2009 Dodge Viper SRT10®: Still the Ultimate American Sports Coupe, 25,000 Hand-built Vehicles Later

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10® is the ultimate American sports car and the icon of the Dodge brand.

For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers the outrageous power expected, with an 8.4-liter 600-horsepower (450 kW) V-10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration (0-60 mph in less than four seconds, 0-100-0 mph in the low 12-second range), setting an American sports car benchmark.

A dramatic hood featuring a larger, more efficient hood scoop for air induction and functional hood louvers to facilitate a greater cooling effect enhance Viper's bold, aggressive looks. Viper design hallmarks, including deep-cut side scallops, swept-back fenders, lowered hood lines and the signature Dodge crosshair grille remain.

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 will be available in four new exterior colors: Anaconda Green Pearl Coat, Graphite Metallic Clear Coat, Diamond Black Pearl Coat and Viper Bright White Clear Coat.

'With the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10, we're carrying on the proud tradition of very powerful artillery for sports-car enthusiasts,' said Kipp Owen, Director – Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Engineering, Chrysler LLC. 'With 600 horsepower, 560 lb.-ft. of torque and 0-to-60 performance in less than four seconds, the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains the benchmark for the ultimate American sports car.'

WHAT'S NEW FOR 2009

EXTERIOR

• Four new exterior colors: Anaconda Green Pearl Coat, Graphite Metallic Clear Coat, Diamond Black Pearl Coat and Viper Bright White Clear Coat

• New optional six-spoke forged aluminum wheel (replaces H spoke wheel)

INTERIOR

• Revised center console bezel houses recessed window switches

POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS

• Modified steel frame

• Modified fuel tank and filler

DESIGN

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains available in two body styles — Roadster and Coupe. Both feature a dramatic hood with a more efficient hood scoop for air induction and functional hood louvers to facilitate a greater cooling effect for the powerful 8.4-liter 600-horsepower V-10 engine underneath.

Four new exterior colors will be introduced throughout the 2009 model year — Anaconda Green Pearl Coat, Graphite Metallic Clear Coat, Diamond Black Pearl Coat and Viper Bright White Clear Coat. Dual, painted hood stripes continue to be an option with seven stripe colors available. With a total of eight exterior colors, seven stripe colors and five interior choices, customers have more than 30 exterior/interior combinations to choose from.

Several exterior differences exist between the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 Roadster and Coupe. In fact, the only body panels the Roadster and Coupe share are front fascia and fenders, hood and doors. However, all of the iconic Viper SRT10 design cues are consistent in both models, including the signature Dodge crosshair grille, deep-cut side scallops, swept-back fenders and lowered hood lines.

The Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe's hardtop with its 'double bubble' styling makes it even more torsionally stiff than the Roadster. The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe offers increased downforce and high-speed stability with its sloping roofline and deck lid spoiler. Plus, the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe has an additional 6.25 cubic feet of trunk space than the Viper SRT10 Roadster, for a total of 14.65 cubic feet. The roof and headliner structure offer more room to accommodate a safety cage, while maintaining as much head room as possible.

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 Roadster and Coupe cockpit retains its characteristic red push-button starter and performance-oriented, highly functional instrument panel with center-mounted tachometer and 220-mph speedometer.

Five interior colors will be available in 2009: black, black/red, black/blue, black/medium slate or black/natural tan. A choice of bezel finishes on the center instrument panel and console adds to the increased level of customization.

ENGINEERING

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10's deep-skirted V-10 aluminum block features 8.4 liters (510 cubic inches) and generates 600 horsepower (450 kW) and 560 lb.-ft. (760 N•m) of torque. And all the power is compliant with stringent regulatory requirements, such as federal Tier 2, Bin 5 and California's Low Emission Vehicle (LEV II) mandates.

The 2009 Viper SRT10 engine features cylinder heads equipped with Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC)-shaped combustion chambers, larger valves and Variable Valve Timing (VVT) featuring award-winning CamInCam® technology. The VVT application used in the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 electronically adjusts when the exhaust valves are opened and closed according to engine speed and load, allowing the engine to 'breathe' more cleanly and efficiently.

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 V-10's two-piece intake manifold combines a cast-aluminum lower plenum with smooth runners for better air flow, bolted to a die-cast aluminum upper plenum. The air-cleaner box with a low-restriction filter sends air through dual electronic throttle control modules into the intake plenum.

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 in bronze bushed rods for high-load capability. The forged powder-metal connecting rods are secured with aircraft-quality fasteners for increased fatigue strength.

Engine lubrication is managed by an oil pump and a swinging oil pickup adapted from the Viper Competition Coupe engines, to improve oil pressure in high-rpm and hard-cornering conditions.

Spent gases exit through tubular air-gap headers, which not only improve exhaust flow, but also ensure quick catalyst light-off for improved emission control. The headers' stamped stainless-steel outer shell acts as a thermal heat shield for the individual stainless-steel runners that contribute to better flow separation and exhaust tuning.

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10's V-10 channels its power through a twin-disc clutch. The ZF Sachs clutch reduces rotating inertia by 18 percent, reduces clutch-pedal effort and improves engagement feel.

Transferring the Dodge Viper SRT10's power to the rear wheels is a heavy-duty six-speed manual transmission.

Stopping power is another carefully developed part of the Viper SRT10 equation, with 14-inch brake rotors gripped by Brembo 44/40 dual opposing piston calipers in the front and Brembo 42/38 dual opposing calipers in the rear. This system results in a world-class braking performance of 60-0 mph in less than 100 feet.

