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Dodge Viper "DNA of a Supercar" Ad Isn't Completely Honest

When the first generation Dodge Viper came around back in 1992, there were two main reactions from the automotive media and that era's car aficionados: "Is that a Ram pickup truck motor under the bonnet? Why doesn't this car come with A/C?" and "Oh my God! 400 HP from 8 liters displacement and 10 cylinders? F U, 1992 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1!"
2015.5 Dodge Viper SRT 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
Truth be told, air con became standard in 1994 and that 8-liter V10 mill was reportedly developed together with Lamborghini, which was partly owned by Chrysler during that era. Then there's the sheer grunt of the motor, which was nothing short of a revelation for the '90s American sportscar scene.

However, there's something I don't like about the original Viper

As most enthusiasts of the four-wheeled snake can remember, the original RT/10 lacked any elementary driving aids. From my point of view, a vehicle so powerful, kept together by a chassis that was reportedly developed in a shed, is a pain in the rear to drive normally without amenities such as anti-lock brakes. History lesson over, so let's move on to the 2015.5 Viper SRT and an all new ad of the venomous snake.

The Hollywood blockbuster trailer-like narrator says that the Viper "wasn't birthed for the masses" and that "ordinary isn't in its DNA." Wait, what? I repeat - modified V10 engine taken from a Dodge Ram pickup truck engine. Furthermore, the 1992 Viper's price of $50,000 is not "for the masses" if you consider that a 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera coupe held an MSRP of $63,900.

But there's another detail which bugs me greatly about this new Viper video ad

"Attention to detail and meticulous handcrafting" is applicable to the 2015.5 model year, but the original… let's just say that life in plastic isn't too fantastic. Nevertheless, the mistakes of the past have been successfully solved with the current fifth-gen Viper, including the previously too hefty sticker price.

On a final note, the narrator tells us that "the road will never be the same" for those brave enough to hop in the driver's seat of the 8.4-liter all-aluminum V10-engined snake. We completely agree with that. As we pointed out in our review of the Dodge Viper SRT, this bad boy "used to be a fetish and the supercar has maintained this state, but it is now consensual. A much-needed asset for what is America's finest supercar."

Editor's note: pause at 01:35 and look up. What's that street's name? #LOL

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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