and although sales have been rather slow in recent years — hence FCA’s decision to drop the nameplate — buying a late-production model will be a difficult task. The main reason for the Viper’s scarcity for 2017 is that a single buyer reportedly ordered almost every model that Dodge will build until the car is phased out.
That’s the word from Gerry Wood Dodge of Salisbury North Carolina, which claims that it has ordered 135 units of the 2017 Viper. According to the same dealer, that about "99 percent of remaining production."
"When it was finally confirmed that the Viper was going to cease production, I felt an obligation as a fan, owner, and Dodge dealer to help others experience the rare privilege of experiencing this amazing machine," explains dealership owner Brad Wood.
On top of that, Gerry Wood Dodge also commissioned three special-edition models. The first one goes by the name ACR Solid Edition and it is based on the Viper GTC. It features all the aerodynamic updates of the ACR, carbon-fiber elements, it is painted white, and limited to 18 units. Dubbed A/E Solid Edition, the second special-edition version is also based on the GTC, but equipped with the Advanced Aero Package. Finished in red, it is restricted to 14 examples. Lastly, there’s a Viper Black Stripe Edition model limited to only six units.
But that’s not all. The Salisbury dealership also created a special VIP program that includes private pickups at the two local airports, a free weekend at the race track, and finance terms of up to 84 months. Talk about finding ways to attract customers to the showroom...
Continue reading for the full story.
Dodge Viper Wins An Unlikely Award
The Dodge Viper has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently. Not that it’s going to matter from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ perspective, but as the automaker prepares to once again send the Viper into the disabled list, it wouldn’t hurt for the model to get a little bit of shine, would it? How surprising is it then that the provider of good news is the Detroit Public Library’s National Automotive History Collection, which has named the Viper its most “Collectible Vehicle of the Future” for 2016.
For those not familiar with this award, the NAHC is basically predicting that models of the Viper launched in 2015 will fetch hefty sums in future auctions. The irony is overflowing on this one as the current state of the Viper doesn’t necessarily scream “future collector’s item.” On the contrary, the sports car’s paltry sales numbers are being blamed as the biggest reason why FCA is discontinuing the model for the time being. And yet, the NAHC thinks that the 2015 Viper has the potential to command frenzied bidding wars in future auctions?
Granted, the NAHC is a legitimate organization that touts itself as having “more than 600,000 documents” related to the auto industry, making it “the world’s most extensive public archive of automotive information.” The group didn’t earn that distinction by throwing out ridiculous statements and the NAHC Board of Trustees pays careful attention on the pulse of the industry to determine which model it thinks has a chance to be a future collectible.
But the Viper? It sounds silly to think about a model languishing in the sales charts being hailed as a future collectible. Even more perplexing, given the model’s tumultuous history since the turn of the century, is that the NAHC has bestowed the Viper the award three times before: 2003, 2007, and 2013. Maybe it deserved those awards at some point in its history, but there’s little indication about the 2015 Viper that points to it becoming a future must-have in any car collection.
Maybe the NAHC will be proven right 50 or so years from now. But today? It’s admittedly kind of hard to wrap our heads around the organization’s decision.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
FCA Almost Sold The Dodge Viper To A Group Of Private Investors
The problems that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has had with Dodge Viper is well-documented. As it turns out, the Viper was such a problem that FCA almost sold it to a group of deep-pocketed enthusiasts a few years ago. Word of this a rather shocking revelation that comes from The Truth About Cars, which managed to talk to none other than noted car collector James Glickenhaus, who himself had first-hand knowledge of the proposed deal.
According to TTAC, Glickenhaus served as an adviser to the group of investors who eventually backed out of the deal after doing their due diligence on the Viper’s business. Glickenahus himself advised on not doing the deal, arguing that anybody who ends up buying the business would have to sell “three times the number of Vipers” that Chrysler has been selling annually “just to break even.”
Considering how much trouble FCA already has had in convincing people to buy the Viper, the targets were simply too difficult to attain. That’s not to say that the group was in over its head from the very beginning because, apparently, they had the financial means to pull it off. It would just be too much of a headache to partake in and, ultimately, would not be worth all the trouble.
A spokesperson for FCA told TTAC that it wasn’t shopping the Viper “at this point in time” but refused to comment on whether the discussions with this group even took place. Glickenhaus did say that the automaker was receptive to the idea of selling the Viper, even adding that the deal, had it gone through, would have also included the production facility where it’s being built.
Whether the negotiations happened or not, none of it will change the current fate of the Viper, which is headed to retirement very soon now that FCA has thrown the white flag on the model.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
Maybe you’re a fan and maybe you aren’t, but it’s hard to deny that there is something special about the Dodge Viper. Designed with help from Carroll Shelby to be a modern take on the same philosophy that underpinned the original 1963 Shelby Cobra, the car was a serious departure from what was going on in the American automotive industry when it first appeared as a concept in 1989. The changes to the car have been evolutionary, and as minimal as possible over the years, a fact that makes fans of the car incredibly happy.
The Viper has been rewarded with some seriously loyal fans, and the video here has been made for them. This is just an intro though; it teases a whole series of videos that get far more in depth about the history of the Viper and the people involved in all sorts of aspects of it. It does have a bit of an unfortunate corporate training video kind of a feel to it, and to say that at times the sound mixing doesn’t do the exhaust note justice would be a massive understatement. But the subject matter is interesting, and these things presumably won’t be as noticeable in the finished product.
