The Dodge Viper: Top Mopar Performance Model

There are few models in Chrysler history that have gotten more recognition than the Dodge Viper. From holding the current production car record for the fastest lap on the Nürburgring to having its own awesomely bad television series in the 90s, the Viper has been one of the key American performance cars since hitting the market in 1992. It appears as though the Viper name may slip from the showrooms to the history books with Chrysler’s recent financial issues, but the Viper has made a name for itself in the automotive world like few other American models.

First Generation
The 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10 was introduced as the 1991 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, and although not in the same class, it was effectively replacing the Japanese-built Dodge Stealth after pressure from their Union Auto Workers. The front engine, read wheel drive platform was the first of its type from Chrysler in almost a decade, with the 80s and early 90s Mopar Performance models sticking mostly to front or all wheel drive configurations. When the design of the Viper began in the late 80s, Chrysler had a controlling interest in Lamborghini, so who better to ask for assistance from than one of the top performance car companies in the world? Dodge already had a physical design, but the Viper needed an engine that would make it special. Chrysler sent the Lamborghini drivetrain engineers the most powerful engine that they had at the time; a 360 cubic inch “LA” V8 from their truck lineup, giving the Viper drivetrain a starting point of less than 200 horsepower. Lamborghini essentially took two of the 360s and cut them up, mating 6 cylinders from one engine and 4 from another to make the base design for the Viper’s new V10. This would give the Viper an unusual new “hook” in the American market, but this was to be a supercar and the weight of this engine would cause the Viper to handle poorly so the entire motor was recast in aluminum. While many performance engines were going to overhead cam designs and higher flowing cylinder heads with more valves, the Viper stuck to an overheard valve setup with just two valves per cylinder, causing some people to question the abilities of the 8.0L V10 but when the cars began hitting the streets boasting of 400 horsepower in stock form, Dodge showed that the Viper was more than just a pretty face.



Offered only as a roadster, the 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10 was a pure performance car with tons of power, sport tuned suspension, and to keep the weight down the Viper came with very few amenities. The early Vipers had no CD player, no air condition, and no windows, but for drivers who could put aside the desire for creature comforts the RT/10 delivered in any performance environment. In stock form, the 400hp, 3280lb roadster was able to run the quarter mile in just 12.8 seconds, dashing from 0-60 in just 4.5 seconds and from 0-100 in 9.2. The Viper also held its own on the turns, reportedly reaching 1.0g on a lateral skid pad and gliding through a 700 foot test slalom course with an average speed of 66mph. Dodge had set out to offer a world class performance car and it had succeeded, as the Viper quickly set the standard against which all other sports cars in the US would be compared to as well as making a name for itself in the world market. While the 1992 Dodge Viper was expensive, its price put it well below many of the cars in the budding supercar class, making it a bargain Ferrari-hunter.

There were few changes to the Viper during its first generation, aside from the addition of air conditioning as an option starting in 1994. Even without upgrades, the fame of the Dodge Viper grew gradually and the car was appearing everywhere, from the silver screen to the toy store shelves to the top video games…America was in love with their new supercar.
Second Generation

The second generation of the Dodge Viper was launched in 1996 with a refined engine, a redesigned chassis, and a new roofline. The Dodge Viper GTS Coupe was what many had been hoping for, with such “amenities” as windows and a roof, along with A/C and a CD player. The new hard roofline featured a “double bubble” shape, mentioned by Chrysler to have been included to make room for race helmets. Like the first generation Viper, the second generation was introduced to the public by means of being the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500 and the Viper became a more common appearance in every form of racing both in the US an abroad. The V10 was still the only engine option, and although it still measured 8.0L, it now made 450hp and the engine itself weighed less. The increased performance and new, more rigid chassis allowed the new Viper Coupe to scoot through the quarter mile in just 12.3 seconds and the GTS could hit a reported top speed of 192.6mph.



