If you'd like to compare its on-board video of the record lap to the ZR1's video, check it out over at Motor Trend. Looks like Jim Mero may have to head back to Germany and set that faster lap he was talking about after all. [Motor Trend]

"As the Company evaluates strategic options to maximize core operations and leverage its assets, we have agreed to listen to these parties. We will do so keeping in mind the best interests of those who have shown tremendous support for the vehicle- including employees, suppliers, dealers and a worldwide group of loyal Viper owners and enthusiasts,” Nardelli continued, “Viper is an integral part of this Company's heritage. While this is a strategic review, our intent would be to offer strong operational and financial support during any potential transaction, in order to ensure a future for the Viper business and perpetuate the legacy of this great vehicle."

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: Why purchase Viper? Surely the current 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 — a refresh of the 2003 model — is nearing the end of its useful life. Vehicles like the 2009 Nissan GT-R and 2009 Corvette ZR1 now offer considerably greater track performance combined with user friendliness and good road manners. All any potential buyer would receive would be a soon-to-be-outdated car, a brand with an image problem and the need to jump-start development on a replacement. If we were going to get into the supercar game, we’d start a fresh brand with a fresh product, free of the sins of the 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10 convertible its fathers. [Source: Automotive News, Sub. Req.]

Yes, I can do burnouts.
[Photo courtesy: 0-60 Issue One]

There weren't even any signs to indicate that this was a limited edition, $180K beast. Shiny black paint and 700 horsepower may get you into the Neiman Marcus catalog, but at the NY Auto Show it also gets you relegated to the Team Polizei corner.

The first clue are those wheels, they stick out like an oh so sore thumb. Actually, half the problem is they don't stick out at all, they're practically lost in those wheel wells. Second and perhaps most impressive is the virtually intact digital dashboard so missed in modern vehicles. We almost thought that interior was certifiable there for a moment. We could go on and on about the specatacularness of the conversion, but we think we'll let the car speak for itself in the letter to the viewer that's posted in the gallery. Ah downstairs, the perfect mouthwash for the Ridler nominees.

NEIMAN MARCUS DIRECT TO LAUNCH THE 2008 NEIMAN MARCUS SPECIAL EDITION HENNESSEY VENOM 700NM

DALLAS, TEXAS (March 9, 2008) - Neiman Marcus Direct announced today that it is partnering with Hennessey Performance Engineering to introduce the 2008 Neiman Marcus Special Edition Hennessey Venom 700NM. The 2008 Special Edition Hennessey Venom will be featured in the spring Neiman Marcus Men's Catalog and will retail for $179.500.

The 2008 Special Edition Hennessey Venom 700NM features jet black paint with a 200-mph tested rear wing and Venom 700NM badges. Inside, custom details include black and red leather appointments, a numbered limited-edition dash plaque, embroidered floor mats and matching luggage. Underhood, there's a custom engine featuring 700 horsepower with 645 lb-ft torque, that can attain 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds.

"The Venom 700NM offers world-class power, performance and looks in typical Hennessey style. We are very excited about our new partnership with Neiman Marcus." said John Hennessey, President, Hennessey Performance Engineering. Only seven Venom 700NM Vipers will be made and the price includes one day of high-performance driving school at Lonestar Motorsports Park. For your chance to own this car, call 1 -877-885-7077 promptly at 9:00 a.m. PST on Monday, April 10, 2008.

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

You see, according to some, this rock upon which we live is a goner come Dec. 21, 2012. Commenter WheatKing is abundantly aware of this, and its implication for Viper sales and future generations of the snarling set 'o fetish wheels:

Everyone knows the world ends in 2012.. No sense making them after 2011.. Apparently the four horsemen of the apocalypse have already put in their orders for their black ACR models to be delivered early 2011..

A little after WheatKing secured COTD, Beta.Rogan thoughfully provided a preview of what the four horsemen might be in for:

I once dyno'd a first-gen Viper with a customer-tuned 2-stage nitrous system and open headers into cherry bombs. It was hard to drive around the parking lot, let alone at speed. It was the most pissed-off sounding car I had ever been around...it was literally daring you to try something funny. "Go ahead punk, let me see what you've got?" It was a scary car.

At the end of the day, it made around 730whp and 950wtq before it blew a 3-foot fireball out of the intake manifolds at 5500rpm. Both air filters caught on fire, all the hoses blew off the intake manifolds and a huge freeze plug was jettisoned in the process.

After I managed to put out the fire the customer checked his nitrous jets, shrugged and said "guess I didn't size them right." I helped him put the freeze plug back in (it idled at 3000rpm without it) and he drove it home!

After that experience, I learned that a Viper, no matter what, demands respect, as I've never seen an engine survive a nitrous backfire like that. Fuckin' A. R.I.P

The next generation Viper roadster, referred to internally as ZC-D27 — and ZC-D29 in the case of the coupe — are no longer part of Chrysler LLC's future plans. They've been shuttled to the side — we're assuming as part of "Project Genesis," the new game plan "intended to align the needs and wants of the customer with its [Chrysler's] product portfolio and the dealer network." Or perhaps it was part of "Project Alpha" the game plan prior to "Genesis" and before Cerberus really got a good look at the books. All we know is the decision was made during the period Cerberus has been running the show in Auburn Hills.