The time is fast approaching, and I can’t wait. Forza Horizon 2 hits store shelves in just a few weeks, and now we have the official launch trailer as well as news on the arrival of a demo version you can play early. First, just take a look at this trailer. All of the footage in this is straight gameplay from the Xbox One version of the game and it looks stunning. The cars, modifications and scenery are all top notch.
September 30th cannot come soon enough.
Thankfully we don’t have to wait for the release date to bomb around the great European countryside as there will a demo released on September 16th on the Xbox One. I think I *cough* may be sick *cough* next week. According to some reps, the demo will be a timed affair with a few select cars from the game just like the demo for the original Forza Horizon was.
If you are an Xbox 360 player, yes the game is coming to you too, but we have no word on a demo for your system. I am sorry.
When you do pick up the new game, Turn 10 and Playground games have announced that there will be a special reward system that will grant you some fancy cars to start the game with if you are a returning fan. If you have played any Forza game before you are likely familiar with the Forza Rewards system. Essentially, Turn 10 keeps track of how much you play and you gain points based on time played, miles driven, cars owned and more. If you have enough points when you fire up Forza Horizon 2 for the first time you will get a selection of cars that range from the BMW 1 Series M to the Huracán and the McLaren P1. You can find a full list of cars, their unlock tier and a link to the Forza site to check your standings after the break.
So to recap; we have a great new trailer to watch, a demo coming out in just a few days, and a way to unlock a small collection of awesome cars before the game even launches. Can I get a “hell yes?”
In the wild-and-crazy world of the automotive enthusiast, there are all shapes, sizes and manners of ways to have fun. You can climb up a mountain at 3 mph in a modified Jeep, you can blast across the dessert at insane speeds in a Baja truck, or you can fling a small roadster like the Miata at your local autocross. Despite all of this, there is still one true “enthusiast” machine that stands above all; the sports coupe.
Two doors of sexy, fast, and exciting have long defined the term sports car. There have been many great coupes over the decades, but it seems to me that now is about the best time in our history to be a lover of the coupe.
To celebrate this pinnacle of fun and performance I have gathered together a quick list of what I think are five of the best sports coupes that exist today. As always, make sure you hit those comments when you get done reading. Let me know what I got right, what I got wrong, and what I was missing. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Continue reading to find about the 5 Best Sports Coupes
You can go ahead and mark another successful TopSpeed Podcast in the books. Thanks for everyone who hung out with us live. We really appreciate it. If you missed the live show, don’t worry. You can watch or listen to the entire show right here.
We start things off with Mark’s week spent with the Hyundai Sonata Turbo. I take some time to talk about how incredibly well-designed the new 2015.5 Volvo XC60 is, and Mark comes back to talk about the incredible fun that is the Lexus RC and RC F.
When we make it over to the news portion of the show we spend the start of the show discussing the departure of Ferrari’s chairman, Luca di Montezemolo and what it could mean for the brand going forward. After that we move on to some Viper talk with the announcement of the new price cut, and we look at our beautiful rendering of what a new Viper Roadster would look like.
We keep up the excitement of new car news with a discussion about how great the new Mercedes AMG GT and Jaguar XE look now that both have been officially announced.
In this week’s Viewer Questions we talk about the V-8 engines we think sound the best and we discuss what happens if we get a press car that we don’t like. Do we still drive it, or does it sit in the driveway while we enjoy our personal cars?
We finish things up with an Own, Drive, Burn segment that consists of three legendary cars from Nissan’s past.
As always, we appreciate everyone who watches or listens. Don’t forget to leave your comments below. We love any and all feedback; good or bad. We also love to get questions and Own, Drive, Burn suggestions for next week’s show.
Stay safe and have a wonderful weekend, everyone. We will be back to see you next Thursday!
Although the current-generation Dodge Viper is anything but slow, Chrysler has been struggling to sell its halo car ever since it launched it in late 2012. Viper sales have been so low throughout 2013 and 2014 that Dodge even had to halt production for two months and lay off 91 employees. The Viper’s struggle continues through 2014, with some 600 unsold units on dealer lots, which is why Dodge has decided to knock $15,000 off the sticker price in order to spur sales.
The discount is available for all unsold 2014 model year Vipers and incoming 2015 Vipers, putting their MSRP at $84,995. But the good news doesn’t stop here. In addition to this discount, Dodge is also offering $15,000 coupons to recent gen-five — 2013 to 2014 model year — Viper buyers who want to trade their model in on a 2014 or 2015 Viper. All told, if you own either a 2013 or 2014 Viper, you can essentially purchase a brand-new, updated model for $69,995 after the price cut and trade-in incentive. Quite the bargain, huh?
Cutting $15,000 off the sticker is just one step toward improving Viper sales. The company is also planning to open Viper sales to all Dodge dealers and market the sports car with the rest of the lineup and not as a stand-alone SRT vehicle. More than 2,300 Dodge dealers will be able to sell the 2015 Viper.
Click past the jump to read more about Dodge Viper.
The Dodge Viper saga began in 1991, when Chrysler introduced the semi-supercar commonly known as the modern-day Cobra. The production model was based on a concept car showcased in 1989 and carried an 8.0-liter, V-10 engine under its long hood. Sold as a roadster at first, the Viper gained a coupe version in 1996, when the second-gen car was unveiled. Numerous upgrades were implemented until 2010, including a displacement increase to 8.3 liters and an output update to more than 500 horsepower, when the Viper was discontinued after four generations only to return as the SRT Viper in 2013. Heading into 2015, the SRT and Dodge brands have again become one, allowing the Dodge Viper SRT to return.
