The fifth generation of Viper, the iconic American-built supercar makes its long-awaited return to the high-performance sports-car market as the Street and Racing Technology (SRT®) brand’s flagship performance machine with more power and performance, superior craftsmanship, new technologies and creature comforts while respecting its legacy of American craftsmanship and visceral performance.
“The Street and Racing Technology brand team, led by Ralph Gilles, is extremely proud that our hand-built-in-Detroit, flagship supercar is back and ready to take on the performance-car world,” said Jack Rodencal, Managing Director of Chrysler Group Middle East.
“Beyond being the flagship for the new SRT® brand, the launch of the all-new Viper proves that we simply would not let the performance icon of the Chrysler Group die. Willed to live on by a very special group of performance enthusiasts inside the company and across Viper Nation, this SRT® team under our new leadership was challenged to not just continue the legendary Viper, but to create the fifth generation of our world-class supercar that would showcase the very best we have to offer.
The performance numbers that have been synonymous with Viper throughout its history continue with the all-new SRT® Viper GTS, which has a coefficient of drag (Cd) of .369 and delivers a top speed of over 331 kmh and 0-100 kmh acceleration in the low 3-second range. Quarter-mile (0.4 km) elapsed time is in the mid 11-second range, 0-160-0 kmh time is less than 12 seconds and braking distance from 100-0 kmh is 30.48 m.
The SRT® Viper GTS is hand-built at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit, the Viper’s home since 1995, and features new interior and exterior designs incorporating premium materials and new exterior surfaces with aerodynamically functional details that are beautifully integrated into the high-tech carbon fibre and aluminum skin. On the inside, designers and engineers strived to rethink all its touch points and upgrade all its material appointments and technologies.
“The SRT® Viper GTS offers a perfect blend of extreme performance and a deliberate preservation of what has become the iconic DNA of the Viper,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – Street and Racing Technology Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “We strove to deliver a supercar that continues to bring the driver as close as possible to the machine.”
The SRT® Viper GTS builds on the DNA of the SRT® Viper model with more technologically advanced solutions, like its driver-selectable two-mode suspension system that allows this world-class car to find new limits on the track while also opening up its envelope as a more mature evolution of the classic, extreme performance formula. Designed and built with premium features and materials inside and out, the Viper GTS will compete with the best performance vehicles in the world – and do so with a wide range of creature comforts, advanced drivetrain and interior technologies.
“We’ve purposely evolved the iconic soul and raw performance formula that Viper has maintained over the years,” Gilles said. “Our returning customers will see the world-class levels of pride, quality and hand-built craftsmanship built into the latest generation Viper.”
Awe-inspiring V-10 powertrain
The heart and soul of the SRT® Viper GTS is its venerable, handcrafted, all-aluminium 8.4-litre, mid-front V-10 overhead-valve engine.
Improvements for 2013 include an ultra-high-flow, lightweight composite intake manifold; high-strength, forged pistons; sodium-filled exhaust valves; new catalysts to ease backpressure and an aluminum flywheel that reduces reciprocating losses. Approximately 25 pounds (11.34 kgs) have been shaved from the fully dressed engine.
Performance ratings for the SRT-engineered V-10 Viper are 640hp and 600 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any naturally aspirated sports-car engine in the world.
The Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission has been improved with closer gear ratios and a final drive ratio that has been shortened to 3.55 from 3.07. The shifter throw also is shorter. As a result, the latest SRT® Viper GTS is more engaging to drive. Its top speed of 331 kmh is now achieved through 6th gear with maximum engine speed (redline) at 6,200 rpm.
Outstanding ride, Handling and Capability
Starting with a stiffer structure that provides 50% more torsional rigidity, the chassis of the SRT® Viper GTS benefits from numerous enhancements, many of which have been learned through racing efforts with Viper GTS-R and Competition Coupe models.
Major upgrades include the addition of a new aluminium x-brace under the hood that ties the suspension pickup points to the magnesium cowl super casting. This benefits torsional rigidity and stiffness. A new aluminium impact beam at the front of the car contributes to overall mass savings and improved weight distribution, while providing excellent crash worthiness.
Structurally, many chassis components were reworked to take advantage of new materials able to accommodate reduced thickness and complex shapes without compromising structural rigidity. The result is an overall weight saving of approximately 100 pounds (45 kgs).