Dodge Viper SRT10 performance is further defined by a race-bred aluminum, fully independent, four-wheel suspension featuring lightweight, high-performance aluminum control arms and knuckles, damped by lightweight coil-over shock absorbers. Power is delivered to the pavement via a Dana M44-4 rear axle and a new 4-pinion GKN ViscoLok speed-sensing limited-slip differential for higher torque capacity and improved traction.

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 rides on polished forged aluminum 18 x 10-inch front and 19 x 13-inch rear wheels, clad in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 non-run-flat tires. Each tire includes low-pressure sensors in the valve stem.

by Dodge

Conceived as a modern take on the classic American muscle car, the Dodge Viper is a two-seat sports car, possibly the most powerful production car produced by Dodge.

Production for the Viper began in 1992 at the new Mack Assembly in Detroit Michigan. The Mack Avenue Engine Complex was the original production site from 1992 through 1995.

Opening in 1966, the Conner Avenue Assembly was purchased by Chrysler in 1995 for the production of both the Dodge Viper and the Plymouth Prowler. In October 1995 the production of the Viper began.

The home of Chysler's production of large-displacement V8 and V10 engines, Mount Road Engine was a Chrysler Corporation Automobile Engine factory in Detroit Michigan. In 2002 the plant was closed as production shifted to the Mack Avenue Engine Complex.

The dream behind the design of the Dodge Viper was directly inspired by Carroll Shelby, one of the automotive industry's greatest legends. Building one more ultimate performance car was the vision of the initial designer of the Viper. Far too large and heavy to seriously claim any direct lineage with other compact and lightweight vehicles such as the ionic AC Cobra, the Viper was an altogether separate design.

Driven as the pace car at the Indianapolis 500, Caroll Shelby had a long career as a driver, owner, team manager, manufacturer, consultant, and visionary before being inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1992. More than a decade later, he has continued to impact the world of racing and automobile design. A master organizer and team leader, his charisma, vision, and ability to know the best person for the job developed his ability to produce consistently impressive results.

Initially conceived in late 1987 at Chrysler's Advanced Design Studios, the Viper first appeared as a concept to test public reaction at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 4, 1989.

Receiving enthusiastic public acclaim as orders began to flow before the show even ended, the 'go' was given and chief engineer Roy Sjoberg was directed to develop it as a production car.

'Team Viper' was organized by Sjoberg with a handpicked group of 85 engineers that began development in March of 1989. Their primary goal was to construct a vehicle that concentrated on performance above all else. Their benchmark: to go from 0 to 100 back to 0 in 15 seconds.

Three years of intensive, often around-the-clock operations were begun by Team Viper that stretched from Italy, where the aluminum engine block was perfected -- to the race tracks at Nelson Ledges and Road Atlanta, where they fine-tuned the chassis and powertrain. Working closely with major automotive suppliers to develop unique components for Viper RT/10, team members searched for only what would withstand the tremendous stresses associated with high-performance driving.

The first prototype was tested in December 1989.

At the time Lamborghini (a Chrysler subsidiary) was asked to adapt their V10 truck engine for sports car use in May. The centerpiece of the car was its engine. The original design was based on the Chrysler LA engine, Lamborghini, which was designed as a truck engine. Recasting the block and head in aluminum alloy gave the engine a significant power boost as Dodge's cast-iron block V10 was revamped.

Completing the production body in the fall, by December a chassis prototype was running. Originally using a V8 in the test mule, by February 1990, the V10 which was the production car meant to use was ready.

A more comprehensive design was suggested that would include four valves per cylinder as some felt the pushrod two-valve design may have been adequate for the truck application but unsuitable for a performance car.

The budget for modification was not approved by Chrysler due to uncertainty regarding Viper's production costs and sales potential.

By May of 1990, official approval was granted from Chrysler chairman, Lee Iacocca. It was one year later that Carroll Shelby piloted a preproduction car at the Indianapolis 500 as a pace car. The first shipment began in January 1992 as the car was released to reviewers during its debut in November 1991.

Initially predetermined to be two things to the corporation, the public version of the Viper was intended as a halo car for Chrysler proving that they were still the most competent at building a low-cost vehicle of any type. Within the corporation, the Viper was a production technique test to see if the corporation really could develop new methods of manufacture and assembly to lower the cost of a vehicle.

Though 1st generation Vipers were considered by some as a crude 'kit car', Chrysler translated this into a vehicle and production line that became the most sought-after assignment in the corporation up to that point.

Typical of American performance car design, the Viper had a front-mounted engine driving rear wheels with a curb weight of 3,280lb(1,488 kg) while lacking many modern driving aids such as traction control or anti-lock brakes. In a straight-line performance, the Viper completed a quarter mile in 12.9 seconds and had a maximum speed of 164 mph (264 km/h).

The engine produced 400 hp (298 kW) at 4600 rpm and 450 ft·lbf (610 N·m) of torque at 3600 rpm. Due to the long-gearing allowed by the torquey engine, it provided surprising fuel economy at a claimed 21 mpg-US (11.2 L/100 km) if driven sedately. The body of the Viper was a tubular steel frame with resin transfer molding (RTM) fiberglass panels.

By 1998, 9,500 Vipers cruised the world's boulevards and racetracks, building a very strong and extremely enthusiastic owner core. Currently, there are more than 1,700 members of the Viper Club of America and 27 Viper Clubs throughout the United States.

by Jessican Donaldson