LAIAS: Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR

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LAIAS: Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR







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• Dodge delivers ultimate purpose-built, street-legal track car
• 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10® ACR offers reduced weight, race-ready hardware and competition tuning for optimal on-track performance
• Aerodynamic improvements, racing suspension and weight savings equal unmatched performance for under $100,000

Auburn Hills, Mich., Nov 9, 2007 - Dodge announced today that the all-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10® ACR — short for American Club Racer — will make its public debut at next week's Los Angeles Auto Show. The latest addition to Chrysler LLC's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) family of performance vehicles, the all-new, 600 horsepower 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is a street-legal Viper engineered to dominate on the race track. Because it is street legal, die-hard Viper and track enthusiasts can drive their car to the race track, run it at top speed on the track and then drive it home.

"With the all-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, SRT has taken the ultimate American sports car and injected it with an extra dose of racing DNA," said Mike Accavitti, Director - Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing and Communications, Chrysler LLC. "With the Viper SRT10 as the starting point, SRT engineered a combination of reduced weight, race-tuned suspension and aerodynamic improvements to create the ultimate Viper for the street and track."
Derived from the all-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10, the heart and soul of the all-new 2008 Viper SRT10 ACR is SRT's new 8.4-liter aluminum V-10 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. of torque.
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR stays true to the five key aspects of SRT: standout powertrain, bold exterior styling, race-inspired interior, benchmark braking and world-class ride and handling characteristics across a dynamic range.

Bold Exterior Styling
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR exterior styling cues offer not only bold aesthetics, but functional benefits on the track. These include a variable geometry "fanged" front splitter, an adjustable rear wing sculpted by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and optimized front dive planes. These new aerodynamic devices are formed in high-performance autoclaved carbon-fiber. By using both unidirectional and woven laminates, the aero equipment is optimized for the minimum weight possible.
The splitter and dive planes feature a clear-coated carbon-fiber weave on all Viper SRT10 ACR models.

The front splitter includes three removable rub strips that provide protection and wear resistance. Supported by stainless steel tension cables, the splitter is designed to absorb the energy from minor upward deflections.

The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR aerodynamics are tuned and balanced to maximize downforce and provide increased levels of lateral grip. Each Viper SRT10 ACR also includes a track extension that replaces the center splitter rub strip and fills out the fanged splitter scallop for closed-circuit events. The aerodynamic effect of the track extension is a reduction in overall drag and an increase in front downforce of nearly one-third.
The front fog lamps have been deleted and replaced with lightweight filler panels.

The 2008 Viper SRT10 ACR features a signature two-tone paint scheme with a black center section. An optional driver's stripe is available on a two-tone Viper Red or a Viper Black ACR. The driver's stripe also features a sewn leather accent on the steering wheel. A clear-coated exposed weave is featured on the rear carbon-fiber wing of all two-tone and driver's stripe Viper SRT10 ACR models.

A standard Viper SRT10 monotone paint scheme is also available featuring a body-color rear wing and dual painted Viper stripes.

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is available in five colors: Viper Red, Viper Black, Viper Violet, Viper Bright Blue Metallic and Viper Very Orange.
Lightweight forged aluminum Sidewinder wheels are painted gloss black to complete the one-of-a-kind exterior styling.

Race-inspired Interior

Based on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 interior, the Viper SRT10 ACR goes a step further to satisfy what racers want: the least weight possible. An optional "Hard Core" package offers maximum weight savings by deleting the audio system, underhood silencer pad, trunk carpet and tire inflator. The radio is replaced by a lightweight cover that can be configured to mount the included lap timer. The door speakers are replaced by lightweight carbon-fiber panels. The Hard Core package offers a 40 lb. weight savings and provides ultimate street-legal race-ready performance.

World-class Ride and Handling

The all-new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is specifically modified and tuned for track performance. The ACR suspension includes coil-over racing dampers from KW Suspensions that are adjustable for damping and ride height. The shocks are two-way adjustable without removing the wheels — a timersaver on the track — and they include a large range for compression and rebound. The KW dampers and forks are machined from solid aluminum billet, feature spherical bearing mounts, and are optimized to minimize weight and maximize performance.

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR features a new front stabilizer bar for increased roll-stiffness.

Lightweight forged aluminum Sidewinder wheels are optimized by using Finite Element Analysis to achieve a lower rotating unsprung mass. Finished in gloss black paint, they wear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup DOT-approved (street-legal) race tires, providing enhanced grip on the track.
Track performance is maximized in the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR via several weight-savings initiatives. The savings were achieved with the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tires, Sidewinder lightweight wheels and StopTech brake rotors. With the aerodynamic and suspension elements, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is 40 pounds lighter than the Viper SRT10 coupe. The optional Hard Core package further reduces the weight by another 40 pounds, for a total weight savings of 80 pounds.

