The new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 boasts more of what performance aficionados crave: kick in the pants, throw back in the seat power, combined with benchmark braking, world class ride and handling, a race inspired interior and bold exterior styling.

While every SRT vehicle offers balanced, overall performance, the heart and soul of the new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 is its standout powertrain. For 2008, SRT ups the ante with a new, 8.4 litre aluminium V10 engine that produces an astounding 600 horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. of torque.

“A legendary big game hunter once said, ‘Bring enough gun!’ – and with the new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10, we’ve created some very powerful artillery for sports car enthusiasts,” said Kipp Owen, Director – Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Engineering, Chrysler Group. “With 600 horsepower – 90 more than before - and 0 to 60 mph performance in less than four seconds, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 sets a new benchmark for the ultimate American sports car.”

The new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 will arrive in Dodge showrooms in North America this summer with a new level of customisation options, including five new exterior colours, four new interior colour combinations and a new wheel design.

Standout Powertrain
When SRT powertrain engineers set out to get more venom from the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10’s powerplant, their objectives included not only increasing performance, but also complying with stringent regulatory requirements, such as federal Tier 2, Bin 5 and California’s Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) 2 mandates.

Working with specialists from McLaren Performance Technologies and Ricardo, Inc., SRT engineers began by following the racer’s basic formula for more power: bigger displacement, more efficient breathing and higher engine speed.

The new Dodge Viper SRT10’s deep skirted V10 aluminium engine block was revised for a 1 millimetre larger bore, raising the displacement to 8.4 litres from 8.3 litres. With strengthened bulkheads and improved water jackets for better cooling, the block includes pressed in iron cylinder liners and cross bolted main bearing caps for strength and durability.

The Viper SRT10’s 8.4 litre engine breathes through new cylinder heads equipped with Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) shaped combustion chambers, larger valves and Variable Valve Timing (VVT). VVT electronically adjusts when the exhaust valves are open and closed according to engine speed and load, allowing the engine to “breathe” cleaner and more efficiently.

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 V10’s two piece intake manifold combines a cast aluminium lower with smooth runners for better air flow, bolted to a die cast aluminium upper plenum. A revised air cleaner box with a low restriction filter sends air through a dual electronic throttle control into the intake module.

The air fuel mixture in the cylinders is ignited by platinum tip spark plugs fired by new individual plug coils mounted on the cylinder head covers.

Within the cylinders, pistons are equipped with larger diameter floating pins with bronze bushings for high load capability. Forged powder metal connecting rods are secured with aircraft quality fasteners for increased fatigue strength.

Engine lubrication is managed by a larger oil pump and a swinging oil pickup adapted from Viper competition 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.

SRT engineers didn’t stop there. Upgrades were developed to handle the 8.4 litre V10’s increased horsepower and torque levels, while improving traction, driveability and durability.

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10’s V10 channels its power through a new, smaller diameter, twin disc clutch (a change from the previous larger diameter, single disc setup). The new clutch reduces rotating inertia by 18 percent, resulting in reduced clutch pedal effort and improved engagement feel.

The transmission is the latest evolution of the Tremec T56 six speed manual, known as the TR6060. It features 10 percent wider gears for higher torque capacity and a new synchroniser package. A new shifter system results in reduced shifter travel. Club racers will applaud a new provision for adding an external transmission cooler.

Benchmark Braking
Stopping power is another key attribute of the Dodge Viper SRT10 formula, with 14 inch brake rotors gripped by Brembo 44/40 dual opposing piston callipers in the front and Brembo 42/38 dual opposing callipers in the rear. An anti lock braking system (ABS) prevents lockup during hard braking. This system results in a benchmark braking performance of 60 to 0 mph in less than 100 feet.

World class Ride and Handling
The ride and handling of the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 is defined by a race bred, fully independent, four wheel suspension featuring lightweight, high performance aluminium control arms and knuckles, damped by lightweight coil over shock absorbers.

Where the power goes right to the road, SRT engineers retained the tried and true Dana M44-4 rear axle and outfitted it with a new GKN Visco Lok speed sensing limited slip differential for improved traction.

The Dodge Viper SRT10 rides on polished, forged aluminium, 18 x 10 inch front and 19 x 13 inch rear wheels now available in three styles: the five spoke, the H spoke and the all new Razor wheel with five U shaped spokes. The wheels are clad in Michelin® Pilot® Sport PS2 tyres. The four groove tread design tyres provide maximum grip, reduced road noise and superior handling in both wet and dry conditions.

Bold Exterior Styling
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains available in two body styles – Roadster and Coupe. Both feature a dramatic new hood with a larger, more efficient hood scoop for air induction and larger, functional hood louvers to facilitate a greater cooling effect for the more powerful 8.4 litre, 600 horsepower V10 engine underneath.

Eight exterior colours will be introduced throughout the model year – five of which are all new including Venom Red, Snakeskin Green, Viper Violet, Viper Orange and Bright Blue. Racing stripes continue to be an option with six dual painted stripe colours available: white, black, silver, graphite, blue and red.

Several exterior differences exist between the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Roadster and Coupe. In fact, the only body panels they share are front fascia and fenders, hood and doors. However, all of the iconic Viper SRT10 design cues have been maintained including the signature crosshair grille, deep cut side scallops, swept back fenders and lowered hood lines.

The Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe’s hard top with its “double bubble” styling makes it even more torsionally stiff than the Roadster. The 2008 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 headroom as possible.

Race inspired Interior Design
The 2008 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 colours will be available in 2008: black, and four new colour combinations in black/red, black/blue, black/slate or black/natural tan. A choice of bezel finishes on the center instrument panel and console adds to the increased level of customisation.

“The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 delivers die hard performance enthusiasts a perfect combination of outrageous power, exceptional performance and stunning good looks,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Motorsports and SRT Marketing and Product Planning, Chrysler Group. “And now with a whole new range of interior and exterior colours and options to choose from, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 redefines how a customer can personalise their Viper.”

Source: Dodge Press Releases

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