When the Viper returned under the SRT brand, it arrived with a redesigned body and a slightly larger engine. Enlarged to displace 8.4 liters, the V-10 powerplant delivered 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, a figure that remained unchanged until 2014. Going into 2015, the iconic Viper remains pretty much the same, save for the name change, a five-pony power bump, and various, but minor interior and exterior upgrades.
Updated 07/28/2014: New details on the 2015 Dodge Viper report that the sports car will deliver an additional five horsepower over the 2014 SRT version. The only question is if the 645 horsepower will help boost the very poor sales of the sports car. (Road And Track)
Updated 09/08/2014: Dodge announced that the 2015 Viper will go on sale at a price of $84,995 - which represents a reduction of $15k over the previous year.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Dodge Viper SRT.
It has basically been a big whaaa-fest from the Viper community since Dodge unveiled the Hellcat siblings, the Charger and Challenger. I can see their point in the whole mine-is-bigger-than-yours game that happens in the auto-enthusiast realm. I get it, 707 ponies is bigger that 640 horses and same goes for the torque value between the Hellcats and the Viper, but that isn’t the entire picture. The Viper is a track machine that can handle twists and turns all while delivering blistering performance. Put a Charger Hellcat on the track with a Viper and get back to me as to which one is the more capable machine — I likely know the answer. Despite logic, Chrysler and Dodge do have bills to pay, a Viper to save and customers to please, so it is no surprise to hear rumors that a supercharged Viper is on its way.
The rumor hails from folks at Allpar — the Interwebz’ utmost authority on all things under the Pentastar — and they are saying that a supercharged V-10 is being prepped for the Viper. In fact, a new rumor also claims that Chrysler actually took delivery of a completed version of said engine.
So, just how powerful will it be? You can expect somewhere in the 800-horsepower and 650-pound-feet range. That’s just enough to give the Viper a clear advantage in the numbers game. Could SRT squeeze 1,000 ponies and 1,000 pound-feet of twist from the V-10? Of course it could, but that would require a ton of drivetrain, chassis, cooling system and body modifications, which would make the Viper unrealistically expensive.
Besides, all that matters to the group that is concerned about this is that the Viper has more power than the Hellcat brothers, so why push the Viper any further than needed?
And before people start screaming "yay!! A Viper Hellcat!!!" please remember that Dodge made it rather clear that the Hellcat name refers only to the supercharged, 6.2-liter V-8 and it will not affix it to any other engines.
Stay tuned for more info.
Click past the jump to read more about the Viper.
With a whopping 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque at its disposal, and fearsome, American-made looks, the 2014 SRT Viper is one mean and powerful machine. To most, the "Snake" is perfect. To others, albeit not that many, the Viper could still use some improvements. It’s not often we see the near-supercar receive an aftermarket makeover, but companies such as Inspired Autosport are always up for the challenge.
Known for adding a touch of uniqueness to an array of vehicles, ranging from Mercedes-Benz SUVs to Lamborghini supercars, IA added the 2014 SRT Viper to its portfolio. The request came from a customers who did not want to take delivery of the 640-horsepower beast without a few extras inside and out, and thus "Project #Merica" was born.
The base car was none other than the GTS, the top-of-the-line Viper that costs no less than $124,985 before options. Did IA succeed in their mission to enhance a one of America’s coolest sports cars? Read on to find out.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper GTS by Inspired Autosport.
The race-spec SRT Viper is already a successful track machine, having won many prestigious trophies since its introduction in 1996. The latest iteration of the race car, the GT3-R, has yet to reach the heights of its forerunners, but its recent success during the Detroit leg of the Pirelli World Challenge Series in May 2014 is proof enough that the Viper is headed in the right direction. More recently, the "Snake" developed by Riley Technologies made yet another step toward track glory by setting the fastest lap in the Ultimate Track Car Challenge.
The event took place on July 18th at Virginia International Raceway, where the SRT Viper GT3-R rendered its competitors obsolete. The race car, built by Riley Technologies and driven by American Le Mans Series ace Ben Keating, wasn’t shy about tackling the track at full throttle and set the fastest lap at 1:44.71. The Viper was quicker than a 2013 Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo and its benchmark would have been enough to earn it the pole position at last year’s American Le Mans Series on the same track.
The Ultimate Track Car Challenge is an annual event held by Grassroots Motorsports at Virginia International Raceway. The competition is open to any type of car, including classic vehicles, and its sole purpose is to find America’s fastest track cars. Hit play to watch the SRT Viper GT3-R in action as it reaches speeds of up to 171 mph.
At its core, the SRT Viper GT3-R is a born and bred race car that’s capable of inflicting some serious damage on the track. The car proved as much during the Detroit leg of the Pirelli World Challenge Series in May 2014 when it scored its first-ever series victory. On July 19th and 20th, 2014, the World Challenge Series travels to Toronto and the Viper GT3-R is expected to be front and center once again.
SRT Motorsports is bringing one to the race where it will be driven by Kuno Wittmer, a man who is no stranger to driving the SRT GTS-R, his full-time ride at the IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship. But on July 19th and 20th, Wittmer will be piloting a special SRT GT3-R prepared by Riley Technologies.
