2010 Dodge Viper -  Supercar Goes out with a Storm

The Dodge Viper SRT10 is part of an elite group of exotic performance roadsters. And for the Viper, Dodge has made sure the car, which is in its last model year, goes out with glory. Dodge introduced a variety of special editions to give consumers interested in owning this dream car plenty of options. The Viper remains a purist's dream, and it comes in coupe and convertible models. The Dodge Viper is a very powerful, two-door, sports car. Since its original debut in 1992, the Viper has garnered a reputation as a serious high-end performance car with a very sleek and distinctive appearance. The Viper comes as a two seat coupe or roadster with a standard 600-hp 8.4-liter V10 engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Some noticeable performance features include dual side exhaust, a limited slip differential, lightweight coil-over shock absorbers, anti-lock brakes with front and rear vented discs, "Z" rated performance tires on 18-inch front and 19-inch rear forged alloy wheels. Other notable standard features on the Viper include power mirrors, windows and door locks with remote keyless entry, high intensity discharge headlamps, and air conditioning. For 2010, the Viper receives additional paint and stripe choices, and a tweaked fifth-gear ratio to improve upon acceleration. Five- and six-hundred horsepower cars are more common everyday, but nothing with this power level weighs as little as the Viper's 3450 pounds. Indeed, only some non-U.S. exotics and the Bugatti Veyron, at more than a million dollars for its 987 horsepower, offers a significantly better power to weight ratio. The Dodge Viper's value literally can't be matched. The price ranges from the $92,885 you pay to get the roadster, to the $112,085, which is the starting price for the 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR Voodoo Edition.

Viper Power and Drive

The 2010 Viper's 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. There is also a street-legal track package called American Club Racer, or ACR, that helps reduce the weight of the stock Viper and provides race-ready hardware. It improves aerodynamics and adds a racing suspension. This is the only production 600-hp car sold in the United States that does not have all-wheel drive, electronic stability control, or both, and as such is not recommended for the inexperienced. The Viper is a brutally honest car and it does what you ask. The new twin-disc clutch takes less effort and offers smoother, more precise engagement, so you can get in motion without even using the throttle. The new shifter and gearbox are a big improvement over the previous generation. And despite raising horsepower by nearly 100, the car is more efficient. Brakes are immense and easy to modulate; a light touch of the pedal brings mild slowing, with retarding increasing directly with more pedal pressure.

Design of the 2010 Dodge Viper

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. From any angle, a quick glance shows the Viper means business, with a body shaped as much for function as style. It is made of composite materials over a steel frame, with aluminum sills and strengthened cowl. A deep front spoiler and sloping hood wedged between two fenders help keep it from going airborne at three-mile-a-minute speeds, as does the subtle rear wing, rear suspension belly pan and the sizable diffuser under the rear end. Cooling air is funneled in through the trademark four-slot grille and exhausted through six extractor vents in the hood; when idling or moving very slowly the hot air wafting out those vents makes the forward view distorted much like the rear window glass. The roadster's folding soft top is manually-operated and stows neatly behind the seats but you must get out of the car to complete the five-second operation. The glass rear window has a defroster so visibility equals the coupe, and headroom is similar. Xenon headlamps are standard, finally endowing the Viper with suitable vision for night drives; the snake's head center brake light continues.

'10 Dodge Viper Cabin

Inside, the aggressively bolstered bucket seats are covered in leather with suede inserts, and the instrument panel is dominated by a large white-faced tachometer. The center console bezel houses a pair of recessed window switches. The Viper seats two people. Visibility is relatively good for a low-slung beast. The mirrors aren't filled by the fat rear fenders and although the glass backlight might distort them, sizable objects are easily detected behind. The term cockpit applies as well to a Viper as any other car. A simple push on the button release atop the door pops it open.  Inside you will find surprising head and legroom given the car's external dimensions and the fact that you are essentially wedged between the engine/gearbox and exhaust pipes. Although the seats sport long cushions for thigh support and big bolsters to keep you contained, you wouldn't slide far without them given the wall-size center console and door adjacent. Leather trims the steering wheel and shift knob, while seats have suede-like center sections with color options; the seat sides and interior are all black.

Viper Lineup 2010

 The 2010 Dodge Viper is available in a coupe or roadster. The coupe comes in a few special models; these include the Viper SR10 ACR, the Viper SR10 ACR Voodoo, the Viper SR10 ACR Snakeskin Green ACR Edition, and the Viper SR10 1.33 ACR Edition. The ACR models are intended for track use and include carbon fiber front splitter with removable center section for street driving, 'dive plane' front winglets, and a large fixed rear spoiler, lighter wheels with stick.

Viper comes standard with leather/suede sport seats, air conditioning, power adjustable pedals, tilt steering column, full instrumentation, CD player, power steering, power disc brakes, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, console, composite bodywork, bi-Xenon headlamps, fog lamps, limited-slip differential, and emergency flat-tire repair kit.

Conclusions

The Dodge Viper was conceived as a modern interpretation of the classic muscular American sports car. Debuting as a concept in 1989 to huge consumer enthusiasm, everything about the production Dodge Viper was perfectly over the top. With lots of tail-wagging power and no life-saving electronic driving aids, the original RT/10 Viper roadster was a supercar for serious drivers only. For the latest updates on this out going Dodge model, visit the official 2010 Viper site. Minor concessions to "luxury" appeared in the second-generation Viper roadster, such as real windows that replaced the clear vinyl side curtains, but Viper fans had nothing to fear, as Dodge's top-dog sports car remained obnoxiously loud and fast. Despite the release of a GTS coupe and simultaneous upgrades for the entire line, the Viper remained essentially the same car from its debut in 1993 to its 2003 redesign. Though modern cars are increasingly equipped with the latest safety features, the Viper remains true to its visceral roots. There are neither side-impact airbags nor traction or stability control. Inside, the cabin is a collection of hard plastic panels and parts-bin switches. Seat comfort is surprisingly good. Performance numbers are otherworldly, as the Viper can reach 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Containing all this power are massive Brembo brakes and 18-inch front- and 19-inch rear forged-alloy wheels. The track-ready SRT-10 ACR edition adds plenty of go-fast performance goodies, but it keeps the same powertrain as the regular Viper. For a closer look, visit a Dodge Viper gallery from Road and Track.