If there's one thing that we're fully convinced after seeing this five-and-half minute-long video is that the Dodge Challenger SRT10 SEMA Show Concept can smoke those rear-end Pirelli P-Zero 275/40R20 tires like there's no tomorrow... Hit the jump and turn up the volume to get an addictive dose of the Challenger SRT10's Viper-derived, 8.4-liter V10 engine that produces a more than adequate 600 horsepower and 560 lb. ft. of torque.
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Once upon a time, range-topping models used to be excluded from any offers that automakers made to their employees. Of course that was when dealers weren't seeing their lots filled up to the neck with unsold cars. Nowadays, even the almighty Dodge Viper can now be bought with a discount if you happen to work for one of the firms of the Chrysler Group here in the States. -Continued
According to the American carmaker, with the exception of the "dragtastic" Viper ACR, Chrysler LLC's U.S. employees and eligible family members and friends can now obtain all Viper SRT10 Coupe and Convertible models with the special employee pricing.
Since we're not affiliated in any way with Chrysler, we're not aware of the exact discount that's offered on the Viper range but if you happen to know any details, feel free to drop us a line. Just for the record, prices for Dodge's V10-powered snake begin from $88,385.
We seriously doubt that anyone will disagree with us when we say that the most intriguing vehicle on Dodge's SEMA show stand in Las Vegas will be the Challenger SRT10 Concept car. As you might have already guessed by now, the SRT10 has borrowed the Viper's 8.4-liter all-aluminum V10 engine that pumps out 600 horsepower and 560 lb. ft. of torque. The 'halo' concept car features a new coat of vibrant Tornado Red paint with a carbon-fiber deck lid and a functional shaker hood inspired from the 1970s HEMI Cuda. -Continued
To compensate for the extra power, the company's engineers upgraded the braking system and added Bilstein shocks at all four corners to improve handling balance. The Challenger SRT10's interior has been enhanced with a set of sport seats and carbon-fiber trim accents throughout as well as a red engine start push-button in the dash.
Well, now that Dodge convinced us that they can stick a massive V10 engine under the Challenger's bonnet, it would be rather nice if they could also prove to us that they can actually put it into production - even limited, we don't mind. We'll start saving from now.
The barely road-legal Dodge Viper ACR has shattered the Corvette ZR1’s Nurburgring time by a whopping 4.3 seconds according to the folks over at Motortrend – Dodge has yet to release an official announcement. On August 18, FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) driver Tom Coronel, who pilots a Leon TFSi for SEAT Team Holland, managed to turn the ‘Ring in his fourth attempt in an amazing 7:22.10. The ‘Ring war began in May when Nissan announced that the 480 HP GT-R lapped the infamous German race track in 7:29.03. About a month later, GM came out and said that its 640 HP supercharged Corvette ZR1 was the new ‘King of the Ring’ with a time of 7:26.40. -Continued
The Dodge Viper ACR is essentially a race-track ready version of the stock Viper. While it retains the same 600 HP 8.4-liter V10 engine as the Viper SRT-10, it has undergone a strict diet and it features a racing suspension and clutch along with an aerodynamic bodykit.
According to the unofficial information provided by Motortrend, with the exception of the Racetech seat with a six-point harness, the ACRs (Dodge brought two vehicles to the ‘Ring) were factory stock and fitted with the no-cost option Hard Core package that sheds another 40 pounds with the elimination of the audio system, trunk carpet, rear cabin sound insulation, tire inflator kit, hood insulator, and steel battery cover.
Via: Motortrend
The Dodge Viper could soon be history -at least for the Chrysler Group, as according to an official announcement that was made this morning, the third largest American automaker said that it is ‘preparing to explore strategic options for the Dodge Viper business’. Here is what Chrysler LLC’s CEO Bob Nardelli said about the potential sale of the Viper to a third party:“We have been approached by third parties who are interested in exploring future possibilities for Viper. As the Company evaluates strategic options to maximize core operations and leverage its assets, we have agreed to listen to these parties. We will do so keeping in mind the best interests of those who have shown tremendous support for the vehicle – including employees, suppliers, dealers and a worldwide group of loyal Viper owners and enthusiasts.” -Continued
“Viper is an integral part of this Company’s heritage. While this is a strategic review, our intent would be to offer strong operational and financial support during any potential transaction, in order to ensure a future for the Viper business and perpetuate the legacy of this great vehicle."