He’s also no stranger to driving Vipers in the series, having competed there from 2008 to 2010 and boasting two victories while piloting the Viper. For one weekend, Wittmer returns to the Pirelli World Challenge Series with an even more incredible Viper by his side, ready to take the GTA class by storm.
The car itself looks like a real world beater. That’s a credit to the work put in by Riley Technologies to turn it into a full-fledged, competition-ready race car. With a massive V-10 engine under its hood that produces 680 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque, this SRT GT3-R is ready to take turn some heads in Toronto.
Click past the jump to read more about the Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R By Riley Technologies.
The Chrysler Group has resumed production of the SRT Viper following a two-month shutdown period due to slow sales. Production at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant was idled on April 14th, with 91 UAW-represented employees being laid off. As of March 1, Chrysler had delivered only 100 Vipers for the year in the United States and Canada and had 756 unsold Vipers in its inventory.
Since then, SRT sold 324 examples of its halo sports car in North America, AutoGuide reports. April was the Viper’s most successful month this year, with 97 units delivered in the United States and 15 sold in Canada. Surprisingly enough, Canadian sales have climbed from 4 vehicles in January to 21 in June, while U.S. sales took a nose dive from 97 units in April to just 36 in June.
There’s no word as to how many SRT Viper will be built per day for the remainder of the year. Last year, production peaked at nine vehicles per day before SRT decided to slow things down and assemble only six units per day.
The 2014 SRT Viper is priced from $102,485 and can fetch more than $124,985 when selected in the range-topping GTS trim. The Viper costs twice as much as the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and will likely be more expensive than the brutal 2015 Corvette Z06.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper.
To help continue theFourth of July celebrations here at TopSpeed, I have decided to take at look at how the American car has impacted the world. Europe is typically quoted with having the best cars, but here are some American machines that have stepped up and shown the world that we know what we are doing.
We may not have created the car, but we are responsible for the way they drive, the way they are made and we even made some major contributions to the world of performance and horsepower. Put down that hot dog for a few seconds and take a quick look back through history at America’s greatest contributions to the world of internal combustion. That cooler full of cold beverages and that box of explosives will both still be there when you get done.
Continue reading to find out America’s greatest contributions to the world of the automobile.
Forget what they say, these are the glory days of muscle. Sure, carburetors and glass packs are out, but direct fuel injection, variable-flow exhaust pipes, and computers have revolutionized the way modern street and track fighters do battle. We’ve pitted three of the most purpose-built machines together to see not only which car would win on the track, but which car would be the easiest to live with on a daily basis.
The competitors all hail from the U.S. of A. and sport snarling engines making huge amounts of power, all sent to the rear wheels though a manual transmission. They’re brash and unapologetic, unforgivably fast, and diabolically cool. Though they’ve all got the performance creds, do they have what it takes to impress the missus enough for a purchase to occur?
Our three contenders are the SRT (now back to Dodge) Viper, the Chevrolet Corvette, and the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.
In order for this to be a fair fight, we’ve got to price these cars correctly. Starting with the Viper, its base MSRP is comes in at $102,485 — well over that of the Vette and Z/28 — but considering the hard time Dodge has had selling the sultry snake, there are dealer incentives to be had. According to a few price-checking websites, a 2014 base Viper can be had in the mid $90,000 range.
The Camaro Z/28, on the other hand, starts out at $73,300 — but that’s bare-bones stock without air conditioning. Another $1,150 makes the car livable in the summertime. Its total cost comes to $76,150 after destination and the gas-guzzler tax.
The Vette represents the bargain of the bunch, coming in at $70,985 in its top-line, 3LT trim fitted with the Z51 Performance Package, Magnetic Ride, Performance exhaust, and Competition Sport seats. It may be the highest equipped here, but will its least-powerful engine be able to keep up?
Click past the jump to find out.
There are chunks of big news coming from the Chrysler Group today, as the Detroit giants has outlined a five-year plan that includes major changes across all brands. However, the most important piece of information has SRT in the spotlight, with the performance marque scheduled to die as a standalone brand and become part of Dodge.
Naturally, the first question that surfaces is what will happen with the Viper. Well, Chrysler says we don’t need to worry about it, as its halo sports car will live on under Dodge, with a refresh planned for 2015. So basically the Viper is regaining the badge it was launched with back in 1992. A bit ironic, eh?
As far as the SRT-prepped Challenger muscle car and Charger muscle sedan are concerned, they will be reintegrated into the Dodge lineup as range-topping, performance iterations. And with the new product plan revealed, Dodge has finally confirmed that the two will be redesigned for the 2018 model year.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles also announced that former SRT CEO Ralph Gilles will continue to serve as Senior Vice President of Product Design and President and CEO of Motorsports within Dodge.
But that’s not all that’s bound to change at Auburn Hills. The Dart, for instance, will be revised in 2016, followed by the launch of the Dart SRT. Surprisingly enough, the latter will sport a turbocharged engine under the hood and all-wheel drive. The same year will also see the introduction of a brand-new Dodge Journey with a beefed-up SRT version to arrive the next year. What’s more, all-new B-segment sedan and hatchback models, of which we know nothing about, will be unveiled in 2018.
Lastly, Dodge is getting ready to unload two vehicles from its lineup. As expected, the Avenger will get the axed by the end of this year. However, we were surprised to find out that the company will stop producing the Grand Caravan as well. The vehicle that started the whole minivan craze 30 years ago will be phased out in 2016, when the next-generation Chrysler Town and Country rolls off the assembly line.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper.