The main criticism of the second generation was the same as the first generation, and that focused on the lackluster braking systems of the Viper. The 1996 Viper received improvements around the vehicle that helped to reduce its braking distances, but it still lacked enough stopping power to compete with top cars around the world (in braking categories). Even with the braking concerns, it was during the second generation that the Dodge Viper really made a name for itself on the world racing scene. The Dodge Viper GTS-R (above) was introduced as a full scale race model (known as the Chrysler Viper GTS-R in Europe), and in event such as the 24 Hours of Lemans, the race purpose Viper flourished with teams like Zakspeed (winning three 24hrs of Nürburgring) and Team Oreca (three Lemans class wins and a first overall at the 2000 24hrs of Daytona).
Third Generation

By 2003, the Dodge Viper was one of the most well-known cars in the world, but Dodge wasn’t going to sit back and enjoy their success. Instead, they employed their new Street and Racing Technology division (SRT - previously known as PVO-Performance Vehicle Operations) to redesign the Viper. The SRT group started with the V10 engine, building it up to 8.3L and making 500 horsepower and 525lb-ft of torque. The new Dodge Viper SRT-10, as it was known, was capable of launching from 0-60 in just 3.94 seconds and moving through the standing quarter mile in 11.77 seconds.



Performance aside, the 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 was completely new, inside and out. The sharp, angular body gave the car a menacing new look, with a long front end making plenty of room for the V10 engine, and the redesigned chassis lightened the car by about 500lbs compared to the second generation roadsters. While the early SRT-10 Vipers were all convertibles, in 2006 an SRT-10 Coupe was available and the hardtop SRT Viper was capable of a stock top speed of almost 200mph thanks in part to their rigid frame and 510hp engine.

2007 would mark the first year since its inception where there would be no new Vipers offered, but in taking that year off the SRT folks put time into designing the fourth generation of the Dodge Viper. Chevrolet had released their new lightweight Corvette Z06 in 2006, and even with similar horsepower, the heavier Viper struggled to keep up. This was the first time in its history that the Viper had any real competition from a domestic competitor, and the Corvette cut into the Viper’s name in a big way. Not only was the Z06 capable of beating the Viper, but it did so for a healthy difference in price, ringing in some $20,000 cheaper than the Viper.
Fourth Generation

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 met the world in a cloud of anticipation. Dodge showed that they would not be outdone by the Z06, and the Viper surged back into the lead position in the American Supercar race by means of a new 8.4L V10 making an awesome 600 horsepower. The exterior of the car received little change from the third generation to the fourth, but the jump in power was more than enough to push the SRT-10 Viper to the top of every performance test, beating cars like the Corvette Z06, Ford GT, and Porsche 911 GT3 in tests by every major media source. In the latest tests, the Viper was able to run the quarter mile in just 11.5 seconds and reach an unbelievable top speed of 220mph; making it one of the quickest and one of the fastest productions cars in the world.



Unfortunately, due to the heavy financial problems plaguing Chrysler, Dodge first announced that they had no plans to continue the Viper development and then in September of 2008, Chrysler announced that they would be entertaining offers from any outside company to buy the Viper name, look, and production plant. No moves have been made thus far, but rumors are heating up about who could be the lucky owner of the precious Viper name.

The Dodge Viper took the world by storm. It was literally everywhere in the automotive scene, from drag racing to drifting, autocross to road racing, and the Viper dominated in every venue like no other Mopar performance model ever built. Sure, the AAR Cuda and Superbirds didn’t have the luxury of high technology tires, engine controllers, and suspension setups, but even taking that into consideration, the Dodge Viper deserves to be recognized as one of the Top 5 Greatest Mopar Performance models of all time. It was a tough decision for me between the Viper and my upcoming #1 Mopar Performance Model, but for everything the Viper has done - and continues to do for the Dodge and Mopar names, the Viper will forever be one of the most idolized cars in automotive history.