Aggressive SRT Viper a true performance machine
As we head into 2014, let’s close out the year with a heart-pounding, white-knuckled super car. The Viper is a car that holds a special place with car enthusiasts. The Street and Racing Team (SRT) of the Chrysler Motor Company developed a more sinister version of an already blisteringly fast Viper called the GTS.
If you haven’t seen the newest edition, take a moment to look over the accompanying photo and digest all of the new curves and shapes.
The design stays true to past generations but is more aggressive, low and viper-like than ever before. This new shape appears to cut into the wind and funnel air directly over the roof, launching it off the trunk lid spoiler in order to create some serious down force to the rear wheels. This amazing-looking chassis sits on 18x10.5-inch wheels up front and 19x13-inch wheels out back, giving you plenty of grip for those green-light launches.
Under the hood is an all-aluminum 8.4L mid-front V-10 engine with 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. This engine speaks for itself and is a complete mechanical masterpiece. The performance numbers include a top speed of 206 mph, 0-60mph in the low 3-second range and the quarter-mile in the mid 11-second range.
I was privileged to pilot an Adrenaline Red GTS when I was at the International Motor Press Association Test Days event in New York. My time in the Viper was limited, but I was able to see just how amazing this car is when it’s in the proper environment -- the track. Once you climb into the tight and intimate cabin you are surrounded by well-made and high-quality materials. The 6-speed manual was very easy to engage and the clutch pedal was heavy. The first thing I noticed was just how low the windshield was. The driver’s seat is supportive with deep bolsters so you don’t slide around in hard corners.
As I drove around the track, I noticed just how performance-oriented this car is. The exhaust exits the underside of the car directly under the driver’s door and has an incredible deep and harsh sound. Entering corners is effortless while the wide tires and sophisticated suspension system keeps the car flat and eats up the pavement. Exiting corners with a full dose of throttle slings this super car down the road with fury and disregard for speed limits. I was able to downshift into second gear entering a hairpin corner that is followed by a quarter-mile straight where I took second gear to red line and hammered third gear well into triple digits. Once I reached the end, it was hard on the brakes in order to enter the final corners of the track.
The SRT Viper GTS is a serious performance machine, something most people will never use as a daily driver. In fact, after driving a lot of other examples from different manufacturers, the Viper is almost completely a track car. It’s rough, loud, violent and chalked full of attitude. When you have 640 horsepower available it’s not easy to be subtle and polite. I’m told the interior is much more comfortable and quiet now compared to previous generations so I can only imagine how aggressive those were.
The GTS starts at $124,985 before you pick some personalized options such as color, wheel and tire package and other interior appointments. As far as gas mileage, if you’re worried about that you don’t need a Viper.