Okay, folks, the 2014 New York International Auto Show is in the books, and we saw more debuts than we could even keep up with. We saw all of the big boys come with at least one key addition to their lineups, but we also had a few misses. For example. we were hoping to see the Hellcat option for the Challenger and Charger, and some extra information on the next-gen Miata — not just a glimpse at its chassis — neither of which happened.
As with every year, we are set to bring you the best and worst of the NYIAS, but we’re changing things up a bit. This year, each of our esteemed staffers has chosen their favorite and least favorite of the show and let you know why they loved or hated each one — some of us even had complete opposite opinions. Included in the list below is the Dart-ized Charger, the even-more-retro Challenger, a concept from Land Rover and even a "dirt cheap" Aston Martin.
There were a lot of vehicles to choose from, and we may have missed one that you loved or hated. Let us know in the comments below what car you loved or hated the most from the 2014 NYIAS.
Click past the jump to read about our favorite and least favorite debuts in New York.
Now that Viper production is on temporary halt due to poor sales, it seems that the folks over at Street and Racing Technology (SRT) are spending time developing a new, special edition version of its V-10-powered sports car.
The brand’s newest iteration, which is on display at the New York Auto Show as we speak, brings together two of the meanest SRT Vipers launched throughout the last 12 months. We’re talking about the Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition and the Corvette ZR1-killing Viper TA (short for Time Attack).
Suggestively named Anodized Carbon Special Edition TA, the new model takes the coolest features from the aforementioned versions: a unique-looking body and a track-prepped chassis.
As you might already know, the 2014 SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition features an exclusive grey-like, metallic matte exterior color, satin black exhaust bezels, gloss black badges and a carbon-fiber rear applique. Moving over to the Viper TA, it’s main highlights are a Bilstein Damptronic suspension system tuned for track use, racing stabilizer bars, a carbon-fiber X-brace and high-performance Brembo brakes.
So what happens when you take these machines and build them into one?
Click past the jump to find out more about the SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition TA.
Well this is some pretty sad news. After sitting out for more than a decade, the Viper returned to Endurance racing last year and participated in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. It seems that triumphant return was short lived as SRT and Chrysler have announced that they are pulling out of the historic race.
While it is not being claimed as the official cause, and the production and motorsport programs are separately funded, the recent closure of the Viper production plant in Detroit due to low sales is likely playing some part in this decision. Racing is expensive; it’s a simple but saddening fact.
Thankfully you can still hear the V-10 wail of a Viper GTS-R on track as the SRT Racing team is still competing in the US TUDOR United SportsCar Championship for the remainder of the season. Current plans are to continue with the series next year, but the Le Mans run was supposed to be a multi-year initiative as well.
If you have the means, and you enjoy the Viper, maybe you should put one in your garage and help these guys out.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper GTS-R.
The SRT Viper’s well-chronicled sales struggles have been well documented in the media these days. While company boss Ralph Giles continues to put on a brave — and maybe even defiant — face, today’s news involving Chrysler’s decision to shut down production of the Viper because of lagging sales is something even Giles doesn’t have any excuse for.
The company made the announcement in a statement, essentially confirming rumors that it was shutting down its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant from April 14th to to June 23rd. That’s two months of the Viper’s production remaining idle, but given how much supply it still has in its inventory — 756 unsold on March 1 — there was no need for the company to keep building more Vipers.
The Viper’s struggles in sales are a little surprising, considering the hype and fanfare the sports car received when it made its return a few years ago. Some people might point to the season as a reason for lagging sales, but even that doesn’t fully explain how the Viper hasn’t been universally lauded the same way as the new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
Even with its limited production, wouldn’t consumers be tripping over themselves to get a Viper if it were in such a high demand? The truth its, demand for the sports car isn’t as high as SRT would’ve hoped.
We are starting to wonder if this lack of interest may result in a very short lifespan for the new SRT Viper... Let us know what you think in the comments section.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper.
It is officially Valentine’s Day and that means that quite a few of you are planning some great romantic evening with the man or woman of your dreams. Well we hate to burst your bubble, but unless you are dating Elon Musk and he is taking you into space, there are a few cars that will definitely be more exciting than what you have planned tonight.
From supercars to quick convertibles to hot hatches, we have something here that is sure to press your buttons.
We have gathered a list of five cars that are more exciting than your Valentine’s Day plans.
When you get done going through the list, feel free to let us know if we missed your favorite car. If you actually have a Valentine’s Day extravaganza that you thinks beats one of our cars, let us know that too. We will be sure to praise you for coming up with something more amazing than any of us could.
Hit the jump to see what we picked.
While every other automaker on the planet is embracing change, SRT looks as if it is resisting the modernization of its Viper lineup. In an interview with Edmunds, Ralph Giles said that the SRT Viper will remain with only a six-speed manual transmission, while nearly every other sports car and supercar is heading toward offering at least an optional paddle-shift transmission.
Gilles had this to say about Viper buyers in relation to the paddle-shifted auto: "The people who buy (the Viper) relish the manual, they relish the driver’s car, the raw connections to the vehicle. That is what it is about. So we are not chasing rainbows here." We see your claim, Mr. Gilles, and raise you the fact that SRT had to slash the production of the Viper because they are growing roots in dealerships. Maybe you need to recheck the pulse of the American sports car buyer, sir... Just sayin’...
