2013 SRT Viper GTS is here! (launch video)
You’ll see this at the Dubai Motor Show, meanwhile we snuck into the beast’s secret lair to have a early sneak peak!
By Shahzad Sheikh
This gorgeous red SRT is the car you’ll see on display at the Dubai Motor Show next month on the Chrysler group stand – although it’s no longer the ‘Dodge’ Viper (although that’s what I can’t seem to help myself call it), but the SRT branded super sports muscle car.
We managed to track down this sexy snake hiding in a secret bunker at a not-so-secret location in Dubai. After hissing and lunging at us threateningly a few times, it allowed itself to be photographed, so enjoy these sneak pics of the Chrysler group’s show superstar.
Whilst its curvy yet overtly masculine lines and thrusting bonnet represents a familiar silhouette to Viper fans (although closer in style to the original 92-02 car), this is an all-new car. After a gap of three years, the Viper returns.
The handbuilt Viper features an all-aluminium mighty 8.4-litre V10 engine putting out 640bhp at 6000rpm and 600lb ft of torque at 5100rpm, claimed to be more than any other naturally aspirated sports car.
Supposedly McLaren helped develop this monster lump, and lucky Viper owners should see 0-100kph acceleration times of about three and half seconds, with a top speed of more than 330kph.
To cope with all that performance the chassis has been lightened and is 50% stiffer than the previous Viper, partly thanks to the aluminium x-brace under the bonnet, and it comes with multistage stability control, traction control and ABS. The GTS models also get driver-selectable, two-mode suspension system.
It only, and quite rightly, only comes with a six-speed manual from Tremec, with close ratios and a short-throw shifter. There’s also a steering-wheel mounted launch-control switch. Bring. It. On!
Of course performance needs strong braking and this gets four-piston Brembo brakes on each corner with forged- aluminum callipers.
Inside, there’s a vastly improved interior with utterly contemporary instrumentation and central infotainment system. The GTS comes with full leather upholstery. Quality, fit and finish levels are massively up compared to Vipers of the past.
Other features include a redesigned Viper badge, now dubbed ‘Stryker’ by the Viper Club of America. The side gills and traditional ‘double-bubble’ roof remain, and are joined by LED daytime lights and LED turn signals ‘in a sinister snake eye configuration’ – cool! Even the taillamps boasts ‘snakeskin texture in the lenses’.
It still has side exhausts, and the five-spoke forged aluminium ‘Rattler’ wheels are available polished, or in black finishes. For the GTS you get a split six-spoke ‘Venom’ wheel design seen here with graphite-painted pockets and also available in dark finishes.
No official price has been released from Chrysler Middle East head office as yet, we’ll bring that to you as soon as we get it. [UPDATE] This evening the price has been confirmed as AED600k ($163k).
This is one mean, wriggly snake we can’t wait to get our hands on!
[Thanks to Chrysler Middle East for tipping us off, and the nice chaps at Trading Enterprise for not breaking our camera and chucking us out!]
The car is a mishmash of old viper design cues and elements from the Koenigsegg Agera. I think it will also fade away into history of the automobile world.
amazing, chuck a few LEDs and new rims on a 21-year-old design and sell it as a new ground-breaking invention..
looks like an outdated pice of crap tome with all due respect. porsche, ferrari, lamo is the way to go..
True true, she is way behind her opponents technology & styling wise but all of you real “motor heads” have this crush on the stick Buried some where in your heart. Man-machine interaction you being strapped to this monster eating away your guts every time you accelerate, YAH thats what i call “real” driving experience.