Picture Edited by Carscoop
Chrysler LLC announced today that it will celebrate the production of its 25,000th Dodge Viper at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. As part of the celebrations, the American carmaker will award a 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch for recognition of his racing accomplishments as the top Dodge driver in 2007. For those of you, who are members of the press and plan to attend the press conference on Wednesday, note that Chrysler will not allow you to enter the Conner Assembly Plant if you’re wearing open-toe shoes, sandals, high-heels, shorts or tank tops. Guess you guys will have no option other than to pay attention to the speakers… -Details after the jump
PRESS RELEASE:
Chrysler LLC Honors Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Kurt Busch with 25,000th Dodge Viper at
What:
Chrysler LLC's Conner Avenue Assembly Plant celebrates production of the 25,000th Dodge Viper and honors Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch for 2007 NASCAR accomplishments
Who:
Robert Nardelli - Chairman and CEO, Chrysler
Melissa Holobach - Plant Manager - Conner Avenue Assembly, Chrysler
Kurt Busch - Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver
General Holiefield - Vice President and Director of Chrysler Department - United Auto Workers (UAW)
When:
Wednesday, March 12, 2008, 11 a.m. press conference
Where:
Conner Avenue Assembly Plant
Details:
Cameras will be permitted. No open-toe shoes, sandals, high-heels, shorts or tank tops are permitted in the Conner Assembly Plant.
Other:
Conner Avenue Assembly Plant is located east of Van Dyke Rd. and south of 8 Mile Rd. Heading east on 8 MIle Rd., turn right on Veach St., turn slight left onto Conner Rd. Plant is located on the left. Parking is available in front of the building.
Ralph Gilles, Chrysler Vice President - Jeep/Truck and Advance Interior Design, took his home camera along during durability testing for the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR (see here) at the No Problem Raceway Track in Belle Rose, 
As Dodge promised us when they released initial info on the 2008 Viper SRT-10 ACR, prices for the street-legal, race-inspired sports coupe will indeed start under $100,000. To be specific, the 2008 Viper SRT-10 with the basic ACR pack will carry a MSRP of $98,110 including an $850 destination charge. Sales of the Viper SRT-10 ACR will start during the second quarter of 2008. For details and pics of the ACR click here, for the the video, click here.Via: Motortrend
During the L.A. Auto Show, Dodge unveiled its 2008 Viper SRT10 ACR (American Club Racer). The street-legal racecar is equipped with the 2008 Viper’s 600 Hp V10 engine. According to the American carmaker, the ACR has undergone a diet while it also features sportier suspension settings and an aerodynamic package. Buyers can minimize the car's weight even more by opting for the "Hard Core" package, which eliminates the audio system, underhood silencer pad, trunk carpet and tire inflator. The SRT10 ACR is expected to rollout in the second quarter of 2008. -Video after the jump
Yes, it didn’t take long for the snake… to get out of the bag. Just as the scanned images from Autoweek’s upcoming November 12 issue started circulating around the net, up came the official media kit of the racetrack inspired, yet street-legal, 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR which will debut at the L.A. Show on November 13. As we told you in our previous post, while the Viper ACR retains the stock 600 Hp 8.4-liter V10 engine (nothing wrong with that), it has shed some pounds and it features a racing suspension along with an aero kit. Sales of the Viper ACR will start during the second quarter of 2008 with prices starting under $100,000. -Pics and details after the jump
Even More Viper Venom! Dodge introduces street-legal 2008 Viper SRT10® ACR
• Dodge delivers ultimate purpose-built, street-legal track car
• 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10® ACR offers reduced weight, race-ready hardware and competition tuning for optimal on-track performance
• Aerodynamic improvements, racing suspension and weight savings equal unmatched performance for under $100,000
The latest addition to Chrysler LLC's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) family of performance vehicles, the all-new, 600-horsepower 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is a street-legal Viper engineered to dominate on the race track. Because it is street legal, diehard Viper and track enthusiasts can drive their car to the race track, run it at speed on the track, and then drive it home.
