More News Surfaces on the 2013 Dodge Viper

by Patrick Rall

The supercar world has been short of a major player since the legendary Dodge Viper saw its production come to an end last year, but thanks to some spyshots of some Viper test mules captured recently, we have some Viper news to discuss.  Dodge has been especially tight lipped regarding what to expect from the 2013 Dodge Viper set to debut in the spring or summer of 2012. explaining only that the next Viper will benefit from driving aides like an advanced stability and traction control system that should not only make the 2013 Viper easier to drive – but also a better performer.

Most recently, spyshots
have surfaced of Dodge Viper “test mules”, with side and rear end
designs taken from the previous generation, but under the heavily masked
front end, these shots offer the first scant look at the 2013 Viper. 
The headlights look to be much sharper, angling hard along the edge of
the hood as they flow down into the front fascia.  That front fascia
looks to feature the familiar crosshair grille design, but where the
previous Vipers had a smooth, molded crosshair, the 2013 Viper mule
carries a split spoke design with egg crate filler behind the distinct
Dodge grille.

Under the leather cladding, the 2013 Viper looks to have higher, bulging
fenders with the similar bulge to the hood – presumably making room for
a higher rising high horsepower engine tucked underneath.  Based on the
location of the air mesh on the camouflage, it looks as though the 2013
Viper mule has air vents located low on the hood, near the headlights,
with a central opening that is most likely the air intake port seen in
previous Vipers.  Then again, those pieces of air mesh could just be
there to throw us off.

Unfortunately, we still don’t know if the 2013 Dodge Viper will draw its
power from a new version of the V10 that has been under the hood since
it debuted in the early 1990s or if it will go a different direction. 
Rumors suggest that new cousin company Ferrari would have some input
into the development of the 2013 Viper, but that doesn’t offer much
insight into whether it will pack Dodge or Ferrari power.  What we do
know is that the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has turned up the heat in the
American supercar segment and we can bet that Dodge isn’t going to
release a new Viper that can’t run circles around the cross-town
competition.

So, how do you think the 2013 Viper is shaping up? What does Dodge have to do to beat the ZR1? Voice your opinion here!