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The Dodge Viper is a V10 -powered sportscar manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler Corporation . Production of the two seat Supercar began at New Mack Assembly in 1992 and moved to its current home at Conner Avenue Assembly in October 1995. The car, as well as numerous variations of it, have made countless appearances in TV shows, videogames, movies, and music videos. DEVELOPMENT The Viper was conceived as a futuristic take on the classic American musclar Sports Car . While there are some who insist that the iconic AC Cobra was a source of inspiration, the final version of the Viper was far too large and heavy to seriously claim any direct lineage with the compact and lightweight vehicle. Most saw claims to kinship with the Cobra as a Marketing exercise, although Carroll Shelby was involved in the initial design of the Viper. Notably, the Viper took many design cues from the Shelby Cobra Daytona. The Viper was initially conceived in late 1988 at Chrysler's Advanced Design Studios. The following February, Chrysler president Bob Lutz suggested to Tom Gale at Chrysler Design that the company should consider producing a modern Cobra, and a clay model was presented to Lutz a few months later. The car appeared as a Concept at the North American International Auto Show in 1989. This concept vehicle was originally named Copperhead because of its low, wide appearance characteristic of reptiles. The name would later be changed to Viper. Public reaction was so enthusiastic, that chief engineer Roy Sjeoberg was directed to develop it as a standard Production Vehicle . Sjoberg selected 85 engineers to be "Team Viper", with development beginning in March 1989. The team asked the then-Chrysler subsidiary Lamborghini to cast some prototype aluminum blocks based on their V10 truck engine for sports car use in May. The production body was completed in the fall, with a chassis prototype running in December. Though a V8 was first used in the Test Mule , the V10, which the production car was meant to use, was ready in February 1990. Official approval from Chrysler chairman, Lee Iacocca , came in May 1990. One year later, Carroll Shelby piloted a Pre-production Car as the Pace Vehicle in the Indianapolis 500 race. In November 1991, the car was released to reviewers with first retail shipments beginning in January 1992. FIRST GENERATION SR (1992–1995)
The first prototype was tested in December 1989. It debuted in 1991 with two Pre-production Models as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500 when Dodge was forced to substitute it in place of the Japan ese-built Stealth due to complaints from the UAW , and went on sale in January 1992 as the soft roofed ''RT/10 Roadster''. The centerpiece of the car was its Engine . Originally designed for a truck platform and based on the Chrysler LA Design , a division of the Chrysler Corporation revamped Dodge's Cast-iron block V10 for the Viper by recasting the block and head in Aluminum Alloy . Some within Chrysler felt the Pushrod two-valve design, while adequate for the truck application, was unsuitable for a performance car and suggested a more comprehensive redesign which would have included four valves per cylinder. Chrysler, however, was uncertain about the Viper's production costs and sales potential and so declined to provide the budget for the modification. The engine produced 400 hp (298 kW) at 4600 rpm and 465 ft·lbf (630 N·m) of torque at 3600 rpm, and thanks to the long-gearing allowed by the torquey engine, provided surprising fuel economy at a claimed 21 mpg US (11.2 L/100 km) if driven sedately. The body was a tubular Steel frame with resin transfer molding (RTM) Fiberglass panels. Much of the suspension, following the manufacturer's "engine first" mantra, was sourced from the Dodge Dakota Pickup . Typical of American performance car design, it had a Front-mounted Engine Driving The Rear Wheels ; it was also very light in respect to modern Ferrari's with a curb weight of 3,280 lb (1,488 kg) and lacked many modern driver aids such as Traction Control or Anti-lock Brakes . Car And Driver magazine referred to this generation as "the world's biggest Fat Boy Harley ", and likened driving it to "playing ping pong with a Louisville Slugger baseball bat." Despite this, in straight line performance, it completed a quarter mile in 12.6 seconds and had a maximum speed of over 180 mph. The car was also devoid of any real luxuries. Along with the absence of exterior door handles, the vehicle lacked windows and even a roof. Although a soft top cover was available, it was designed primarily for outdoor vehicle storage. In terms of interior space, the trunk was large enough for the rain cover and little else. Chrysler's purpose for the vehicle was clear in almost every aspect of its construction; from the unyielding bolstering of the seats to the side-exit exhaust that came with its own disclaimer against passenger injury. Performance came first, creature comforts last (if at all). '''Performance: ''' 0-60: 4.6 sec. 0-100: 9.1 sec. quarter mile: 12.6 sec. @ 119 mph top speed: 180+ (confirmed by Road and Track magazine / 1992) 700 ft slalom: over 65 mph skidpad average g: .96 SECOND GENERATION SR (1996–2002)