At the rear, the suspension has been re-engineered with the toe link moved forward of the axle for better tow control and dynamic stability. A new, driver-selectable two-mode suspension system, featuring Bilstein DampTronic Select shock absorbers with both street and track settings, is standard on the SRT® Viper GTS.
The SRT® Viper GTS rides on standard Pirelli P Zero, Z-rated tyres with substantially improved overall response, cold-weather performance and enhanced grip and steering feel, regardless of road surface – while also broadening the performance envelope. For the first time, standard safety technologies such as electronic multistage stability control and traction control help to maximise traction performance at virtually any speed and driving environment.
While every SRT® Viper GTS leaves the factory floor ready to take on any on-road or on-track challenge, the available Track Package further enhances its capability by elevating at-limit performance. Slotted two-piece lightweight rotors from StopTech replace the original equipment, while ultra-lightweight multi-spoke Sidewinder II wheels wrapped in high-performance Pirelli P Zero Corsa “racing-type” compound tires further reduce unsprung weight at all four corners. Selecting the Track Package also slices 57 pounds (26 kgs) from the vehicle’s kerb weight.
The SRT® Viper GTS comes with a steering-wheel-mounted launch-control switch, allowing for optimal acceleration from standing starts.
Benchmark braking
Brake performance for the SRT® Viper GTS is engineered to provide shorter stopping distances, better modulation, improved durability and balanced brake performance without fading under extreme conditions.
Each corner features four-piston Brembo brakes with fixed-aluminium calipers and vented rotors boasting a diameter of 355 mm by 32 mm with forged brake calipers. All surfaces are machined for full weight optimisation, and the calipers are among the stiffest available. Heat distortion is nearly eliminated, even under the most demanding braking conditions.
The available SRT® Track Package features lightweight, slotted two-piece rotors from StopTech.
New premium materials, craftsmanship and technologies
The all-new, driver-oriented interior cabin of the SRT® Viper GTS has been totally revamped – superior craftsmanship, premium material appointments and performance-oriented technologies are evident throughout.
For the first time, all major interior surfaces are sewn and wrapped with additional padding applied in comfort areas and all surfaces are fully leather-skinned. Standard accent colours are applied to the seats, doors, centre console and stitching.
Quality fit and finish is showcased by details such as the triple paint-finished gun-metal appliqués on the cluster bezel, HVAC outlets, window-switch bezels, shifter base, park-brake bezel and the integrated passenger grab-handle on the centre console.
Standard high-performance racing seats from Sabelt feature a lightweight Kevlar/fiberglass shell created by a state-of-the-art resin transfer-molding technology for mass reduction and long-term durability. Both driver and passenger enjoy improved comfort from thigh support and deep side-bolsters designed to match the extreme lateral acceleration capabilities of the SRT® Viper GTS.
Seating positions are 20 mm lower for more room and enhanced performance-driving ergonomics. Seat travel is extended by 90mm overall, which enables expanded seating options from a more rearward positioned bulkhead. For the first time, seat height can be power-adjusted by up to 40 mm.
The new SRT® Viper GTS is the most spacious model in the history of the nameplate. The floor pan and bulkhead have been extended approximately 90 mm to provide improved legroom and more rearward seat track movement.
A 7-inch (177.8 mm), full-colour, customisable instrument cluster – with full-time analog tachometer – has been designed specifically for the SRT® Viper GTS.
The dominant centre tachometer display features an animated readout that glows red and shows off the new “Stryker” logo when engine rpm approaches redline, safely alerting the driver to upshift.
Drivers can configure the tachometer to display their last shift point and a peak rpm hold marker can be set up for optimum performance. Views include tach-only or tach with digital speed readout.
The new customisable instrument cluster provides an unmatched presentation of the exclusive SRT Performance Pages’ statistics and feedback to the driver, including 0-to-100 kmh; 0-to-161 kmh; eighth- and quarter-mile elapsed times; braking distance; instant g-force measurement readouts and top-speed performance.
The 8.4-inch (213.36 mm) Uconnect® radio doubles as a display for SRT® Performance Pages content, such as quarter-mile elapsed time and speed. Data also can be stored for future reference.