Benchmark Braking
The Viper SRT10 benchmark brakes are taken to the next level in the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR. StopTech two-piece, slotted lightweight rotors combine with the Viper SRT10's Brembo calipers to reduce rotating inertia and unsprung mass, improve brake cooling, and significantly reduce fade even under extreme conditions. The StopTech rotors feature a patented curved-fin design, a key element in improving brake cooling. The StopTech brake rotors combined with the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tires and Sidewinder lightweight wheels combine to reduce 60 pounds of unsprung, rotating mass. The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR stops from 60 mph in less than 100 feet.

Standout Powertrain

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR utilizes the Viper SRT10's new 8.4-liter aluminum V-10 engine that produces a ground-shaking 600 horsepower and tire-smoking 560 lb.-ft. of torque. It features a deep-skirted V-10 aluminum engine block, cylinder heads equipped with Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC)-shaped combustion chambers, large valves and Variable Valve Timing (VVT). VVT Electronically adjusts when the exhaust valves are open and closed according to engine speed and load, allowing the engine to "breathe" cleaner and more efficiently.

The two-piece intake manifold combines cast aluminum lower with smooth runners for better air flow, bolted to a die-cast aluminum upper plenum. A revised air-cleaner box with a low-restriction filter sends air through a dual electronic throttle control into the intake module.

The air-fuel mixture in the cylinders is ignited by platinum-tip spark plugs fired by individual plug coils mounted on the cylinder-head covers.
Within the cylinders, pistons are equipped with large-diameter floating pins with bronze bushings for high-load capability. Forged powder-metal connecting rods are secured with aircraft-quality fasteners for increased fatigue strength.

Engine lubrication is managed by the large oil pump and a swinging oil pickup adapted from Viper competition engines, to ensure proper oil pressure in high-rpm and hard-cornering conditions.

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR sports the latest evolution of the Tremec T56 six-speed manual transmission known as the TR6060. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a GKN ViscoLok speed-sensing limited-slip differential.

Manufacturing
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR will be hand built at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit.

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR will arrive in showrooms in the second quarter of 2008 at a U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of less than $100,000. Complete pricing information will be released at a later date.

Street and Racing Technology
SRT creates some of Chrysler LLC's boldest, most distinctive products by single-mindedly following its core vision: Deliver benchmark performance at the lowest price, and deliver it with absolute integrity and credibility.
Every SRT vehicle showcases five key aspects: exterior styling that resonates with the brand image, race-inspired interiors, world-class ride and handling characteristics across a dynamic range, benchmark braking and standout powertrain.

[ZvetteGuy]

This should be quick! Very aggressive styling.... I actually like it...

Wouldn't personally purchase a Viper if money wasn't an issue... but, very nice...

[ColinOpseth]

Viper gets coil near plug ignition 11 years after GM put it on every Gen II SBC. Wow. That's a feat.

Seriously, though. Nice car but too many compromises.

[AndrewGS]

Looks like they sarted to run out of black paint.

[Smoke]

That ricer wing does not look good on there at all.

[Firebird00]

I like it. The more extreme styling (minus the wing) looks great. If money was no object I'd look into buying one.

[ByTheLake]

At this point in the Chrysler Group's life, I don't see the latest Viper as having a place.

Should be interesting to see what Cerberus does with this thing. Sure, it's great to have a halo vehicle if you can afford it, but Cerberus is all about profit, period.

Dodge could better use an affordable sports car, more in the Corvette's price range, than this thing. Want to bet that the Viper eventually gets the ax?

[Raskolnikov]

I would crap my drawers if I saw that in my rearview.

I like it, though. There aren't many vehicles left aimed directly at enthusiasts.

[ctaylorzl1]

Amazing looking car, I wondered if Dodge would ever bring back the ACR Vipers. and with a price of under $100,000 it is a amazing price/performance bargin!!

[Clownzilla]

I have always liked the Viper from day one. They REALLY have to lose that paint job though!

[stevecmh]

i wonder how much faster it is. anyone know?

[TriShield]

Extremely wicked car. It's nice to see Chrysler is still nurturing one of Lutz's original roadster ideas and that it still retains the design philosophy he set for it. There isn't a wilder or hairier car you can buy for the money, and that's cool.

[minnfang]

I'd much rather have a Corvette, but I wouldn't mind going out and scaring myself with this thing.

This should be a real live collector car some day.

[racy]

Originally Posted by ZvetteGuy

This should be quick! Very aggressive styling.... I actually like it...

Wouldn't personally purchase a Viper if money wasn't an issue... but, very nice...

I am in the same boat. Nice car, but its still not a Vette. Bottom line here is Dodge *HAD* to come up with something to deal with the impending ZR1. Viper sales have been on a downward trend for the past several years and I actually worry they'll axe the program.

Axing the Viper is bad news for Vette fans. With no competition, the Vette will get lazy.

[ogg vorbis]

Originally Posted by Smoke

That ricer wing does not look good on there at all.

except that it isn't a ricer wing. it's a functional device on a club racer.

the only help to acceleration is the 80 lb removal...so not much. however, it's meant to be faster around a track...with turns and junk. the stiffer suspension will make it faster in the hands of a professional driver...and more dangerous with an average driver.

cool car!