Dodge Viper is back with a bite

The new 2013 SRT Viper and Viper GTS flagship performance machines made its world debut today at the ongoing New York International Auto Show with more power under its hood. The fifth generation of the iconic, American-built supercar has evolved to incorporate superior craftsmanship, host new technologies and ergonomic improvements while maintaining its legacy of outright performance.

Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of SRT were happy to announce the return after a period of uncertainty. He commented that the SRT team was proud of the made in Detroit, flagship supercar is back and ready to take on the performance car world.

For the 2013 Viper, two new models will be hand built in Detroit, which has been home for Viper since 1995. Both SRT Viper and Viper GTS, offers new interior and exterior designs incorporating premium materials and aerodynamic functions into the carbon fiber and aluminium skin. The Viper GTS also offers two-mode active suspension. Designed and built with premium features and materials the Viper GTS will compete with the best performance vehicles in the world with a wide range of creature comforts, advanced drivetrain and interior technologies.

The Viper is powered by a hand-built, fully aluminium 8.4-litre V10 engine that weighs 11kg lighter. Improvements include a new, ultra-high flow and lightweight composite intake manifold, forged high-strength pistons, sodium-filled exhaust valves, new catalysts and an aluminium flywheel.

Performance rates at 640hp and an astonishing 813Nm of torque - the most torque ever produced from a naturally-aspirated engine in the world. By comparison, the mechanical Aston Martin One-77 produces 750Nm while the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and Lamborghini Aventador produce 690Nm and the McLaren F1 produced just 651Nm. 

The six-speed manual gearbox has been improved with a shorter throw shifter, closer gear ratios and a shortened final drive ratio. The Viper models will be more engaging to drive and can attain top speeds at sixth gear with the redline hitting 6,200 rpm. A stiffer structure provides 50 percent more rigidity, the chassis benefits from numerous enhancements learnt through its racing efforts with Viper GTS-R and Competition Coupe models.

A new aluminium "X" brace under the hood has been added that ties the suspension pickup points to the magnesium cowl super casting. It also contributes to improved torsional rigidity and stiffness. A new aluminium impact beam at the front of the car contributes to overall mass savings and improved weight distribution while providing excellent crashworthiness. The result is an overall weight savings of approximately 45kg.

A new, driver selectable two-mode suspension system is standard on GTS models. For the first time, standard safety technologies such as electronic stability control and traction control help to maximize traction performance at any speed and driving environment. All Vipers will come with a steering-wheel-mounted launch control switch, for optimal acceleration from standing starts.

The Viper is engineered to provide shorter stopping distances, improved durability and balanced brake performance without fading under extreme conditions. Four-piston Brembo brakes with fixed-aluminium callipers, and vented rotors are used. The callipers are among the stiffest available with distortion from heat nearly eliminated even under extreme braking conditions.

The driver-oriented cabin has been totally revamped with superior craftsmanship, premium material appointments and performance-oriented technologies. For the first time, all major interior surfaces are sewn and wrapped with additional padding. On the Viper GTS, all surfaces are fully leather skinned, with standard accent colours applied to the seats, doors, centre console and stitching.

Standard lightweight high-performance racing seats feature a Kevlar/fiberglass shell created by a state-of-the-art technology for long-term durability. All occupants enjoy improved comfort from thigh support and deep side bolsters to match extreme lateral acceleration capabilities of the Viper. The new Viper is also the most spacious model to provide improved legroom and more rearward seat track movement.

A colour 7-inch, instrument cluster display uses an analogue tachometer with a wide range of custom and personal options such as an additional digital speedometer. The vehicle information is easily controlled through a simple four-way steering-wheel control. A range of Harman Kardon surround-sound systems are available with a high-voltage class D amplifier with tracking power supply and up to 11 channels of amplification. The Harman Kardon system in the Viper GTS has a total of 18-speakers, including four subwoofers located behind the seats.

All-new carbon-fiber hood, roof, decklid and aluminium door panels result in significant weight reduction, improved high-speed stability and a slippery 0.364 drag coefficiency. The clamshell hood carries the redesigned “Stryker” Viper badge. The classical low-stance, extreme cab rearward proportions and dramatic fender "gills” are lifted from traditional Viper design.

The Viper features a "double-bubble" roof that maximizes headroom for the driver and passenger while allowing additional room for helmets during recreational competitive driving. Dual-function, bi-xenon projector headlamps are tightly packaged with daytime running LEDs and LED turn signals in a "snake eye" configuration. The lower-front grille is purposefully designed as an evolution of the traditional Viper low-profile cooling opening configuration and discretely carries a refined V-shape structure.

The exhaust system continues to exit behind the front wheels like in a McLaren SLR or Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid, and is now in cast aluminium, sill-mounted exhaust bezels. The Viper incorporates the stop-and-turn illumination in the dark masked LED tail lamps. Each lamp carries 50 LEDs that provide a unified "crystallized" illumination effect.

The five-spoke, forged-aluminium "Rattler" wheel design is available fully polished as standard, fully painted Hyper Black or fully painted low-gloss black finishes. The Viper GTS has a split six-spoke forged-aluminium "Venom" design with ä polished face with graphite-painted pockets as standard, fully painted Hyper Black or fully painted low-gloss black.