By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National September 1, 2008Vehicle Overview
The Viper SRT10 is part of an elite group of exotic performance roadsters. The Viper remains a purist's dream, one of the last sports cars that's still yet to offer electronic stability or traction control. The Viper comes in coupe and convertible models. The vehicle's main competition is the Chevy Corvette and the Porsche 911.
New for 2009
The Viper has no significant changes for 2009.
Exterior
The Viper SRT10's hood features gill-like vents on either side of the central scoop. Forged aluminum wheels in three styles are offered; they measure 18 inches in front and 19 inches in back. The Viper's body is 175.6 inches long and 75.2 inches wide, making it about equal in length to its competition but noticeably wider.
- Hood with functional air intake and extractors
- Standard remote keyless entry
- Standard five-spoke polished forged-aluminum wheels
- Available six-spoke polished forged-aluminum wheels
- Available polished forged-aluminum wheels with five U-shaped spokes
- Optional American Club Racer edition improves aerodynamics
- Four new colors are available, including Anaconda Green Pearl and Viper Bright White
Interior
The two-person cabin carries over mostly unchanged. The aggressively bolstered bucket seats are covered in leather with suede inserts, and the instrument panel is dominated by a large white-faced tachometer. For 2009 there is a revised center console bezel housing a pair of recessed window switches.
On the practical side, the coupe has about 14.7 cubic feet of cargo room (the roadster has 8.4 cubic feet). Impracticalities include a lack of cupholders, no truck release in the cabin and no cruise control.
- Standard air conditioning and power locks, windows and mirrors
- Standard leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake
- Standard black suede/leather seats
- Standard 310-watt seven-speaker AM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 capability
Under the Hood
In 2008, the Viper's engine was upgraded to assuage consumers' thirst for more power; its output was bumped to 600 horsepower and 560 pounds-feet of torque.
The engine has variable exhaust-valve timing. The Viper SRT10 can reach 60 mph from a standstill in less than 4 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in the low 12-second range. Additionally, the vehicle can brake from 60-0 mph in less than 100 feet.
For 2009, a new street-legal track package called American Club Racer helps reduce the weight of the stock SRT10 and provides race-ready hardware. It improves aerodynamics and adds a racing suspension.
- 600-hp, 8.4-liter V-10 with 560 pounds-feet of torque (91 octane required)
- Six-speed manual transmission
- Fully independent front and rear suspension with dual stabilizer bars
- All-disc brakes
- ACR package uses carbon fiber elements to reduce body weight and adds a carbon fiber wing that Dodge says produces 1,000 pounds of downforce at 150 mph
Safety
Standard safety features include:
- Antilock braking system
- Smart key that immobilizes the engine in a theft attempt
- Security alarm
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Joe Wiesenfelder | Cars.com National | November 18, 2008 |
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | September 1, 2008 |
Affiliate Reviews
| Bill Griffith | Boston.com | July 22, 2009 |
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