"With the all-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, SRT has taken the ultimate American sports car and injected it with an extra dose of racing DNA," said Mike Accavitti, Director - Dodge Brand and SRT Marketing and Communications, Chrysler LLC. "With the Viper SRT10 as the starting point, SRT engineered a combination of reduced weight, race-tuned suspension and aerodynamic improvements to create the ultimate Viper for the street and track."
Derived from the all-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10, the heart and soul of the all-new 2008 Viper SRT10 ACR is SRT's new 8.4-liter aluminum V-10 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. of torque.
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR stays true to the five key aspects of SRT: standout powertrain, bold exterior styling, race-inspired interior, benchmark braking, and world-class ride and handling characteristics across a dynamic range.
Bold Exterior Styling
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR exterior styling cues offer not only bold aesthetics but functional benefits on the track. These include a variable geometry "fanged" front splitter, an adjustable rear wing sculpted by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), and optimized front dive planes. These new aerodynamic devices are formed in high-performance autoclaved carbonfiber. By using both unidirectional and woven laminates, the aero equipment is optimized for the minimum possible weight.
The splitter and dive planes feature a clear coated carbonfiber weave on all Viper SRT10 ACR models.
The front splitter includes three removable rub strips that provide protection and wear resistance. Supported by stainless steel tension cables, the splitter is designed to absorb the energy from minor upward deflections.
The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR aerodynamics are tuned and balanced to maximize downforce and provide increased levels of lateral grip. Each Viper SRT10 ACR also includes a track extension that replaces the center splitter rub strip and fills out the fanged splitter scallop for closed-circuit events. The aerodynamic effect of the track extension is a reduction in overall drag and an increase in front downforce of nearly one third.
The front fog lamps have been deleted and replaced with lightweight filler panels.
The 2008 Viper SRT10 ACR features a signature two-tone paint scheme with a black center section. An optional driver's stripe is available on a two-tone Viper Red or a Viper Black ACR. The driver's stripe also features a sewn leather accent on the steering wheel. A clearcoated exposed weave is featured on the rear carbonfiber wing of all two-tone and driver's stripe Viper SRT10 ACR models.
A standard Viper SRT10 monotone paint scheme is also available featuring a body color rear wing and dual painted Viper stripes.
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is available in five colors: Viper Red, Viper Black, Viper Violet, Viper Bright Blue Metallic, and Viper Very Orange.
Lightweight forged aluminum Sidewinder wheels are painted gloss black to complete the one-of-a-kind exterior styling.
Race-inspired Interior
Based on the 2008 Viper SRT10 interior, the Viper SRT10 ACR goes a step further to satisfy what racers want: the least weight possible. An optional "Hard Core" package offers maximum weight savings by deleting the audio system, underhood silencer pad, trunk carpet and tire inflator. The radio is replaced by a lightweight cover that can be configured to mount the included lap timer. The door speakers are replaced by lightweight carbonfiber panels. The Hard Core package offers a 40 lb. weight savings and provides ultimate street legal race-ready performance.
World-class Ride and Handling
The all-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is specifically modified and tuned for track performance. The ACR suspension includes coil-over racing dampers from KW Suspensions that are adjustable for damping and ride height. The shocks are two-way adjustable without removing the wheels - a timesaver on the track - and they include a large range for compression and rebound. The KW dampers and forks are machined from solid aluminum billet, feature spherical bearing mounts, and are optimized to minimize weight and maximize performance.
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR features a new front stabilizer bar for increased roll-stiffness.
Lightweight forged aluminum Sidewinder wheels are optimized by using Finite Element Analysis to achieve a lower rotating unsprung mass. Finished in gloss black paint, they wear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup DOT-approved (street legal) race tires, providing enhanced grip on the track.
Track performance is maximized in the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR via several weight-savings initiatives. The savings were achieved with the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tires, Sidewinder lightweight wheels, and StopTech brake rotors. With the aerodynamic and suspension elements, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is 40 pounds lighter than the Viper SRT10 coupe. The optional Hard Core package further reduces the weight by another 40 pounds, for a total weight savings of 80 pounds.