The Uconnect® Media Centre provides a range of new features and multiple ways to control media. The system balances the convenience of an 8.4-inch (213.36 mm) touchscreen with the reassurance of tactile knobs for common functions such as radio tuning and volume adjustment. Touchscreen buttons along the bottom of the screen enable easy access to the radio, climate controls, navigation and phone. Breakthrough voice-text capability is enabled via voice command. Pairing the vehicle with a compatible Bluetooth-equipped phone also enables handsfree calling.
Once behind the wheel, its sculpted contours welcome a driver’s grip. The steering wheel is also home to a host of finger-tip mounted controls for audio, Uconnect® features and launch control.
The SRT® Viper GTS features a Harman Kardon surround-sound system that offers the very latest in audio system technology. All Harman Kardon audio systems include a high-voltage class D amplifier with tracking power supply and up to 12 channels of amplification.
The Harman Kardon system with exclusive Logic 7 surround-sound processing has a total of 18-speakers, including four subwoofers located behind the seats, with high-performance, high-efficiency GreenEdge technology loudspeakers that are extremely light and include rare earth magnets. The magnets inside each speaker ensure efficient speaker operation and enhanced performance. The audio system is powered by a 35-volt tracking power supply – so the new and improved sound system achieves more than double the acoustic power of the current system.
Refined evolution of SRT’s hallmark – aggressive and functional exterior design
The all-new, timeless exterior design of the SRT® Viper GTS blends contemporary execution with evolutionary refinement. An all-new carbon-fibre hood, roof, decklid and aluminium door panels are firsts for the SRT® Viper GTS and result in significant weight reduction, improved high-speed stability and a .369 drag coefficient while still achieving negative lift.
The forward-hinged hood carries the redesigned Viper badge – aptly named “Stryker” by the Viper Club of America – positioned in the centre and offers unobtrusive access to several service points and the SRT®-engineered V-10 powerplant.
The classical low-stance and the extreme cab-rearward proportions that have become the unmistakable silhouette of the iconic supercar, return on the SRT® Viper GTS along with the dramatic fender “gills” – another traditional Viper design cue that helps to extract heat from the engine compartment.
The SRT® Viper GTS features a contemporary take on the traditional “double-bubble” roof configuration that maximises headroom for the driver and passenger while maintaining a low frontal area – allowing additional room for helmets during recreational competitive driving.
Dual-function, bi-xenon projector headlamps are tightly packaged with white light-emitting diode (LED) daytime running lamps and LED turn signals in a sinister “snake eye” configuration. Functional “blisters” incorporated into the 70 mm projector headlamp lenses create a three-dimensional view that gives Viper a distinctive glare.
The lower-front grille is purposefully designed as an evolution of the traditional Viper low-profile cooling opening configuration and discretely carries a refined V-shape structure.
The exhaust system continues to exit forward of the rear wheels and now carries further refinement with cast aluminium, sill-mounted exhaust bezels.
For the first time, the SRT® Viper GTS has LED taillamps that integrate stop-and-turn illumination in one element. Snakeskin texture in the lens carries the surface work seen in the gills and hood textures. With dark-masked lenses, the horizontal lamps appear dark until the LED elements fire. Each lamp carries 50 LEDs that provide a unified “crystallised” illumination effect.
Split six-spoke forged-aluminum “Venom” wheels are available with three finishes, including polished face with graphite-painted pockets (standard), fully painted Hyper Black or fully painted Matte Black.
Available SRT® Track Package wheels are ultra-lightweight, track-ready wheels in Hyper Black or Matte Black finishes.
A mixture of classic Viper exterior paint shades have been reformulated, while new colours are also being introduced during a multistage painting process that results in show-car like finishes. Eight exterior colour choices are offered on the SRT® Viper GTS including: Adrenaline Red, Venom Black, Bright White, Gunmetal Pearl, Race Yellow, Shadow Blue Pearl, Stryker Red Tri-Coat Pearl and GTS Blue.
Two distinctive body stripe configurations are offered – a pair of tapered stripes starting on the clamshell hood and making their way onto the roof and finishing on the rear hatch or a pair of wide stripes running the length of the coupe from front to rear fascia.
Both stripe configurations are expertly applied in the paint booth before the main body colour. Only after the paint is cured, a final clear coat is used to ensure the stripes are an integral part of the finished product. Exterior stripe colour packages include Black Venom, Billet Silver and Gunmetal Pearl.