In the past it's had a bad-boy reputation as less controllable than sports cars like the 911 and Corvette, but in its current form the Viper's become almost genteel. Updates for the 2015 model year include a 5-hp bump for the 8.4-liter V-10, a different sixth-gear ratio for upper trim levels, a new GT model to slot between base and GTS Vipers, a Viper TA 2.0 Special Edition model, and several new colors.
Low, long, and covered in muscular bulges and threatening vents, the Viper telegraphs its supercar intentions. Inside, the cabin is now more refined and luxurious, with available leather and tech packages pushing it fully into the 21st century.
Under the hood of the Viper you'll find just one engine, no matter the trim: an 8.4-liter V-10 that drives the rear wheels. It now makes 645 hp (up 5) and the same 600 pound-feet of torque. Chrysler says it delivers the most torque of any normally aspirated sports car engine in the world, and the performance reflects that: 0-60 mph runs come in the low-three-second range; quarter-miles fly by in the low 11s; 0-100-0 mph takes less than 12 seconds; top speed is 206 mph. You can have any transmission you want, as long as it's the standard six-speed manual.
The supercar game is not all about straight-line performance, however, and the Viper shines when it's time to turn, too. The latest Viper generation is the first to be equipped with stability and traction control, and fortunately, they're not the fun-killing systems of old. In fact, even in full-on mode, the system allows for yaw and slip angles suitable to spirited track-day antics. All Vipers get three stability-control modes (on, off, and rain), while the GTS model adds a pair of intermediate steps, with Sport and Track modes, which loosen the restrictions but keep a safety net. Even with everything fully off, however, the Viper is nearly balanced, transitioning from entry to apex to exit with massive grip and surprising feel through the steering wheel and the seat-bottom. There's always the threat of the rear coming around when you come onto the gas too hard, but as a training tool, the mortal fear of 600 pound-feet of torque is unmatched.
The Viper's cabin is surprisingly roomy for such a low-slung, coupe. Dodge claims drivers up to 6'7" should fit within its confines. There's plenty of head and leg room for most drivers, and the seats are both comfortable and adjustable. The steering wheel and pedals also move to get the best possible fit. You'll want as much physical comfort in the Viper as possible, as it's a very noisy place to be, even cruising at low engine speeds on a smooth country road. The ride quality is fair in base models, a bit better with the adjustable dampers, but never really objectionable for a sports car. Cargo space is fair, at 14.65 cubic feet, but the odd shape under the rear hatch means soft-sided bags will be the best bet for longer trips.
Differences between the Viper SRT and Viper GTS are primarily in equipment: the GTS gets a two-mode suspension system with Bilstein DampTronic Select dampers and the aforementioned extra stability-control parameters. The Viper SRT is the more minimalist take on extreme performance, while the GTS offers an extra degree of luxury and refinement in the cabin as well as its upgraded suspension system and electronic controls. The new-for-2015 GT model splits the difference, with a price to match, and adds the GTS's Bilstein setup, the five-mode stability system, and a unique leather-and-Alcantara interior on top of the base model's equipment.
Expensive, low-volume sports cars are often skipped in the crash-testing cycle by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS); the 2015 Dodge Viper is no exception. Despite the lack of crash tests, the Viper should prove as safe as most modern coupes in an accident, with a full suite of air bags, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, and pre-tensioning seat belts all standard. A backup camera is available on base models, and standard on GTS models.
Gas mileage, as you might expect, isn't one of the Viper's primary concerns. That said, there's a slight increase for 2015. Trasnmission refinements and the new engine calibration helped eke out a small improvement in highway mileage; the 2015 car gets 12 mpg city and 20 highway, up from 12/19 last year.
Le Mans Viper driver Tommy Kendall summed up the SRT Viper TA perfectly in two sentences: “The best thing about this car is that it will do exactly what you tell it to do. And the worst thing about this car is that it will do exactly what you tell it.” He’s not kidding. Turn it too quickly, or get too deep into the 8.4-liter V-10 in the middle of a corner—in just about any gear—and the rear end will break loose, putting up a serious fight against the driver’s control of the beast. This track-focused model is obedient, but it demands deference. It’s the automotive equivalent of a circus tiger; one wrong move and you’re going to be in a world of hurt.
A TA—it stands for “Track Attack,” so you can get your mind out of the gutter—starts life as a base Viper and gets a host of alterations made with a single focus: lowering lap times. These include Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, two small carbon-fiber splitters with a replaceable wear strip, new damper tuning, 20-percent-stiffer springs, a 35-percent-stiffer front anti-roll bar, a 31-percent-stiffer rear anti-roll bar, a high camber alignment, reworked brake rotors and pads, and a carbon-fiber engine-bay brace and rear spoiler. Orange stitching on the cloth interior doesn’t make you any faster; it just feels that way. The engine, the gearbox, and the shifter are the same as those found in base cars.
For those who have made such changes to personal cars, that list might sound a little skimpy, considering the TA commands a $16,000 premium over the $104,480 base car, but the changes are certainly quantifiable. For example, those little splitters and the spoiler help produce a claimed 460 pounds of downforce at 150 mph. Compared with the base car’s 75 pounds at 150 mph, the additional downward push is not only significant but also advantageous on a racetrack. The only downside to the extra downforce is its attendant increase in drag, which means the TA tops out at 193 mph, SRT says, 13 mph lower than the base Viper.
The aggressive alignment, which we’re told is the maximum camber the stock suspension would allow, certainly helps midcorner grip, but it also delivers whip-crack turn-in and reduced tire wear over extended lapping. Reaching the grip limit, however, requires a tender touch. We heeded Kendall’s words as we gently explored the car’s limits at California’s intimidating Willow Springs International Raceway. Every lap, we braked later, entered corners faster, and built speed through the big track’s huge, fast sweepers. The key to mastering something as raw as the Viper TA is to build steadily on prior laps rather than try to lop off huge chunks of time.
Helping our initial comfort level is the fact that the latest Viper includes a multiple-mode stability-control program. It’s a major tool in building up to the limit. Sport mode allows a small amount of slip, each brake caliper working to maintain the correct path, and the engine might automatically reduce torque if traction is lost. Track mode gets rid of the torque-limiting feature and increases the allowable slip angles, so much so that the best possible lap with the stability control off might be only 0.1 second quicker. Track mode almost certainly delivers more consistent times, although we’ll have to wait for our next installment of Lightning Lap to confirm that statement. SRT has promised we’ll have a TA on hand.
The changes to the brakes are somewhat subtle in both feel and hardware. The former remains strong in initial bite and pressure buildup in the pedal. The TA has the same brake calipers as do other Vipers. As a refresher, the base car employs solid rotors, and the GTS model uses a two-piece design. TAs are fitted with two-piece units, too, but their swept area is larger by 13.5 percent. This means larger brake pads are used, which are good for fade resistance and wear in a track environment. SRT says the TA won’t brake any shorter than the base or GTS model, but we suspect that, between the tires and brake hardware, we might be able to tease out an improvement of a foot or two.
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