A Coupe model called the ''GTS'' was also introduced in 1996. Dubbed "dubble bubble", the roof featured slightly raised sections above each seat to accommodate usage of helmets, a throwback to its intended purpose. Indeed, the Viper's performance has made the vehicle popular for both amateur and professional racers. Vipers can be seen participating often in Drag Racing , Road Racing and Drifting . The ''GTS'', like its predecessor, was chosen as the pace car for the 1996 Indianapolis 500 . Second generation models were upgraded bringing increased engine power, an improved suspension, and reduced braking distances; the 1996 to 2002 Viper GTS had a 450 bhp (336 KW ) engine, which could complete the quarter mile 0.7 seconds faster and increased top speed by 35 Km/h (22 Mph ) or so. Along with the updated performance came the inclusion of some of the "luxuries" the car did without before. Dual front airbags were added to the vehicle's safety equipment list in 1997 as mandated by the government. The car was also exported to Europe, where it was rebadged as a Chrysler, and sold under this marque from 1997 to 2003. In the first six years of production almost 10,000 Vipers were sold. The second generation Vipers were exported to Europe , where they were sold as Chryslers. Minor evolutionary changes including new 18" diameter wheels were introduced in the 1999 model. Subsequent versions featured light-weight Hypereutectic Pistons and an improved exhaust system. 1999 saw the introduction of the Cognac Connolly interior package. Continuing the refinements, an ABS system was introduced in 2001. In 2002, the end of second generation production was celebrated with the release of 360 commemorative "Final Edition" models. These models were painted red with white stripes, paying tribute to the famous race-winning Oreca cars. Performance (GTS): 0-60: 4.0 sec. 0-100: 8.6 sec. quarter mile: 12.2 sec @ 118 mph top speed: 190+ mph (again proven by Road and Track magazine) slalom: 71.3 mph skidpad average g: .98 THIRD GENERATION ZB (2003-2006)
The Dodge Viper underwent a major redesign in 2003, courtesy of DaimlerChrysler's Street And Racing Technology group. The new Viper SRT-10 was heavily restyled with sharp, angled bodywork. The engine was enlarged to 8.3 L which, with other upgrades, combined to increased output to 500 hp (373 kW) and 525 ft·lbf (711 N·m) of torque. The chassis was also improved. It became more rigid and weighed approximately 80 lbs less than the previous model. The initial model was a convertible. In 2004, Dodge introduced a limited edition Mamba package. Mamba edition cars featured black interiors, with red stitching and trim and saw their MSRP price rise by roughly $3000. 200 Mambas were produced. The new Viper SRT-10 Coupe was introduced in 2005, at the Detroit Auto Show , as a 2006 model. It shares many of its body panels with the convertible but takes its side and rear styling cues from the Competition Coupe. The new coupe looks much like the previous Viper GTS and retains the "double-bubble" roof shape of the original, along with the original GTS's taillights as well offering the original Viper Blue paint scheme with white stripes (referred to as GTS Blue) for an added homage to the original Viper coupe. The engine was also certified by the SAE to produce 510 hp and 535 lb/ft of torque. It is important to note that the engine makes the same power as before, only the numerical value of the power was changed. Unlike the original coupe, the chassis was not modified. This made the new coupe heavier than the convertible, and thus slightly slower in low speed acceleration. Handling and high speed performance were improved by the coupe's stiffer frame, reduced drag, and increased downforce. No 2007 model Vipers were produced. Instead, Chrysler chose to give the 2006 model an extended run while preparing the updated 2008 model. 2008 For 2008, Viper will get a 90hp bump up to 600hp and a 25lbft torque bump up to 560lb-ft from a displacement increased up to 8.4 liters (510ci/8354cc), better flowing heads with larger valves, variable valve timing on the exhaust cam and dual throttle bodies. The development of the engine was done with help from ''''' recently tested the car and got a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, a 0-100 mph time of 7.6 seconds and a Quarter Mile-time of 11.6 seconds at 126 mph. {Link without Title} Manufacturer's claims for top speed are 197 mph and 202 mph, for the Roadster and Coupe respectively. Car and Driver also tested the Viper's track performance, and managed a fast sub 3 minute lap time around Virginia International Raceway. The Viper's time, despite hot weather, was faster than the Corvette Z06, Ford GT, Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 GT3, Audi R8, and other such cars. According to Car and Driver and Motortrend, the car's slightly adjusted suspension setup and new diff gave it cornering ability as sharp as before with even better