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The Dodge Viper had four long generations spanning from 1992-2010. There were actually no 2010 models, only extended 2009 models, and 2011 saw zero production Vipers at all. Dodge is planning on picking up the Viper once again in 2012 with a fresh look and feel. The Viper came in two different trims: the SRT10 and the ACR. The 8.4L V10 powered Viper delivered 600 HP and 560 lb-ft of torque, and was mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The 0-60mph sprint was done in fewer than four seconds, while the quarter mile came in at 11 seconds. Careful with this one though, it doesn’t come with electronic stability control. Video: Dodge Viper vs. Mitsubishi Evo 9
You might believe that a race between a Dodge Viper and a Mitsubishi Evo 9 is not exactly the most appropriate match-up, but you will be surprised to find out that the Evo 9 did quite well at the Blackhawk farms raceway. The Dodge Viper is powered by an 8.4 Liter V10 power plant that produces 600 HP and 560 lb-ft of torque that rocket the engine with wheels from 0 to 60 MPH in less than 4 seconds, run the quarter mile in the mid 11 second range before hitting a top speed of 202 MPH. The Mitsubishi Evo 9 is powered by an all-aluminum 2.0-liter turbocharged/intercooled engine that produces a measly 291hp at 6,500 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,400 rpm. Looking at the statistics on paper, one couldn’t even call this a contest. What could the Mitsubishi possibly have on the Viper? Well, we are happy to say that the EVO 9 actually held its own and the race was pretty interesting. Of course, we don’t know what kind of modifications took place under the hood of either one of the two cars, but the race was still fun to watch. We were even treated to some Viper sideways action and a little off course action by the EVO 9. Want to know how the race turned out? Check out the seven minute long video to find out! Dodge Viper gets destroyed by tornado in Ohio
 
There’s nothing we can do about Mother Nature when she decides to unleash her wrath on all of us. That wasn’t any more evident as when she sent down a tornado in Ohio recently that took the lives of seven people and left countless others homeless. And then there’s the matter of property damage. If you have never experienced a tornado before, we definitely would not wish the experience on anyone. Tornados seem to be completely insensitive to lives and property alike. They are destructive in every sense of the word. One unfortunate owner of a Dodge Viper can attest to Mother Nature’s fury, which pretty much destroyed the Viper beyond repair. Really, look at the photo and tell us if that car can still be salvaged. We didn’t think so. 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 "Dealer Exclusive Program" Special Editions
Dodge Viper might still go on as a race car only, but its life as a road-legal car is about to be over. And Dodge will offer each dealer the possibility to create their own special editions. There are 50 units allocated for this program, each of them being offered in specific combination. Three of them (pictured) are: Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR Roadster, developed specifically with Woodhouse Dodge in Blair, Neb., featuring a Race Yellow Clear Coat exterior with yellow driver’s stripe; the "Reverse SRT10 ACR" developed with Tomball Dodge in Tomball, Texas, featuring the reverse color combination of the Snakeskin Green Special Edition introduced earlier this model year; and the Black SRT10 Coupe with Plum Crazy dual racing stripes developed with Roanoke Dodge in Roanoke, Ill. If you are interested in this program you can go at the Viper Headquarters website and check the various special-edition models. Press release after the jump. Full story Video: Dodge boss Ralph Gilles talks about the future of the Viper
If Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles has his way, the Dodge Viper will live on, maybe not as a road car, but as a race car - at least until a redesign gets underway. Gilles hinted as much in this video, which was recorded just this week at Michigan’s Gingerman Raceway. According to Gilles, Dodge is looking at the possibility of continuing to build race versions of the Viper, similar to what has been done to the current-generation ACR-X, just to ensure that the Viper name remains afloat until after a new design for a road car gets drawn up. Then again, seeing as the future of the Viper line remains up in the air, there’s no telling when - or even if - that’s going to happen now or anytime soon. Ever the optimist, Gilles remains hopeful that a a new Viper road car could still find its way into production, hinting that it just might happen somewhere down the road, although not anytime soon. "Racing is a great way to keep the car out front and people appreciating what the car is capable of," he said. "When it’s time to do a successor to the car, hopefully there will be a great fanbase for it." We’re not arguing your point, Mr. Gilles. When it comes to the Viper, there will always be a great fanbase for it. Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X to debut at Dodge Viper Cup
