What is this now? A blacked out new 2009 Dodge Ram with a manufacturers plate lurking around a Waterford Race Track in Michigan? Why it certainly is. Why would a truck already unveiled be all blacked out and at a race track? Perhaps it's the hi-po model. Oh how delightfully gossiptastic. We have very literally zero proof this is anything other than a run of the mill Ram, but we're going to throw it out that this may be the Ram SRT-10, maybe just the R/T, but it's being subjected to some laps around the track. True or not we're willing to start some rumors.
Around the corner from the stage where Dodge introduced its latest Viper SRT-10, DaimlerChrysler's Mopar parts division displayed this 675-hp 2008 Viper concept. It's a megaskutch meaner than the happily striped reptile that graced the stage earlier today, numerals flying in its wake (i.e., 8.4-liter V10; zero to 60 in under 4 seconds; braking in under 100 feet; ). The concept's a tuner Viper, tweaked out with cold-air intake, adjustable coilover suspension kit, lightweight 19" alloys and a tub of lukewarm chicken fat and accompanying spork. (Just checking to see if you'd tuned out.) – Mike SpinelliMore »
With its press embargo popping 13 days premature by Road & Track, we can reveal that Dodge's new devil whip is in receipt of an extra 90 horses. With 600 hp, this ram-snake hybrid will slither around the 2007 model year and straight into 2008. The upward revision in horsepower is via a displacement increase of the V10 (from 8.3 to 8.4 liters), higher compression, variable valve timing and a slightly larger air intake (check out those hood gills). The old-school T56 manual's been upgraded to a new six-speed Tremec TR6060 gearbox, which can withstand greater amounts of torque than its predecessor, according to Chrysler. Feel free to peruse the gallery and press release, courtesy of R&T's gun-jumping ways. We'll be listening for the sweet notes of the Viper's truckish powerplant and waiting for an answer from Chevy. – Ray WertMore »
Yes kids, safety training is important whenever you're dealing with a truck fitted with a 8.3 L Viper V10 — pushing out an output of 500 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque. Or, you can find out the hard way — like this guy here in his first outing in the truck lookin' to be a supercar. – Ray WertMore »
The Dodge SRT-10 pickup may haul tons of ass off the line, but it sure is sluggish getting off the lot. A report, cited by Winding Road, indicates Dodge will discontinue the 500hp, V10-powered Ram at the end of the year, owing to sales of only 2,000 units. Dodge hasn't confirmed the report, but we think we just heard a glacier weeping with joy. [Thanks to Damon for the tip.]
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