Benchmark Braking
The Viper SRT10 benchmark brakes are taken to the next level in the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR. StopTech two-piece, slotted, lightweight rotors combine with the Viper SRT10's Brembo calipers to reduce rotating inertia and unsprung mass, improve brake cooling, and significantly reduce fade even under extreme conditions. The StopTech rotors feature a patented curved-fin design, a key element in improving brake cooling. The StopTech brake rotors combined with the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tires and Sidewinder lightweight wheels combine to reduce 60 pounds of unsprung, rotating mass. The 2008 Dodge SRT10 Viper ACR stops from 60 mph in less than 100 feet.
Standout Powertrain
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR utilizes the Viper SRT10's new 8.4-liter aluminum V-10 engine that produces a ground-shaking 600 horsepower and tire-smoking 560 lb.-ft. of torque. It features a deep-skirted V10 aluminum engine block, cylinder heads equipped with Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC)-shaped combustion chambers, large valves and Variable Valve Timing (VVT). VVT Electronically adjusts when the exhaust valves are open and closed according to engine speed and load, allowing the engine to "breathe" cleaner and more efficiently.
The two-piece intake manifold combines cast aluminum lower with smooth runners for better air flow, bolted to a die-cast aluminum upper plenum. A revised air-cleaner box with a low-restriction filter sends air through a dual electronic throttle control into the intake module.
The air-fuel mixture in the cylinders is ignited by platinum-tip spark plugs fired by individual plug coils mounted on the cylinder-head covers.
Within the cylinders, pistons are equipped with large-diameter floating pins with bronze bushings for high-load capability. Forged powder-metal connecting rods are secured with aircraft-quality fasteners for increased fatigue strength.
Engine lubrication is managed by the large oil pump and a swinging oil pickup adapted from Viper competition engines, to ensure proper oil pressure in high-rpm and hard cornering conditions.
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR sports the latest evolution of the Tremec T56 six-speed manual transmission known as the TR6060. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a GKN ViscoLok speed-sensing limited-slip differential.
Manufacturing
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR will be hand built at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR will arrive in showrooms in the second quarter of 2008 at a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of less than $100,000. Complete pricing information will be released at a later date.
Street and Racing Technology
SRT creates some of Chrysler LLC's boldest, most distinctive products by single-mindedly following its core vision: Deliver benchmark performance at the lowest price, and deliver it with absolute integrity and credibility.
Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Dodge
Here’s the story: a member of a Viper Club forum received a copy of the November 12 issue of Autoweek and what more logical than to scan the magazine and post the pictures of the cover story which is none other than the 600 Hp Dodge Viper ACR. Set to make its official appearance at the L.A. Show on November 13, the ACR that stands for American Club Racer is equipped with the same 600 Hp V10 engine with the standard 2008 Viper. Difference is that the ACR is tuned for the racetrack while remaining street-legal. -ContinuedAmong other features, the ACR is equipped with a adjustable KW Suspensions race coilovers, a new front stabilizer bar along with an aero kit that includes a removable 3-inch front splitter and a massive carbon fiber adjustable rear wing that can be set to seven different positions.
According to Autoweek’s article, Dodge’s engineers gave a priority to weight saving solutions like the lightweight wheels, street-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, and two-piece Stoptech brakes that all together shave around 40 pounds. The Viper ACR can also be opted with a “Hard-Core” package that removes several amenities like the audio system, the underhood sound deadening material, the trunk carpet, and the tire inflator that combined save another 40 pounds.
The Viper ACR is set to go on sale in the
Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Viperclub
Could have fooled us. We don’t know how the car looks in person, but judging from the pictures of the “Vipette” we found on ebay, this chap did one hell of a job in transforming an ’85 Vette into a Viper. Now, why someone would actually go and do something like this, beats us. However, the ebay seller claims, “This car looks, feels, and sounds just like the real thing for about a third of the price and half the gas. Here’s your chance to get both worlds; Chevy’s reliability and the Viper’s great looks”. Say again? -Image Gallery after the jump
Via: ebay
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