Chrysler announced today that the last special edition Dodge Viper, the SRT10 ACR-X will make its on-track debut in July 2010 in a newly developed spec series called the Dodge Viper Cup, which will be sanctioned by the existing Viper Racing League. The race series will begin at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, Va and will finish on Oct. 22-24 at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, in Pahrump, NV. The winners will be awarded more than $200,000 and Mopar vouchers. Additionally, the 2010 champion will win $25,000, second-place will receive $10,000 and third-place will pay $5,000. The Dodge Viper ACR-X is powered by SRT-developed 8.4L V10 engine producing 640hp and 605lb.-ft. of torque. It also weighs about 160lbs less to the standard production model. The suspension on this racing beast has also been tuned and aerodynamic upgrades have been added to improve its performance and stability on the track. The ACR-X also features a factory-designed and installed fuel cell, race seat, and factory-designed roll cage. The Dodge Viper SRT 10 ACR-X will also be the only model involved in the new racing series, the Dodge Viper Cup. "The Dodge Viper ACR-X is simply incredible,” said Gilles. “Owners are going to be blown away by the power and acceleration, and even more surprised at how the ACR-X navigates even the most challenging road courses and how friendly it is to drive at the limit. This is a great package for someone coming out of grassroots racing with a desire to step up to GT level competition.” This should make for an interesting series. Press release after the jump. Full story For sale: Dodge Viper turned into Maybach Exelero
The Exelero is no doubt the greatest vehicle Maybach ever had in its line-up, but there is only one unit in all of the world currently owned by André A. Jackson (who paid like $8 million to get it). So, why would people even dare to make a replica for a model like that? Simple; because anyone in this world would do anything to even just drive the Exelero. Of course a replica would never be as close to the real thing as one would like it to be, but it could still tame the aches from longing for the real thing. Lucky for those people experiencing this pain, James List has an Exelero replica currently listed and priced at $687,335. It is based off a Dodge Viper sports car and is powered by a 8.3L V10 engine with 800 hp (and not 700HP V12 like the original). Both the interior and exterior can be fully customized to any customer’s wishes. After the jump: Exelero featured in Jay-Z - Lost One video. Full story Top Gear USA brings a Dodge Viper to race against a Cobra attack helicopter
There’s been a long-standing battle between cars and helicopters to see who can outdo whom (remember the Corvette/Apachee comparison a couple of months ago?). Well, this battle has taken a new twist and, somewhere along the line, you should have known that Top Gear would end up having something to do with it. Well, your partly right on that one. While Top Gear was in fact responsible for pitting this Dodge Viper against a Cobra attack helicopter, it’s not the original version of Top Gear we’re talking about, but the recently re-launched Top Gear USA. The show was once again caught taping, this time at the Griffin Spalding County Airport in Georgia, where hosts Tanner Foust and Rutledge Wood were accompanied by what looks to be two Viper ACRs and a Cobra attack helicopter. While it’s too presumptious to say that the Viper was able to "out-slither" the Cobra to the finish line, the video taken by a curious spectator seems to suggest so. Guess we’ll just have to keep tabs on Top Gear USA to find out.
Dodge Viper Nameplate will continue to be used under Fiat
Lately, it seems that the only thing coming out of our mouths is Sergio Marchionne. This man seems to be making a lot of announcements to either defend the brand or bring out a new model. The news we bring you now is the vehicular kind. It seems that Dodge has decided that the Viper is a car with an important history and it will continue to be offered in their lineup even after the Viper SRT10 Final Edition has been produced. During a press conference, Fiat-Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne announced that under Fiat guidance, Dodge will be bolstered internationally as an "American performance" brand — and its linchpins will be the Viper, Challenger and Charger. Pretty good picks if we can say so ourselves. And to go even further with the speculation it seems that Fiat’s drive for cost and platform synergies will see the next-generation Viper end up as a quasi-Ferrari. The Challenger and Charger’s platforms will not be touched, but will be borrowed for some interesting future Lancias, Alfas, or Maseratis. Fiat is definitely shaking things up and we can only hope that the consolidation of ideas that they have expressed will pay off in the end. Marchionne seems to be one of the few with a positive outlook and we hope his vision proves to be a valid one. Video: Sam Hubinette tests new Dodge Challenger drift race car
Anytime you put Sam Hubinette and Andrew Comrie-Picard behind the wheel of two cars made for drifting, you can definitely expect a lot of smoke and screeching tires. That’s what we have in this new video of both Hubinette and Comrie-Picard doing some test runs on their two new cars - a Dodge Challenger for the former and a Dodge Viper for the latter - at Adam’s Motorsports Park in Riverside, California. Watch the video and try picking up some pointers from two of the best drifters you’ll ever get the pleasure of watching. 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 Final Edition
This year a legendary car will go out of production. And the last 50 units will be built in a special edition: 20 Coupes, 18 Roadsters and 12 ACRs. The 2010 Dodge Viper Final Edition models will go into production this summer. The Final Edition Viper is painted in an exterior Graphite Clear Coat color with a painted black center stripe traced in red. Viper Coupe and ACR Final Edition models include a black windshield surround. On the interior it will get a custom red accent stitching, red painted halo surrounds on the gauge cluster and bright stainless steel screws in center stack bezel. A numbered dash plaque (1-50) is located on the shifter bezel just above the unique Viper Final Edition floor mats. Press release after the jump. Full story | featured reviews: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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