Edmunds then queried Mr. Gilles about the possibility of dropping a HEMI V-8 into the Viper, and releasing a less-powerful "entry-level" Viper to help boost sales. To that, Gilles answered, taking a jab at the Stingray in the process: "We have no interest in becoming a Corvette." Well, considering the Corvette is one of the hottest items available and the Viper is little more than dealership eye candy, he may want to rethink his position.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Viper, but the market has apparently spoken...
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper.
It’s true that the SRT Viper is not enjoying the same success as main competitor — the 2014 Corvette Stingray — but it looks like SRT is doing all its can to make people notice its new model.
At the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, SRT added two new features to the Viper lineup: a new Stryker Green color and a new Grand Touring (GT) package.
The new Stryker Green features special green and yellow pigments and a "liquid mercury" appearance, making it the perfect color for customers looking for a unique color that helps highlight the incredible lines of the Viper.
The new GT package will add standard Nappa leather seats, five-mode Electronic Stability Control and two-mode Bilstein DampTronic Select suspension. The GT package come coated only in either this new Stryker Green hue or with the previous Venom Black. Mopar will also update the Viper GT with an exposed carbon-fiber performance X-Brace, which is about 50-percent lighter than the standard X-brace.
The new package and the new color will be available from dealers in February.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 SRT Viper.
The guys over ThatRacingChannel wanted to see if two European supercar — the McLaren MP4-12C — can take on some of the most modern muscle America has to offer in the 2014 SRT Viper. Why on earth you would want to put two cars that aren’t exactly competitors in a head-to-head competition? Well, the answer is simple: because it’s a whole hell of a lot of fun! And if you have the cars at your disposal, why not?
The SRT Viper is powered by a 8.4-liter, V-10 engine that delivers 640 horsepower at 6,150 rpm and 600 pound-feet of torque at 4,950 rpm. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in about 3.3 seconds and up to a top speed of 206 mph. On the other hand, the MP4-12C is powered by a 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V8 with an output of 616 horsepower that allows it to sprint to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and up to 207 mph.
Check out the video to see which car won the race.
Back in October we reported that SRT needed to slow production of the new generation Viper, due to poor demand. However, it looks like now Ralph Gilles, president and CEO of Chrysler’s SRT Brand and Motorsports, says that the car has indeed a bright future and that the company has "several hundred units outstanding we still have to build."
Gilles said that the Viper indeed had some problems at launch and this is why the company had to postpone initial deliver, but now the interest in the new Viper is very strong.
It looks like the problem was not the car, but the dealers whom had no idea how to promote the car. The new Viper has a base price of $97,395 - a lot more than the previous car, so it was to be expected to hear that customers will ask more for the money. SRT wants to allow its customers to choose "their color, their stripe, their package, their interior," but the dealers wanted to "anticipate the market and ended up creating a car that may not be the right car."
To fix the problem SRT launched a fourth-quarter training program called "All Access Tour" that brings together dealers, current owners and potential customers. Basically thanks to this new program, the potential buyers will have the chance to test the car and see what they will get for the money.
Gilles confirmed that all the Anodized Carbon were spoken for and that the new Time Attack edition sold out in just three days.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper.
It looks like SRT is doing all it can to get more people to stand up and take notice of the new Viper, and somehow boost the very poor sales of the new sports coupe. At the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, SRT unveiled a sleekl Anodized Carbon Special Edition package offered exclusively for the Viper GTS model.
As its name suggests, the new limited edition is all about using a new, metallic matte exterior color — a first for the SRT Viper. The new Anodized Carbon is applied by hand and gives the Viper a unique look. Along with the new hue, SRT is adding in gloss-black GTS badges, satin-black exhaust bezels and an Anodized Carbon fuel filler door. Rounding out the exterior mods are carbon-fiber brake ducts and rear applique.
The interior also receives a host of upgrades, including some high-end Nappa leather, Alcantara and orange accents to make you feel special while whipping this rig around.
This special edition retains the stock 8.4-liter, V-10 powerplant with 640 horses and 600 pound-feet of twist punishing the concrete through the rear wheels. This is enough to get the Viper to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
The SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition will be limited to only 50 units and will be put into production in January 2014.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition.
Back in October, SRT requested some help from fans of the new Viper to come up with a name for its newly developed blue paint. After 11,000 entries, the winner was finally announced today. The new paint will be called "Competition Blue," which was contributed by Patryk Skarzynski from Chicago.
For his winning contribution, Patryk gets a trip to the 2014 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona at the Daytona International Speedway where he will experience the race with the SRT Viper design team.
An SRT Viper coated in this new Competition Blue was displayed at SRT’s booth at the 2013 SEMA Show. Along with this cool, new hue, the Viper at SEMA also featured a Mopar carbon-fiber X-brace in the engine compartment and a silver Stryker logo on the X-brace. On the inside, this Viper had a Mopar stainless-steel pedal kit with rubber grip inserts and a Mopar carbon-fiber satchel between the driver and passenger seat.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper and to see the SEMA-stationed Competition Blue Viper up close.
When picking the color of your car there is a very long list of options to choose from: each color has numerous variations and shades, so for sure your dream color will be somewhere on that list. Now SRT developed a new shade of blue, specially for its new Viper sports car and it needs your help to name it.
In return of a cool name, the winner will win a trip to the 2014 Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway in January 2014 as a VIP guest of SRT Motorsports. Also, the winner will get the chance to spend time with the Viper Design team throughout the race weekend.
