With any high performance vehicle, its arrival on the streets inevitably means that someone is going to verify advertised power with a dyno run but with the 2013 SRT Viper – Chrysler did the work for us. Last month, the folks from the SRT brand took a new Viper to Livernois Motorsports near Detroit for a dyno session in an impartial setting. To show that the new Viper does indeed offer the impressive levels of power, the company has issued a video showing the car on the dyno and the ensuing dyno sheet complete with some awesome power numbers.
Hosting this video is Erich Heuschele, SRT Vehicle Dynamics Engineer and Dick Winkles, SRT Viper Powetrain Manager, who made the trip to Livernois with a Pitch Black 2013 SRT Viper GTS sporting the same production engine calibration that is offered on those models currently arriving at dealerships around the country.
After a short blast on the dyno, we see a readout sheet for the 2013 SRT Viper showing 557.12 horsepower and 524.12lb-ft of torque at the wheels. For those of you wondering what happened to the 640 horsepower and 600lb-ft of torque advertised, the numbers on the dyno are stated in actual horsepower at the ground while the advertised power figures are what the engine makes at the transmission. In the case of most rear wheel drive cars, we expect around a 15% loss between stated (at the transmission) power numbers and what the car actually puts to the ground. A 15% loss on 640hp and 600lb-ft of torque would amount to 544 horsepower and 510lb-ft of torque to the Viper is technically more efficient than many modern rear wheel drive vehicles… or it makes more than the advertised power at the transmission. Based on the advertised figures, the new Viper has a drivetrain loss of roughly 12.9%. For the record, I have had the chance to watch several dyno runs at Livernois Motorsports and while some dyno shops are accused of reading a bit high, the Livernois dyno is one known to read true so we know that these numbers are very legitimate.
At the end of the video, the folks from SRT are good enough to remind us all that with 557 wheel horsepower and 524 wheel torque – the 2013 SRT Viper is the most powerful naturally aspirated production car in the world.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
