Dodge has issued the following press release:
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.
Standout Powertrain
The new Dodge Viper SRT10’s deep-skirted V-10 aluminum engine block was revised for a 1-millimeter larger bore, raising the displacement to 8.4 liters from 8.3 liters.
The Viper SRT10’s 8.4-liter 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 V-10’s two-piece intake manifold combines a cast aluminum lower with smooth runners for better air flow, bolted to a die-cast aluminum upper plenum.
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.
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.
Upgrades were developed to handle the 8.4-liter V-10’s increased horsepower and torque levels, while improving traction, driveability ’ and durability.
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10’s V-10 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. — fastest production Aston Martin Vanquish S.
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 synchronizer 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 calipers in the front and Brembo 42/38 dual opposing calipers 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
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 aluminum, 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 tires.
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-liter, 600-horsepower V-10 engine underneath.
Eight exterior colors 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.
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. — first-ever four-door Wrangler.
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 colors will be available in 2008: black, and four new color combinations in black/red, black/blue, black/slate or black/natural tan.
2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Safety and Security
’ Adjustable Pedals: Allow brake and accelerator pedals to move toward or away from the driver to help driver achieve a safe and comfortable seating position for improved control
’ Advanced Multistage Front Air Bags with Occupant Classification System (OCS): Inflates with a force appropriate to the severity of the impact. The OCS measures the conditions for activation or deactivation of the passenger side front air bag based upon the weight of the occupant
’ Anti-lock Brake System (ABS): Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking or slippery conditions
’ BeltAlert: Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver and front passenger to buckle up if a vehicle is driven without the driver being properly belted
’ Center High-mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL): The shelf-mounted center high mounted stop lamp uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) for longer life
’ Constant Force Retractors (CFR): Distribute force or load exerted on a seat belt, and then gradually release the seat belt webbing in a controlled manner — 2005 Geneva International Motor Show.
’ Crumple Zones: Designed to compress during an accident to absorb energy, decreasing transfer of that energy to the occupants
’ Energy-absorbing Steering Column: The manual-adjust steering column uses two hydroformed coaxial tubes that can move relative to each other to allow the column to move forward for enhanced energy absorption during a crash.
’ Interior Head-impact Protection: Interior pillars above the beltline and instrument panel ’ including areas around windshield and rear window headers, roof and side rail structures, and shoulder-belt turning loops ’ specifically designed to limit head-impact force
’ Knee Bolsters: The lower instrument panel and the glove-box door are designed to properly position the occupant, enabling the air bags to work effectively
’ Remote Keyless Entry (RKE): System enhances personal security by locking and unlocking doors and turning on interior lamps. The system also arms and disarms the Vehicle Theft Security Alarm
’ Three-point Seat Belts with Pretensioners: Three-point lap and shoulder belt retractors incorporate a pretensioning feature to enhance occupant protection in an impact by managing occupant energy
’ Tire-pressure Monitoring (TPM): Pressure-sensor modules within the valve stems of all four wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to a receiver, and the system informs occupants when the pressure is too low
Manufacturing
The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 will be hand-built at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit.
