The 2008 Dodge Viper: Now In Extra Spicy, With 600 BHP

[YSSMAN]

Bawhahahahahahaha!!!

Chrysler has revealed the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 — a more powerful version of its popular two-seat sports cars. It will arrive in Dodge showrooms in North America this summer. The SRT model gains an additional 90 horsepower from the new 8.4-liter powerplant, for a total of 600 hp and 560 lb.-ft. of torque.

Zero to 60 mph takes under four seconds, and 0-100-0 mph is completed in just over 12 seconds. The Viper SRT10's 8.4-liter engine breathes through new cylinder heads equipped with CNC-machhined combustion chambers, larger valves and Variable Valve Timing (VVT). VVT electronically adjusts when the exhaust valves are open and closed according to engine speed and load.

The Viper SRT10's V10 channels its power through a new, smaller-diameter, twin-disc clutch. The transmission is the latest evolution of the Tremec T56 six-speed manual, known as the TR6060. It features 10 percent wider gears for higher torque capacity and a new synchronizer package. Stopping power is another key attribute of the Dodge Viper SRT10 formula, with 14-inch brake rotors gripped by Brembo dual opposing calipers, good for 60-to-0 mph in less than 100 feet.

Hmmm, sounds very good, doesn't it? I know I haven't always been the biggest fan of the Viper, but this kinda changes that just a bit. With 600 BHP on tap, this thing should be a monster. Que the 1812 Overture, because this car is going to be exploding all-over the Europeans, however it may become a fight to the death against the lighter (but less powerful) Z06.

...My only problem is that they didn't fix the interior...

 

[TS]

The SRT model gains an additional 90 horsepower from the new 8.4-liter powerplant, for a total of 600 hp and 560 lb.-ft. of torque.

 

[McLaren]

It's Bacckkk!


600Hp!?

Shove that in your face Chevy and eat it. Now, let's hope this bad boy can handle even better.

 

[Keef]

R&T says the engines Dodge is working on at the moment are u to about 580hp, with room for improvment. Let's just says the engines will have over 580hp.

McLaren, better handling would be amazing. Right now the Viper is easier to drive than a z06 on a track, is more predictable, and more stable. It also is one of the best braking cars on the planet. Hopefully the new transmission won't be as beastly on your arm.

 

[McLaren]

Hey YSSMAN, do you think Chevrolet will finally announce the Blue Devil/Stingray/whateveritisnow?

And what about Ford? Their GT is gone, leaving a giant gap.

 

[Keef]

Hey, what's up with the single picture of the Convertible without foglights (on LLN)? I've never heard of an option to exclude foglights. Order mine witout 'em!

 

[Dave A]

It's Bacckkk!


600Hp!?

Shove that in your face Chevy and eat it. Now, let's hope this bad boy can handle even better.

Sadly there's absolutely no mention of improving the cars handling or balance in that article. Which I say sadly because that's the kind of tweaks that should have priority over power hikes. 600bhp is nice and all, but if it's riding on the same setup as the current one, then it might not be such a good thing. Not that the Vipers a bad handling car, it's not. It's just already teeting on the edge of out of control, composure is not the Vipers strong point, it has tonnes of grip sure, but the second that grip dissapears the cars gone too. A bit like a TVR, but a TVR does that with less power, less weight, less engine and all the while imo, being an infinitely cooler car to look at and listen to imo. I do like Vipers, I'd just never own one.

 

[Race Idiot]

Sadly there's absolutely no mention of improving the cars handling or balance in that article. Which I say sadly because that's the kind of tweaks that should have priority over power hikes. 600bhp is nice and all, but if it's riding on the same setup as the current one, then it might not be such a good thing. Not that the Vipers a bad handling car, it's not. It's just already teeting on the edge of out of control, composure is not the Vipers strong point, it has tonnes of grip sure, but the second that grip dissapears the cars gone too. A bit like a TVR, but a TVR does that with less power, less weight, less engine and all the while imo, being an infinitely cooler car to look at and listen to imo. I do like Vipers, I'd just never own one.

Well the good old viper had an awesome racing programme, remember the old chamberlin and oreca vipers dominating the GT racing series in europe a while back? Maybe they are planning to do something like that with this new viper?

