The Snake is back. With a vengeance! The new body, new lighter-weight materials, stiffer chassis and even more raw power and performance from a redesigned version of that Louisville Slugger 8.4-liter V-10. How much more? We’re talking a mighty 640 hp—up 40—and massive 600 lb-ft of twist, which is the most torque of any naturally aspirated sports car motor on the planet.Pedal to the metal the folks at Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology—SRT—reckon it should run zero-to-60 in under 3.5 seconds, pass the 100 mph mark in 7.5, spear through the quarter-mile in 11.4 and not quit till the needle is kissing the 206 mph mark. This is the new-from-the rubber-up 2013 SRT Viper. Yes, it’s still as bad to the bone as the last-generation version that quietly slipped out of production in the summer of 2010. But this latest snake joins the modern world with new technologies, like electronic stability control, traction control, even launch control. But perhaps the most amazing aspect of this new Viper is that it even exists at all. When Chrysler was in the depths of doom, gloom, and bankruptcy, the last thing on anyone’s mind was developing an updated Viper. That didn’t stop Team SRT which quietly and secretly developed this new version which debuted at the 2012 New York auto show and goes on sale this fall in two versions—SRT Viper and more upscale SRT Viper GTS. This will sticker between an estimated $100,000 and $120,000. So SRT Viper it is. The new Dodge Viper for sale has the slithering, reptilian essence of the original. Every body panel is new—only the windshield is carried over.
And in a bid to shed pounds, raise quality and improve aerodynamics, the hood, double-bubble roof and rear deck are made of carbon fiber while the new doors switch from sheet molded composite to aluminum. The result? A whopping 140 pounds lost, taking the overall weight down to around 3,350 pounds. Vipers have always been a blast to drive in a scary, white-knuckle, fear-for-your-life kind of way. But for this new version, SRT decided to take out a little of the fear-factor by adding new safety features like electronic multistage stability control, traction control, and new, four-channel anti-lock braking. They also stiffened the chassis by an impressive 50 percent to sharpen handling, while the Michelins have been jettisoned in favor of more gripping Pirelli P Zeros. And finally, the Viper gets the interior that is has always deserved. Everything is now wrapped in leather, including the new thin-shell seats that come from the same supplier as Ferrari. Also, there is much more headroom and legroom in the cabin.All we can say to Chrysler and its Italian masters is “Fangs a lot.” Viper stands alone as the only naturally aspirated exotic cars for sale to never offer an automatic transmission. Thank you for keeping the art of driving alive!
LIST PRICE
$100,000 for base Viper (estimated)
$120,000 for Viper GTS
ENGINE
8.4-liter pushrod 20-valve V-10
HORSEPOWER
640 hp @ 6,150 rpm
TORQUE
600 lb-ft @ 4,950 rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual
0–60
3.4 seconds
TOP SPEED
206 mph
WEIGHT
3,350 lbs
LENGTH
175.7 inches
TIRES
Front: 275/3518
Rear: 335/3019
PRO
More muscle than an
issue of Men’s Health
CON
Still as subtle as a plane crash
