Gen 5 Dodge Viper

[SuperShouden]

It should be pointed out, that the new Viper is actually a Front Mid-Engine car. Meaning, the engine is actually mounted behind the front axel. This gives the new Viper a 49/51 weight distribution, which means it should be VERY competitive in ALMS. Seems like the interior leather isn't the only thing SRT took from Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa.

 

[homeforsummer]

Realised I'd not commented on this car yet, since last November before we knew what it looked like.

Giving it a cautious thumbs-up. Still doesn't wow me as much as this:

...but that's probably because the GTS really was unique at the time, where we're now on a third (I think?) generation car and the overall impact of the wild shape has been lost a little.

I'd respectfully disagree with whoever said earlier that it was better than any recent Ferrari or Alfa - on the Alfa front at least, as I still think the 8C is a much more beautiful car than this new Viper, though that's perhaps unsurprising as the 8C has the same flowing curves as in the GTS I mentioned above... and the reason I find the GTS's curves so great in the first place was because the whole car echoes the Cobra, which is still one of the most brilliant shapes ever conceived.

Ultimately though I'm still more of a Corvette than a Viper man. The C6 is getting a bit dated now but it has a brute force/finesse balance that appeals to me more than the Viper.

 

[SuperShouden]

the 2013 Viper is the 5th Generation, actually.

1. RT/10
2. GTS
3. SRT10
4. Coupe/ACR
5. SRT GTS

 

[Keef]

It should be pointed out, that the new Viper is actually a Front Mid-Engine car. Meaning, the engine is actually mounted behind the front axel. This gives the new Viper a 49/51 weight distribution, which means it should be VERY competitive in ALMS. Seems like the interior leather isn't the only thing SRT took from Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa.

Ever since the GTS the Viper has always had a slight rearward weight bias. A very small rearward bias is actually better for handling in many high-performance situations, especially for cars with larger rear tires than front. This has been done on many race cars and high performance street cars for decades now.

 

[homeforsummer]

the 2013 Viper is the 5th Generation, actually.

1. RT/10
2. GTS
3. SRT10
4. Coupe/ACR
5. SRT GTS

I knew someone would be along to correct me, but in terms of vague shapes this is the third - the RT/10 and GTS were pretty similar (roof aside, obviously), the SRT10/Coupe/ACR were the same sort of shape, and the new one is... new.

Anyway, thanks for the correction 👍

 

[Exorcet]

Ever since the GTS the Viper has always had a slight rearward weight bias. A very small rearward bias is actually better for handling in many high-performance situations, especially for cars with larger rear tires than front. This has been done on many race cars and high performance street cars for decades now.

Yes, and it has been fully FM Rear wheel drive since the 2003 SRT-10 (not sure if the GTS had the engine behind the front wheel axle, but this is probably true, despite looking similar, Gen I and Gen II cars differed very much underneath with Gen II having a lot more track performance).

 

[SuperShouden]

Ever since the GTS the Viper has always had a slight rearward weight bias. A very small rearward bias is actually better for handling in many high-performance situations, especially for cars with larger rear tires than front. This has been done on many race cars and high performance street cars for decades now.

I assume that's true. But as SRT mentioned in the reveal, this car is more designed for racing. Like I mentioned, it was probably a tip from Ferrari and Maserati to stick the engine behind the front axel, just to give the car a bit more stability and probably better handling.

Yes, and it has been fully FM Rear wheel drive since the 2003 SRT-10 (not sure if the GTS had the engine behind the front wheel axle, but this is probably true, despite looking similar, Gen I and Gen II cars differed very much underneath with Gen II having a lot more track performance).

Right. I'm guessing the new GTS will feel a lot more planted and nimble with the "new" engine placement. A LOT of cars are actually Front Mid-engined. I won't be surprised if this Viper does a much better job of keeping up with the Ferraris, corvettes, BMWs and Porches in it's debut ALMS race. I wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari helped develop the ALMS car, and they've been doing a great job. I would love to see the specs for the race car. I know Corvette had to shave off some HP, and I believe the Viper has had to do so in the past, as well, just because it's usually the only V10 in the field...unless Lamborghini decides to bring their V10...or Audi.

I knew someone would be along to correct me, but in terms of vague shapes this is the third - the RT/10 and GTS were pretty similar (roof aside, obviously), the SRT10/Coupe/ACR were the same sort of shape, and the new one is... new.

Anyway, thanks for the correction 👍

You're welcome. Technically, their WAS a first gen GTS and a 3rd Gen Coupe, but...the 2nd Gen is where they sold the most GTS's and the 4th Gen is when they were REALLY advertising the coupe and it appeared in NFS and GT5. I believe GT5 is only missing two Generations of Viper at the moment. They just need the RT/10 and the SRT.

 

[CodeRedR51]

1) Not the best looking in yellow.
2) Holy panel gaps batman!

 

[Dennisch]

*Barf.