Also who are these cars main buyers going to be? I suppose in america most of them are just going to be dragraced anyway so I doubt most of the people care how it goes around corneres iono. If I was looking for an expensive trackday toy i'd probably spring for something a bit more ballanced myself. Although god just give me the old style gts or gts-r ones please, because these new ones look like the old vipers fatter cousin whos been eating all the pies and has got a little doughy around the edges iono.

 

[Dave A]

Well the good old viper had an awesome racing programme, remember the old chamberlin and oreca vipers dominating the GT racing series in europe a while back? Maybe they are planning to do something like that with this new viper?

I do indeed, they were monsters on the track thoes cars, I used to love watching them battling with the Listers.

 

[Poverty]

lol you guys wont want to hear what I think about listsers


I hope this car kicks Z06 butt. (then that could force GM to make a 600hp sports car of their own)

As for the europeans I dont think any major manufacturer will make a car to compete with the Z06 or viper. Power wise or performance wise they might, but not price wise. Fun fact though is that the next Seat Leon Cupra R will be available with 300 or thereabouts HP.! Half that of the viper for 24grand

 

[ND4SPD]

One of my favourite cars of all time just got better. Time to take on Z06's! So, is this 600hp viper gonna be the standard HP for all the vipers? Or is this some sort of upgraded version available, sort of like the Z06 to a normal C6 vette?

 

[Vonie]

The Viper always seemed to be an exception to the rules. I doesn't matter if it will kill you in a fiery inferno or get you impaled on a lamp post, it's just so bad ass that it's OK. It doesn't need to have "composure" or "balance" or any of that crap.

 

[Tornado]

So, they bored the engine out again? Such a shame. I've always wanted a nutjob rev happy crazy Viper. I don't think it will ever happen, will it?
Also, if the old Viper lost some weight, it already would have been a better match for the Z06...so sad.

 

[Dave A]

lol you guys wont want to hear what I think about listsers

Do you know anything about Listers?

As for the europeans I dont think any major manufacturer will make a car to compete with the Z06 or viper. Power wise or performance wise they might, but not price wise.

We already veat them both performance wise, but price to performance wise we only beat the Viper. Though how you define performance will vary from person to person, some people may consider road performance to be of much higher value than track performance, like me. You can get a car that's faster than the Z06 for about 10 grand more in the UK or a car that's not quite as fast for a bout 10 grand less. Both beat the Vipers price. But then you had to throw in major manufacturers, well since discounting Ford, there arn't many major manufacturers outside of the Daimler Chrysler group and GM, that's a pretty moot point. There's Ford Europe and VAG who can stand up to GM over here, but I don't think they're remotely interested in trying to out price a couple of cars that sell in the handfulls each year over here.

 

[eg6_dude]

A little less weight would go a long way. 👍 It had enough power before to do some serious damage. So instead of reducing the weight the morons at Dodge decided to add more power, typical american thinking! Wait....I'm American!

Actually on a side note I think that all most all new cars are getting to big and way to heavy. Very few new cars are a hoot to drive, and even fewer give you that lightweight sensation that older cars give you. For example My 1992 Civic Hatch (EG) weighs around 2050 lbs. stock. A 2000 Civic SI here weighed around 2700 lbs. stock and a 2006 Civic SI weighs 3100 lbs. stock.

WEIGHT IS THE ENEMY!

 

[Tornado]

Do you know anything about Listers?

I was under the assumption that there was only one model of Lister, that model being the Storm. I really wouldn't think that 6 cars would be enough to base a definitive opinion on their quality in relation to a model with far higher production numbers.

We already veat them both performance wise, but price to performance wise we only beat the Viper. Though how you define performance will vary from person to person, some people may consider road performance to be of much higher value than track performance, like me. You can get a car that's faster than the Z06 for about 10 grand more in the UK or a car that's not quite as fast for a bout 10 grand less. Both beat the Vipers price.

Is that based on U.K. price of the cars, U.S. price of the cars, or some 3rd party country's price of the car. I know that TVR's cost less than Corvette's in the U.K.

 

[Poverty]

Does TVR stil count seeing as they might be going into admininstarion. If the governemnt allows TVR to die I will cry. They helped MG-rover and that was a definite lost cause.