control, feedback, and response. EUROPE The second generation Viper was exported to Europe, where it was sold as a Chrysler Viper. The third generation Viper has been sold in Europe since 2004, the first model to be sold as a Dodge, as part of Chrysler's new sales strategy for the European market. Although referred to as a '''Viper''', it is sold as the '''Dodge SRT-10''', as the Viper name is a registered trademark in the UK. {Link without Title} Prodrive currently handles the importation and modification of Vipers to meet European laws. VARIANTS Copperhead See Also: Dodge Copperhead The Dodge Copperhead was a concept car based on the Viper platform that was intended as a cheaper, more nimble sportscar. It was powered by a V6 engine instead of the Viper's V10. It never reached production. Viper GT2 In order to meet homologation requirements as well as to celebrate Chrysler winning the 1997 FIA GT2 Class Championship , 100 modified Viper GT2 Championship Edition street legal cars were sold. These upgraded GTS cars were rated at 460 hp (343 kW) and 500 Ft·lbf (678 N·m) of Torque . It featured bodywork aesthetically similar to the GTS-R with its paint job, aerodynamics package, and visual options in order to publicize the Viper's achievement in the FIA GT Championship . {Link without Title} . Viper ACR The American Club Racing (ACR) model was introduced in 1999. This model featured suspension and engine enhancements focused on maximizing performance in road racing and autocross environments. Horsepower was bumped to 460 bhp in these models. Along with engine and handling mods, these models are distinguished by an "ACR" badge, along with 20 spoke BBS wheels. Viper Mopar ]] A prototype 2008 Mopar Viper Coupe appeared at the 2007 North American International Auto Show . There are currently no plans for production, but parts from this car are available for sale through Mopar. AWARDS
MOTORSPORTS Following the release of the Viper in 1992, several North American and European teams attempted to race Viper RT/10s. Based on production cars and using an added roof for rigidity, the cars were not able to perform as hoped. Although they were never officially backed by Dodge, they got the company interested in developing a fully-backed race car by time the second generation Viper was under development. Viper GTS-R See Also: Chrysler Viper GTS-R Based on the Viper GTS, the GTS-R was launched in late 1995 as an attempt to prove the capabilities of the Viper design worldwide, although the racing programs would mostly concentrate on Europe. Using such production engine components as the block, cylinder heads, and crankshaft, Dodge engineers were able to extract up to 750 hp from the normally 450 hp second generation 8.0 L V10 engine. The chassis was re-engineered from the ground up by British sports manufacturer Reynard Motorsport 's Special Projects Division under chief engineer Paul Brown, while Oreca would assemble and maintain the racing cars. The car made its competition debut in the 1996 24 Hours Of Daytona with Canaska Racing , followed by Oreca in the BPR Global GT Series . Oreca would go on to take most of the success with the Viper, winning the FIA GT Championship three times, 24 Hours Of Le Mans class wins three times, and an overall win at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2000. Following the end of official factory support for the program in 2001, Vipers have been used by privateer teams with much success. Viper GTS-Rs continued to be used competitively even into 2007 . Viper Competition Coupe .]] As of 2003, a special, non-street legal Viper SRT-10 Competition Coupe is available from Dodge for race car drivers, picking up where the GTS-R racing variant left off. The power and torque ratings have been improved, along with the vehicle being stripped of anything not essential for racing, such as the interior body panels, carpet, instrumentation, air conditioning, and stereo systems which lightened the car by 380 lb (170 kg). The Competition Coupe comes equipped with a full roll cage, a Racing Fuel Cell , and other racing-related equipment. It is not sold through dealers and is purchased from Dodge directly as, essentially, a very expensive race car component. Pricing is approximately US$139,000. The Viper Competition Coupe sees action in the highly competitive SCCA Speed GT World Challenge . In 2004 Samuel Hubinette used a Competition Coupe with a modified rear axle for the Formula D , in which he won the title before the car was barred by the end of the season (due to the fact FD would adopt D1 Grand Prix regulations from the following year which had already prohibited the car from competing) and was replaced by an SRT-10 the following season. After a few one-off entries in the Spa 24 Hours , from 2006, the Viper Competition Coupe raced in Europe fulltime for the first time, joining the new FIA GT3 European Championship with the Italian team Racing Box. At the end of the year, Oreca announced the development of a package transforming the car to GT2 regulations in national championships. Achievements
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