Pretentious Jerks Rejoice!

[sbird1]

The Viper is back... and it's mid-engine! News and photos of the all new Viper are here, and I have to say... I love it!





Many more pics and specs here:
http://jalopnik.com/5899094/2013-srt-vi ... ke-is-back

All-aluminum, mid-engine 8.4-liter V-10 delivers an estimated 640 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any naturally aspirated sports car engine in the world. Thoughts?

[TTkickedin]

That thing looks like it can fit 400 series tires in the back. It's finally what it should've been back in 89 for sure though.


BTW has anyone ever driven one? I got to move one a few feet, but that's about it.

[Bubba1]

That thing looks like it can fit 400 series tires in the back. It's finally what it should've been back in 89 for sure though.


BTW has anyone ever driven one? I got to move one a few feet, but that's about it.

I've driven a few 1st generation Vipers at Lime Rock: fast, hot, and primitive.

[Razi]

Video!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5be1jsJGgQA[/youtube]

[AZ89two4Tsx]

As much as I despise Chrysler, I'd have to say this is one of the nicest looking "exotics" on the market. Yeah, they had to refine it a little, especially putting in things like traction/stability control, but I think the changes they made were all for the better. It's still a Viper at heart and it looks like a monster.

I can't wait to see it in action. If it's as good as it is on paper, it looks like Dodge hit one out of the park this time.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I've always loved the Viper for its hard-hitting American take on the british roadster. It's one of the purest sports cars one can buy, free of most electronannies (ABS was introduced a few years ago, sadly), and featuring three pedals, a lever for shifting, and clever exhaust routing that defeats the need for a cabin heater.

I'm glad too see Chryiat have stayed true to the formula. The engine has evolved, but isn't over-teched. I was worried it might end up with some Fiat/Ferrari V8 rather than the 8+ liter V10. I absolutely love Ferrari's V8s, but that's not what the Viper is for. I'd buy a Granturismo if I was looking for that kinda thing. The Viper is about pure mechanical engineering doing battle with itself, and the result is galactic-scale awesome.

The only thing I don't like about the new car are the headlights. They're tiny and sorta bland, and don't work with the rest of the car. They look like they fell off a Mazda 6. Then again...at least they're not shaped like f#$king boomerangs.

[krash]

The only thing I don't like about the new car are the headlights.

I have to agree 100% here. Thats my only problem with the car. The front end of the second generation was much sexier IMO

[Jesda]

I saw the thread title and thought I was being called out.

The story about how the Viper came to be is quite fascinating. Bob Lutz detailed it in his book "Guts"

From the 92 Viper, Chrysler was able to gain financing, build the Dodge brand, and gain much-needed design and engineering credibility. The cost of development was practically nothing (like 80 million?) compared to what the company got back in public appeal, notoriety, and credibility among enthusiasts. It also taught management how to streamline development, a major factor in Chrysler's profitability through the end of the 90s.

It fully established Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep as hot brands for the decade.


What Nissan recently did with the Juke-R reminds me of that, except the Viper had the explicit support of certain members of upper management, particularly Lutz, who grabbed a group of engineers and took them to a secret location for a few months to build a prototype.

HEY NISSAN, SUPPORT YOUR ENGINEERS.

[alms24sebring]

I've always loved the Viper for its hard-hitting American take on the british roadster. It's one of the purest sports cars one can buy, free of most electronannies (ABS was introduced a few years ago, sadly), and featuring three pedals, a lever for shifting, and clever exhaust routing that defeats the need for a cabin heater.

I'm glad too see Chryiat have stayed true to the formula. The engine has evolved, but isn't over-teched. I was worried it might end up with some Fiat/Ferrari V8 rather than the 8+ liter V10. I absolutely love Ferrari's V8s, but that's not what the Viper is for. I'd buy a Granturismo if I was looking for that kinda thing. The Viper is about pure mechanical engineering doing battle with itself, and the result is galactic-scale awesome.

The only thing I don't like about the new car are the headlights. They're tiny and sorta bland, and don't work with the rest of the car. They look like they fell off a Mazda 6. Then again...at least they're not shaped like f#$king boomerangs.

I will agree with everything you said 100% The thing I like most is that its not all tech'd out and is left simple and old fashioned. Reading the fairly long article about how light, tough, and durable it is, it sounds like it is going to seriously a bad mother on the road. The only thing I dont like as MoD said was the headlights. I feel like it lost the aggressive mean eyed Viper look that it always used to have. Also I can see it easily mistaken for an Aston Martin from the rear. Other than that I really feel impressed. I cant wait to see it on Top Gear.

Did I miss how much it would cost??

[Jesda]

Pricing not yet announced. Likely to be more than I can afford. Way more.

[numbnuts240]

it's all saying mid-engine. is that a technicality because of the engine's position over the front "axle"?

[hannibal]

^ Yeah I think so.

The car sounds like a it'll be a monster. I totally agree on the headlights. A Viper's gotta have snake eyes...

[Jesda]

it's all saying mid-engine. is that a technicality because of the engine's position over the front "axle"?

Yep, just like Nissan's FM platform.

[hannibal]

Wait a sec. It has a 32 volt stereo. Why? So it can produce more power with lower amounts of current?

[Dattebayo]

Without getting all super-technical, basically yeah. Although to get the higher voltage, there has to be a step-up transformer somewhere, which isn't efficient in smaller sizes.

[hannibal]

I get the P=I x E thing. What do you mean by smaller sizes?

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Front end reminds me of a Panoz.

[asoomal]

SO f*** HOT.

Looks quite European.