 

[Dave A]

TVR arn't the only company who make a car faster than the Viper for less than the Viper sells here. The Noble M15 costs slightly less, and that's quicker, infact that's comparable to the Z06 for track performance. The M12 GTO-R is notably cheaper but not as quick as the M15, it's a much more even comparison to the Viper on a track as is the Morgan Aero 8 which is cheaper than the Z06 and the BMW Z4M, both similar in track performance to the Viper. As for TVR counting, are they currently in business, yes. But faster and cheaper than the Z06, other than track day cars I haven't thought of any yet.

Toronado, it's based on European prices, not US.

 

[McLaren]

Sadly there's absolutely no mention of improving the cars handling or balance in that article. Which I say sadly because that's the kind of tweaks that should have priority over power hikes. 600bhp is nice and all, but if it's riding on the same setup as the current one, then it might not be such a good thing. Not that the Vipers a bad handling car, it's not. It's just already teeting on the edge of out of control, composure is not the Vipers strong point, it has tonnes of grip sure, but the second that grip dissapears the cars gone too. A bit like a TVR, but a TVR does that with less power, less weight, less engine and all the while imo, being an infinitely cooler car to look at and listen to imo. I do like Vipers, I'd just never own one.

This is the first report. And the Viper already is a great handling car. Just read the reviews of it against the Z06. Everyone claimed the Viper was more responsive to the driver and that Z06 was twitchy around the tracks.

This being the new model, it should be obvious that Dodge will improve upon the most important aspects including a better way to keep the cabin cool.

 

[Dave A]

True, don't get me worng, I really like the Viper as a car, it's big, it's brutal, it'll cave your head in the second your respect for it lapses. It's a car that makes almost zero sense, it's fantastic. But I'd have thought that a revised chassis setup would be something they'd like to point out early.

As for the Viper being described as better and more responsive than a Z06, I don't know, all the reviews over here praise the Vette on the track, and generally criticise the Viper, often loving it overall, but they all said that the Viper was far from composed.

Just different views form different markets perhaps.

 

[McLaren]

True, don't get me worng, I really like the Viper as a car, it's big, it's brutal, it'll cave your head in the second your respect for it lapses. It's a car that makes almost zero sense, it's fantastic. But I'd have thought that a revised chassis setup would be something they'd like to point out early.

Sounds like Lamborghini. Maybe that's why I like the Viper.

As for the Viper being described as better and more responsive than a Z06, I don't know, all the reviews over here praise the Vette on the track, and generally criticise the Viper, often loving it overall, but they all said that the Viper was far from composed.

Just different views form different markets perhaps.

I've heard about the UK magazines doing that. But is the UK Viper any different from America's?

 

[Dave A]

Other than it not being called the Viper, theres no difference I know of.

 

[Eric.]

This is the first report. And the Viper already is a great handling car. Just read the reviews of it against the Z06. Everyone claimed the Viper was more responsive to the driver and that Z06 was twitchy around the tracks.

This being the new model, it should be obvious that Dodge will improve upon the most important aspects including a better way to keep the cabin cool.

Motor Trend said that they did fix the heat problems that the sidepipes were causing. They also smoothed out the idle from the last model.

Edit: L4S, I thought it was still called a Viper there, but was instead a Chrysler Viper?

 

[Dave A]

The first one was, but there was a row over the rights to use the Viper name on a car and between them stopping officially selling the first one here and starting to officially sell the new one, they lost the right to call thier car the Viper. It's a legal thing not a marketing move, which the change from calling it a Chrysler to a Dodge was. The new one is just called the Dodge SRT-10 over here.

 

[Keef]

Originally Posted by L4S
As for the Viper being described as better and more responsive than a Z06, I don't know, all the reviews over here praise the Vette on the track, and generally criticise the Viper, often loving it overall, but they all said that the Viper was far from composed.

Just different views form different markets perhaps.

Must be different markets. All four of the big mags over here agree that the Z06 will usually beat an SRT10 around a track, because it will. But you feel on the edge of death the whole time because the car is a little too excited to be winning. It's a bit tail happy, and just twitchy. The Viper is slower, but has more grip and better brakes, with less twitchyness and more predictablility, creating more confidence and allowing you to brake harder and mash the gas out sooner. I don't know about driving ergonomics or ease, but the car's ability inspires more confidence.


