2008 Dodge Viper SRT10

The Dodge Viper is one of the most brutally powerful, in your face sports cars on the road today. Since it’s debut in the early 90’s as a concept car so unexpectedly popular that Dodge was forced to put it into production, the Viper has dominated North American horsepower wars while simultaneously providing Italian-like handling. The Viper is a popular choice for amateur racers looking for a car that they can drive from the showroom floor straight onto the track.

Now in the first few years of its third generation, Dodge has decided to up the ante even more by refreshing the power train of their flagship sports car. The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 has 90 more horsepower than the previous year’s vehicle, for a grand total of 600. This is largely thanks to a new and larger V10 making its way underneath the hood of this mean machine. At 8.4 liters, the revised Viper can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds – that is, if you can resist incinerating the huge 300-series tires sitting underneath all of that snakeskin. In a true testament to the overall engineering of the vehicle, the Viper can also go from zero to 100 miles per hour and back to zero again in around 12 seconds.

The decision to make the already fast Viper even faster is the result of the constant battle brewing between General Motors and Dodge over who has the most powerful road car. The Corvette Z06 had laid claim to the title with their 505 horsepower LS-series V8, but now Chevrolet has fallen in the shadow cast by Dodge’s newest engine. The original 8.3 liter, all-aluminum V10 was bored out an additional .1 liters, and variable valve timing and new cylinder head shapes also contributed to the increase in power. A new twin-disc clutch was installed in order to better handle the demands of the engine, and it is mated to the latest 6-speed manual transmission available from Tremec, who have reduced shifter travel to allow for quicker gear changes.

Of course, there’s no use bumping up the power unless you also provide a better means to control it. The Brembo brakes are an astonishing 14 inches in diameter in the front, with dual opposing calipers both front and rear. The car can drop from 60 miles per hour to a standstill in less than 100 feet, which is less than half the distance required by most performance sedans. A speed-sensing limited-slip differential ensures that wheel spin is kept to a minimum – in keeping with tradition, there are no electronic driver’s aids installed in the Viper. Four-wheel independent suspension is made of an aluminum alloy, and 18-inch wheels ride up front with 19-inchers bringing up the rear.

Buyers can choose to order the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 in either Coupe form or a convertible version. The differences between the two go farther than just the removal of the roof, and each bears fairly unique exterior styling characteristics. However, each is also completely recognizable as a Viper. For hardcore performance enthusiasts, the coupe offers better chassis stiffness and better aerodynamics, important considerations on the track. Dodge even decided to add a bit more headroom so that owners would have an easier time fitting a safety cage for racing.

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 represents the ultimate in big Detroit muscle, wrapped in stunning body work and driving dynamics. Owning a Viper means being noticed no matter where you go and what you park next to, so this car is not ideal for shrinking violets or for sneaking out of the parking lot at work on a Friday to catch a few extra rounds of golf.






Images were reprinted with permissions from original author Rod Brito! Content was written by Benjamin Hunting for www.sport-cars.org only and you MAY NOT copy, distribute or use this page's content for any commercial or non-commerical purpose without written permission of this site owner and photos authors!
June 25, 2008, 9:03 am