The Lighter, More Powerful 2013 SRT Viper Debuts in New York

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The Lighter, More Powerful 2013 SRT Viper Debuts in New York

By - April 4, 2012

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The 2013 SRT Viper debuted this morning at the New York Auto Show, marking the return of the awesome American supercar after a three-year hiatus. The reveal was no secret, but after SRT CEO Ralph Gilles he announced the Viper’s two trim lines, he dropped a big surprise: The Viper GTS-R will join this year’s ALMS grid. Hit the jump for all the details.

As I’d speculated from some of the leaked renderings, with its double bubble roofline, rounded sides and curvy rear end, the 2013 SRT Viper bears a striking resemblance to the early Dodge Viper GTS Coupe.  
Across the front end, it wears a similar shape to previous models, with a wide, low, clamshell-style hood featuring an intake and two heat extraction ports facing the windshield. The new front fascia also sports LED headlights along with a darkened grille wearing the familiar crosshairs. The chassis is a whopping 50% stiffer, and it will be rolling on massive shoes–355s in back and 295s up front. Everything tips the scales at 3,297lbs. 
 The cockpit features race-style seats, supplied by the same sources as corporate cousins Ferrari, which allow more leg room and seat adjustment than previous Vipers. The trick seven-inch digital gauge cluster features a speedo on the left, a fuel gauge/temperature combo gauge on the right, and a massive tachometer mounted in the middle. The center section of the tach includes a driver information center with a ton of customizable options, and most importantly, a shift light which incorporates the new Viper logo.
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The center stack includes a massive 8.4-inch touch screen which controls the HVAC, stereo, navigation and special SRT gauges, including quarter-mile and other performance-oriented clocks. Buyers opting for the GTS package will get steering wheel controls for the dual-mode adjustable suspension system. All models will feature traction, launch and cruise control. 
Finally, while rumors indicated the 2013 SRT Viper would feature a larger V10, SRT has stuck with the same 8.4L displacement found in the 2010 model. But the engine has been tuned to offer 40 more ponies–for a total of 640hp and 600lb-ft of torque–and thanks to new lightweight components, it weighs 28 pounds less than the previous mill. That’s enough to make this V10 the most powerful naturally aspirated engine in the world. When combined with the Viper’s new lightweight architecture, it translates to a power-to-weight ratio of just 4.91 pounds per horsepower, placing it just south of stratospheric supercars like the Bugatti Veyron and the crispy new Ferrari F12.
Over the next week or so, I’ll be taking a closer look at the latest incarnation of the vicious snake. But in the meantime, see what members are saying in the forum, and enjoy the video below!
 

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"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.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

   

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