We’ve just watched a very entertaining SRT front man Ralph Gilles as he unveiled the 2013 Viper. It’s still a car for the fans, built by a relatively small team, but the improvements sound awesome.
The snake is back for 2013 with a mighty bite. It’s got 640 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque from a 8.4-liter V10. This thing is not only 40 hp more potent, but also a veritable torque monster. Redline is 6,200 rpm, and fuel shuts off at 6,400 rpm. The top speed is now 206 mph, and the car even has launch control. Dump the clutch and you’re off like a beast.
“The SRT Viper model is meant to offer a perfect blend of extreme performance and a deliberate preservation of what has become the iconic DNA of the Viper,” Gilles added. “We strove to deliver a supercar that continues to bring the driver as close as possible to the machine.”
Like the Porsche 911, styling is evolutionary not revolutionary. Inspiration comes from the second generation model of 1996, but it’s also thoroughly modern with 21 LEDs in the headlights and 51 in the taillights. Headlights are designed after a snake’s eyes and the body... a naked woman on the beach, or at least that’s what Gilles said last year.
The base chassis is high-strength steel with a magnesium strengthening frame. Aluminum is used for the doors and sills, while carbon fiber is the material of choice for the hood, roof, decklid and brake ducts.
“We’ve purposely evolved the iconic soul and raw performance formula that Viper has maintained over the years,” Gilles said. “Our returning customers will see the world-class levels of pride, quality and hand craftsmanship built into the 2013 Viper. With two price classes of the SRT Viper and SRT Viper GTS, we have offerings for both the traditional core Viper customer and for the new customer who wants the same performance in a package with more technology and premium creature comforts.”
“The SRT Viper model is meant to offer a perfect blend of extreme performance and a deliberate preservation of what has become the iconic DNA of the Viper,” Gilles added. “We strove to deliver a supercar that continues to bring the driver as close as possible to the machine.”
Like the Porsche 911, styling is evolutionary not revolutionary. Inspiration comes from the second generation model of 1996, but it’s also thoroughly modern with 21 LEDs in the headlights and 51 in the taillights. Headlights are designed after a snake’s eyes and the body... a naked woman on the beach, or at least that’s what Gilles said last year.
The base chassis is high-strength steel with a magnesium strengthening frame. Aluminum is used for the doors and sills, while carbon fiber is the material of choice for the hood, roof, decklid and brake ducts.
“We’ve purposely evolved the iconic soul and raw performance formula that Viper has maintained over the years,” Gilles said. “Our returning customers will see the world-class levels of pride, quality and hand craftsmanship built into the 2013 Viper. With two price classes of the SRT Viper and SRT Viper GTS, we have offerings for both the traditional core Viper customer and for the new customer who wants the same performance in a package with more technology and premium creature comforts.”
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