All you need is to be original and creative and came with a cool name for this new shade of blue. If you have the name, all you have to do is go to www.driveSRT.com/colorcontest and enter your choice. You can submit your color until October 24th and public voting will take place on Monday, November 4 through Monday, November 11.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper.
It’s hard putting a price on awesome yet somehow, Hennessey never fails to deliver. The US aftermarket company has time and again developed some of the wildest tuning projects imaginable and its no different with its program for the 2013 SRT Viper.
Who cares if the Viper’s sales are lagging; when you have Hennessey develop a program like the Venom 700R, you’re going to be tripping over yourselves to scoop up a Viper and get the project done.
On its own, the SRT Viper is capable of producing 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, good enough to hit 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds to go with a top speed of 206 mph. But with the Venom 700R program installed, the Viper’s output goes up to an incredible 705 horsepower and 695 pound-feet of torque, numbers that allow it to hit 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds to go with a top speed of 216 mph.
That’s crazy in every imaginable way you look at it. Then again, Hennessey has made a habit of turning anything it builds into something crazy.
Click past the jump to read about the 2013 Hennessey Venom 700R
When SRT decided to bring back the Viper, the hope was that the sports car would usher in a new era for the famed model.
But so far, all the expectations have turned into nothing more than disappointment because the Viper isn’t selling as fast as SRT and Chrysler would have wanted.
According to Automotive News, Chrysler has taken the surprising step of cutting back on production of the sports car because of sputtering sales. The original plan was to produce 2,000 units annually, but after eight months in dealerships, the company has only sold 426 units, leaving 565 unsold units in stock, representing a 289-day supply.
Despite the car’s sales struggles, SRT CEO, Ralph Giles, is still confident that the Viper’s sales will eventually pick up early next year, but it certainly goes without saying that this development is a huge blow to the stature of the Viper.
It shouldn’t come down to this for one of America’s greatest sports cars, but the fact that it has should give the company cause to pause on why consumers just aren’t as bullish on the sports car as they once were.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 SRT Viper
The SRT Viper is sliding into 2014 on a plume of tire smoke and V-10 rumble: sure of victory over the new Corvette in its launch specification.
The new Viper suffered a serious black eye when it ranked behind the outgoing Corvette ZR1 in a few big comparison tests, so the SRT crew has been busy refining the model with a new Bilstein DampTronic adjustable suspension, a ‘Rain’ mode on the stability and traction control, and matte-black paint on the new-for-2014 Anodized Carbon Edition.
SRT is fresh off a class victory at Road America with the racing GTS-R version of the latest Viper, but is this V-10-powered brute still in touch with sports car buyers in the age of the Nissan GT-R?
The most impressive is the yet-to-be-seen 2014 Viper Anodized Carbon Edition, which packs all the interior and exterior carbon options from the 2013 Time Attack model, but brings Chrysler’s first-ever matte-black paint job.
The T/A model shares its handling refinements with the base and GTS Vipers for 2014 via a track pack that also cuts the big supercar’s curb weight by 57 pounds.
How does the new Viper compare to its rivals like the all-new Corvette Stingray that barely costs half as much as the SRT? In the $100,000 super-coupe segment, is the Viper’s newly-gentrified cockpit enough to lure in Porsche 911 Turbo buyers?
Updated 9/18/2014: This review has been updated with all of the official details for the 2014 SRT Viper.
Click past the jump for the full review of the 2014 SRT Viper, with info on the new Uconnect with built-in WiFi and the new-for-2014 Anodized Carbon Edition.
Collections come in various shapes, forms and sizes, with some even being more expensive than others. That’s nothing in the auto industry where you have people with the financial resources to collect some of the expensive vehicles in the world.
But when it comes to Dodge Vipers, this couple from Texas trumps all of them — by a lot.
Apparently, they’re every bit the passionate Viper fans they make themselves out to be. In the past seven years, they’ve taken a significant chunk of their wealth and used them to buy Vipers. Not just one, two, or even 10 models.
65 models, in fact.
D’Ann and Wayne Rauh are the proud owners of 65 Dodge and SRT Vipers, a collection that could arguably be the largest Viper collection in the world. Now, there might some Middle Eastern man that has an equally huge — maybe even larger — collection out there, but for what it’s worth, the Rauh’s collection of Vipers is pretty incredible.
What makes their collection all the more impressive is that it only started its Viper collection in 2006 when they brought their first model. Soon thereafter, one model turned into two and two turned into four. Seven years later, their garage has just about every Viper you can think of, including the 2010 SRT10 ACR-X which isn’t even street legal.
Now that’s how you turn a fascination into downright obsession.
Click past the jump to read about the latest Viper of the lot, the 2013 SRT Viper
Drag racing has become so ingrained in the fabric of auto racing that you often see one taking place in pretty much all corners of the world.
But while the traditional setup often involves just a pair of cars duking it out for quarter-mile supremacy, Motor Trend has taken the concept of drag racing to a whole new level with its now famous annual installment of “The World’s Greatest Drag Race."
Now on its third installment, "The World’s Greatest Drag Race" pits not just two cars but a dozen of them. 12 of the fastest and most powerful cars you’ll ever come across, starting side by side together and racing to see who can cover the quarter-mile the fastest.
MT’s first installment of this race was won by the Nissan GT-R and it would’ve been 2 for 2 if not for the Lamborghini Aventador beating out to punch in the second staging.
But now, the list is fresh with new exotics, ready, able and willing to take the mighty GT-R’s top perch in the order. There’s an Aston Martin Vanquish, an Audi R8 V10 Plus, a Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series, a Porsche Carrera 4S, and an SRT Viper among the worthy contenders.