Leave the yellow in Italy. And indeed, panel gap much? Sjesus. You can't sell cars like that.

 

[Tornado]

Does the hood still reverse-hinge? Maybe it's not closed all the way.

 

[ZohsixGT5]

Not a fan of the yellow at all. Hopefully all of the current Viper owners will be trading theirs in and the 06-08 Coupes will be plentiful.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Hood is definitely closed all the way. I would guess (and hope) that it's a prototype so the panel fitment will be better on the production cars.

 

[Dennisch]

It must be a prototype, it's not just the huge canyon in front of the wheel, look at the arch at the rear of the wheel. Doesn't fit at all.

 

[eSZee]

Hood is definitely closed all the way. I would guess (and hope) that it's a prototype so the panel fitment will be better on the production cars.

SRT calls them "active panel gaps". Only visible when putting sideways load on the car. From research they've done, the typical Viper owner will never activate this "feature".

 

[Robin]

The panel gaps... I lol'ed

At Ferrari they use digital callipers to measure the gaps, what exactly do they use at SRT?

 

[Dennisch]

The panel gaps... I lol'ed

At Ferrari they use digital callipers to measure the gaps, what exactly do they use at SRT?

 

[psntomaz]

If you gona post a Picture like that PLEASE give a Source link....

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/2013-srt-viper-looking-fly-in-yellow/

"we'll want to see it in person and without all of the hastily bolted-together panel gaps of this prototype"


And Vipers always been offered in Yellow

 

[CodeRedR51]

If you gona post a Picture like that PLEASE give a Source link....

Meh, didn't really need it.

 

[eSZee]

1) Not the best looking in yellow.
2) Holy panel gaps batman!

Hood is definitely closed all the way. I would guess (and hope) that it's a prototype so the panel fitment will be better on the production cars.

Meh, didn't really need it.

Oh really.............

 

[CodeRedR51]

Ah, but they assume it's a prototype.

 

[psntomaz]

Its a Prototype because the Photo was Takin on Chryslers Test Track... Notice the 2 Caravans, 1 300s and a chopped up Guilietta MULE in the background...

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-srt-viper-in-yellow-spy-shots/med/#photo-4981840/

 

[Dennisch]

I wonder how this Viper will look in metallic yellow. 2 faint black stripes.

HNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGG!

 

[Blackbird.]

Wheels are better looking.

 

[Organ-Donor]

I'm really curious on how it will look with the classic stripe paintjob Vipers have always had.

 

[Keef]

Does the hood still reverse-hinge? Maybe it's not closed all the way.

What you mean by reverse? The original Vipers had a clamshell hood. The SRT-10 did away with it. Now the clamshell is back on this version.

 

[kennylmao]

The Dodge Viper has always been one of my favorite cars because of the beautiful design but this new generation Viper isn't really how I thought it would look like.

Like some of the other users on here, I too am not really diggin' the front lights if you know what I mean. The rest looks classic Viper but the front just looks too 'Italian'.

So I kind of modified the front to my liking and came up with this. I think the front lights need to be longer to fit the look of the Viper. The dark spaces in the headlights will be filled with complete LED lighting much like the Audi R8. Sorry for the reflections, I just did one side and mirrored it for the other.

So in my humble opinion, head lights like these would make this car perfect for me.


550x-srt-viper-2013-30 by kvin_lo, on Flickr

 

[Blackbird.]

IMO that's a step in the wrong direction. Looking at my avatar and looking at that, the actual Viper captures the look of a real Viper.

 

[RACECAR]

Have to agree, that looks off and the lights are too big. Even as an old Viper Fanboy who loved the headlights on the original GTS, I think the headlights it has now work just fine, it makes the front more like the face of a snake.

 

[kennylmao]

IMO that's a step in the wrong direction. Looking at my avatar and looking at that, the actual Viper captures the look of a real Viper.

Have to agree, that looks off and the lights are too big. Even as an old Viper Fanboy who loved the headlights on the original GTS, I think the headlights it has now work just fine, it makes the front more like the face of a snake.

Alright, I respect your opinions. 👍

Where all the people who said the front looks bad at?!! JK

 

[Organ-Donor]

The Dodge Viper has always been one of my favorite cars because of the beautiful design but this new generation Viper isn't really how I thought it would look like.

Like some of the other users on here, I too am not really diggin' the front lights if you know what I mean. The rest looks classic Viper but the front just looks too 'Italian'.

So I kind of modified the front to my liking and came up with this. I think the front lights need to be longer to fit the look of the Viper. The dark spaces in the headlights will be filled with complete LED lighting much like the Audi R8. Sorry for the reflections, I just did one side and mirrored it for the other.

So in my humble opinion, head lights like these would make this car perfect for me.


550x-srt-viper-2013-30 by kvin_lo, on Flickr

I love that look of the front lights you modified 👍 And I'm a GTS style viper fan.