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January 9, 2007

2008 Dodge Viper SRT10

New 8.4-litre V10 pumps out 600 horsepower but meets LEV emissions standards!

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Detroit, Michigan - With an additional 90 horsepower from its new 8.4-litre V10 engine, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 demonstrates once again that there is no replacement for displacement in this quintessential American sports car.

"A legendary big-game hunter once said, 'Bring enough gun!' - and with the new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10, we've created some very powerful artillery for sports-car enthusiasts," said Kipp Owen, Director - Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Engineering, Chrysler Group. "With 600 horsepower - 90 more than before - and 0 - 60 mph performance in less than four seconds, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 sets a new benchmark for the ultimate American sports car."

Though fuel economy was not mentioned, Owen indicated the monster engine does comply with stringent emissions requirements: federal Tier 2, Bin 5, and California's Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) 2 mandates.

The Viper SRT10's deep-skirted V10 aluminum engine block was revised with a 1-millimetre larger bore, raising the displacement to 8.4 litres from 8.3 litres. With strengthened bulkheads and improved water jackets for better cooling, the block includes pressed-in iron cylinder liners and cross-bolted main bearing caps for strength and durability. The 8.4-litre engine breathes through new cylinder heads equipped with CNC-shaped combustion chambers, larger valves and Variable Valve Timing (VVT). VVT electronically adjusts when the exhaust valves open and close according to engine speed and load, allowing the engine to breathe cleaner and more efficiently.

To handle the increased horsepower and torque levels (now 560 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm), the 2008 Viper SRT10 includes a new clutch, transmission, and brakes.

Its new, smaller-diameter, twin-disc clutch (a change from the previous larger-diameter, single-disc setup) reduces rotating inertia by 18 per cent, resulting in reduced clutch-pedal effort and improved engagement feel.

The transmission is the latest evolution of the Tremec T56 six-speed manual. It features 10 per cent wider gears for higher torque capacity and a new synchronizer package. A new shifter system results in reduced shifter travel. Club racers will appreciate a new provision for adding an external transmission cooler. At the rear is a tried-and-true Dana M44-4 rear axle outfitted with a new GKN Visco-Lok speed-sensing limited-slip differential for improved traction.

Stopping power is another key attribute of the new Dodge Viper SRT10 with 14-inch brake rotors gripped by Brembo 44/40 dual opposing piston calipers in the front and Brembo 42/38 dual opposing calipers in the rear. An Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) prevents lockup during hard braking. This system results in a benchmark braking performance of 60-0 mph in less than 100 feet.

The Viper continues to offer a fully independent suspension featuring lightweight, high-performance aluminum control arms and knuckles, damped by lightweight coil-over shock absorbers. The Dodge Viper SRT10 rides on polished, forged aluminum, 18x10-inch front and 19x13-inch rear wheels now available in three styles: the five-spoke, the H-spoke and an all-new Razor wheel with five U-shaped spokes. Tires are Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 performance radials.

The 2008 Viper SRT10 continues to be available in two body styles - convertible Roadster and hardtop Coupe. Both feature a new hood with a larger, more efficient hood scoop for air induction and larger, functional hood louvers to facilitate greater cooling effect. There are several exterior differences between the Roadster and Coupe: the only body panels they share are front fascia and fenders, hood and doors. The Coupe's hardtop with its double bubble styling makes it more torsionally stiff than the Roadster and it offers increased downforce and high-speed stability with its sloping roofline and deck-lid spoiler. As well, the Coupe has an additional 6.25 cubic feet (177 litres) of trunk space for a total of 14.65 cubic feet (415 litres). The roof and headliner structure offer more room to accommodate a safety cage, while maintaining as much headroom as possible.

The Viper's cockpit retains its characteristic red push-button starter and performance-oriented, highly functional instrument panel with centre-mounted tachometer and 350 km/h speedometer.

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Roadster and Coupe will arrive in Dodge showrooms in North America this summer. Pricing was not announced.

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