Oh, and yes, the Nissan GT-R is back for a third go-round to reclaim its title.
We’re not going to spoil you to action because it’s going to make for a compelling six-and-so minutes of your life.
And if you didn’t get a chance to see The World’s Greatest Drag Race 1 and 2, you can click past the jump to go check them out!
The biggest challenge for the SRT Viper GTS-R this year was, of course, the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, where the two cars entering the race finished eighth and ninth. Those results weren’t quite what SRT and Chrysler were expecting and they knew that the GTS-R needed more practice, so the team entered it in this weekend’s Road America race where Dominik Farnbacher and Marc Goossens piloted the beast. We think this practice was a success, as it claimed first place in the GT Class.
From 1999 to 2000 the Viper scored a total of 16 victories in the ALMS competition, with the last one being on December 31st, 2000 in Adelaide, Australia. This weekend’s win is the 17th factory-backed victory for SRT Viper in the famed ALMS.
Goossens took the lead in the last 33 minutes of the race and held that position for the remainder of the race. He had to work pretty hard for the win though, the Viper was low on fuel in the final eight minutes of the race with the green flag flying. Fortunately, the race went into caution just before he hit the pits, causing the entire field to slow down. He skipped the pits, option to take advantage of the reduced speed to milk the last few drops of fuel from his tank.
The Viper not only took the GT Class, but it also totally dominated the entire weekend, as the No. 93 Pennzoil Ultra SRT Viper GTS-R claimed the pole, while the GT Class winner was fifth on the starting grid.
Click past the jump to read more about the SRT Viper GTS-R.
What do the SRT Viper and the Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series have in common? A long nose, front engine, a rear-wheel-drive system and of course a an output of about 600 horsepower. What they do not have in common? The price: the SRT Viper is priced at $97,395 and the SLS Black Series at $275,000. A pretty huge gap in price, don’t you think?
In the latest episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend’s Jonny Lieberman wanted to see if the SLS Black Series really worth that amount of money and put it face to face to a SRT Viper.
The cars were brought to some real world canyon carving, than on a quarter mile drag race, and finished with blistering hot laps around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Now, we don’t want to be mean, but we thing the SLS has no chance on front of the new generation Viper. What do you think?
Hertz may not be the first company you think of when conversations turn to granting wishes, but the rental company effectively did just that with the launch of its "Dream Car Program".
For a world-renowned car rental company that typically offers the usual cadre of midsize econo-boxes, Hertz’z decision to finally add a list of exotic and luxury cars to its collection of thrashed rental buckets is the kind of thing that excites Average Joes like us.
With the "Dream Car Program," Hertz is set to offer some pretty interesting models, almost all of which we’d love to get our hands on if only we had the financial resources to do so. There’s a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Porsche 911, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and a Ferrari F430., among other exotics.
For only $395, you can get your hands on either a Porsche Boxster or a Tesla Model S. If you’ve got $1,000 at your disposal, you get to whip an R8 or a Vantage. Tack on another $500 and you can level up to the Italian exotics.
Sounds like a pretty good deal to us.
Granted, a lot of car rental companies are already offering supercar rentals like the one Hertz is dipping into, but none of them have the mainstream cache as this company. So, if you’re interested in renting any of these exotics, Hertz’s rental program will be implemented in 35 markets across the US, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego. You can see all of the available cars and the markets they are available in on the Hertz Dream Car site.
Click past the jump to read about some of the hottest cars that are now part of Hertz’s "Dream Car Program"
The SRT Viper is preparing to prove what it is capable of this weekend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The GTS-R version underwent intense testing over the past few weeks and we are pretty certain it will do great. It looks that while testing the GTS-R, SRT also put some time in working on a GT3-R version that will be raced in upcoming GT competitions.
The new GT3-R was developed by Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Motorsports team and will borrow most of its technology from the GTS-R version, including the engine, chassis, suspension, electronics and aerodynamics.
The model is powered by a V-10 engine mated to a sequential transmission with a multi-disc race clutch and paddle shifters. The GT3-R will race on a set of lightweight wheels combined. Dragging this racing serpent to a halt are six-piston front brake calipers.
The new SRT Viper GT3-R is priced at $459,000. Customers can now place their orders and first deliveries will be made in late 2013.
Click past the jump to read about the SRT Viper GTS-R.
The SRT Viper has become quite the popular sports car and true to form, it’s been very popular in the auction block too.
Recently, the design team at SRT unveiled a one-off Viper GTS that will eventually be auctioned off for the Sons of Italy Foundation. Not all surprising considering that the sports car has already gained quite a following in the short time that it’s been around.
The car is called the Viper GTS Sons of Italy Foundation Edition and it’s been specifically built for the occasion. It’s been finished in a tri-coat pearl white body called "Avorio Perla" and complemented by a new set of one-off multi-spoke black vapor chrome wheels serving the perfect contrast to the Viper GTS’ white body.
Inside, the customized one-off Viper GTS comes dressed to the party in full sepia Laguna leather with the unmistakable colors of the Italian flag running down the center of the seats. A red Styker logo can also be found on the steering wheel with red bezel accents while the GTS badge on the glove box also bears the colors of the green, white, and red.
The Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) is the charitable division of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the country’s largest and longest established organization representing men and women of Italian heritage.
Click past the jump to read about the 2013 SRT Viper