And besides boring the engine a few centimeters, Dodge has also designed a new cam that allows variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust, larger valves with hollow stems for higher rpm (possibly also for better durability if the redline hasn't changed), higher compression of 10.2:1 versus 9.6:1 (they've finally matched my 10 year old Honda!), and the dual-airgate intake plenum and headers have been tuned for better flow with the crossover pipe behind the seats being removed. A smaller twin-disc clutch has replaced the old single, while the Tremec T56 transmission has been changed to their new TR6060, which has triple cone synchronizers for 1st and 2nd gear and double cones for 3-6, versus double and single, respectively. There is a new viscous-coupling LSD replacincg the old unit.

 

[JCE]

Bawhahahahahahaha!!!

Hmmm, sounds very good, doesn't it? I know I haven't always been the biggest fan of the Viper, but this kinda changes that just a bit. With 600 BHP on tap, this thing should be a monster. Que the 1812 Overture, because this car is going to be exploding all-over the Europeans, however it may become a fight to the death against the lighter (but less powerful) Z06.

...My only problem is that they didn't fix the interior...

It's Bacckkk!


600Hp!?

Shove that in your face Chevy and eat it. Now, let's hope this bad boy can handle even better.

I think I like the upgrades. But the interior is still the same, we all should except the fact that it will always have a rubbish interior.

R&T says the engines Dodge is working on at the moment are u to about 580hp, with room for improvment. Let's just says the engines will have over 580hp.

McLaren, better handling would be amazing. Right now the Viper is easier to drive than a z06 on a track, is more predictable, and more stable. It also is one of the best braking cars on the planet. Hopefully the new transmission won't be as beastly on your arm.

I honestly think the differences in the reviews of the ZO6 vs Viper come down to the drivers driving them. I don't think one is worse than the other on a track as far as handling. Power is another story, the ZO6 wins.

Hey YSSMAN, do you think Chevrolet will finally announce the Blue Devil/Stingray/whateveritisnow?

And what about Ford? Their GT is gone, leaving a giant gap.

Ford's solution, come up with something on the s197 platform (Mustang, Lincoln LS, etc) and use the Triton V10 with some tuning geared towards horsepower instead of torque. Oh, and a Eaton supercharger would go nicely on that V10.

I hope this car kicks Z06 butt. (then that could force GM to make a 600hp sports car of their own)

As for the europeans I dont think any major manufacturer will make a car to compete with the Z06 or viper. Power wise or performance wise they might, but not price wise. Fun fact though is that the next Seat Leon Cupra R will be available with 300 or thereabouts HP.! Half that of the viper for 24grand

Agreed, I hope this Viper forces GM to make the Vette even better! Can America please get some Seats? Including the Cupra R? kthx

My approval rating of the new Viper: 90%

Everyone here knows how much I dislike Chrysler and the Viper for being way too overpriced. If the new Viper keeps the same pricetag as the previous one I think 600bhp with some good track performance for $85~90k isn't such a bad deal after all.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

I concur that the Viper hasn't really needed any work in the handling department (aside from a better tire construction. I've always felt that a good set of Hoosiers would really wake up the Viper more than any shock revalving), and I don't think it really needs any weight pulled out. It has a very low center of gravity, and Mister V10 is never taxed by the weight.

The current Viper has a stirling competition history in both Speed World Challenge and now in the FIA GT3 category, so its chassis is obviously not a problem. If I had any complaints about the Viper, it'd be the barndoor front end that's compromised its topend potential.

Although the huge grille-opening does keep the Viper from boiling over in city driving, like some other exotics are prone to doing.

 

[V1P3R]

Love it!

 

[a6m5]

Dang, that thing's ugly. Dodge should have sent the Viper to the plastic surgeon instead of the gym. Previous generation Viper was one of my favorite exotics. Sexy, sexy car.

 

[Keef]

Dang, that thing's ugly. Dodge should have sent the Viper to the plastic surgeon instead of the gym. Previous generation Viper was one of my favorite exotics. Sexy, sexy car.

Plastic surgeon? It already is plastic! I personally think the new coupe is the meanest (read: appropriate) looking Viper to date. There's a picture of this car on LLN that shows it without foglights, and it looks fantastic. Finally, a Viper without foglights!

EDIT: I just realized the pictured Viper has new tires. Goodbye old Pilot Sports, hello new Pilot Sport PS2s!