In other words: Shit.

Originally, the new version of Dodge's halo car was set to start rolling down the assembly line in January of 2009 alongside two Chrysler badged platform mates. These two new Chrysler branded performance vehicles were to be modeled after the Firepower concept car. The first one, a roadster, was given the internal name ZC-C27, and a coupe version was given the internal name ZC-C29. However we know the decision to kill the Chrysler-brand versions was made sometime in the middle of last year.

This certainly would've hurt the business case for the entire "ZC" program. The Viper is hand built at the Connor Avenue Assembly Plant. A plant that, without the Firepower, would do nothing but build Vipers and the big V10 engines that go in them. Its a plant that we're fairly certain Chrysler's new Six Sigma-loving management would probably like to close.

The general unrest and financial struggles of Chrysler played a huge role as well. When this embattled company chooses how to spend their R&D money, they have to choose very carefully. Sadly there are many other vehicles in the Chrysler lineup that need attention before they can start to think about a low volume, hardcore sports car again — halo status be damned.

What now?

Chrysler recently launched the freshened, more powerful, fourth generation Viper for the 2008 model year. Original plans had this car being built for only two model years. It was meant to be a stop-gap model until the next generation "ZC" car could be brought online. Now that an all new Viper won't happen, sources tell us that the fourth generation Viper will instead be built until around the 2011 model year. We'd also venture a guess that so long as the fourth gen is being built, a few of the track prepped ACR models will continue to trickle out of the factory.

What happens after 2011? That's a question we don't yet have an answer for.

It's hard to imagine Chrysler leaving the halo car market for good — but we're thinking the future will call for a more affordable halo. Not just more affordable for the buyer but more affordable for Chrysler build. We know they'll want something that can still put up a fight with the Corvette — at least the base model — but at the same time, be much closer to the Corvette's base MSRP.

In the next one or two years, we can only a hope a concept car pops up on the auto show circuit that can give some hope for an all new, SRT hot rod. For now though, we mourn the loss of a legend.

RIP
Dodge Viper
1992-2011

Hennessey adds 78 horsepower to the 2008 Viper SRT10 to Combat Upcoming 2009 Corvette Blue Devil ZR-1

SEALY, TEXAS (December 20, 2007) - Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) today announced that it is introducing the company's first high-performance performance upgrade system for the new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10. Known as the Venom 650R, the engine modifications increase by 78 horsepower giving the Viper the ability to accelerate from 0 to 150 mph 1.5 seconds quicker (15.5 sec. versus 17.0 sec.) than the already factory-fast 2008 Viper that offers a stout 600 horsepower.

The Venom 650R package consists of custom fabricated long tube stainless-steel exhaust headers with 1 7/8-inch primary tubes flowing into 5-to-1 merge collectors. From there, the spent exhaust gases flow through aftermarket catalytic converters before traveling through a full 3-inch stainless-steel exhaust system fit with high-flow stainless-steel mufflers. Other performance upgrades include: K&N high-flow air filter element, 2-piece light-weight cross-drilled brake rotors (saving 8 lbs per corner), professional installation, dyno testing, Hennessey Venom Power floor mats and exclusive Hennessey Venom 650R exterior badges. Each Venom 650R has a serial numbered plaque located in the cockpit and under the hood. Rounding out the package, the Venom 650R will carry a full 3 year / 36,000 mile Hennessey warranty that will cover the modifications performed to the vehicle.

HPE plans to build 200 units for the 2008 model year. Many of these cars will be available through an exclusive Hennessey dealer network comprised of high-performance minded Dodge dealers.

The Hennessey Venom 650R upgrade package gives 2008 Viper owners the option to fend off any Corvette Blue Devil ZR-1s that they might encounter in the coming New Year.

2008 Hennessey Venom 650R Specifications Available for all 2008 Viper SRT10 models including Coupe, Convertible and ACR.

Power:
678 hp @ 6,200 rpm; 645 lb-ft torque @ 5,200 rpm

Performance:
0 - 60 mph: 3.3 sec. 0 - 150 mph: 15.5 sec. (stock 2008 Viper = 17.0 sec.) 1/4 mile: 11.3 @ 131 mph (factory Michelin PS2 tires) 1/4 mile: 10.7 @ 132 mph (BFG Drag Radial tires) Top Speed: 211 mph (estimated for the Viper coupe)

Venom 650R includes:
1 7/8-inch stainless-steel long tube exhaust headers • Full 3-inch diameter stainless-steel exhaust system • High-flow catalytic converters • K&N Air filter • Lightweight 2-piece cross-drilled brake rotor upgrade (front & rear) • "Powered by Hennessey" valve cover badges • Hennessey and Venom 650R exterior badges • Hennessey windshield banner • Hennessey Venom Power floor mats • Serial numbered dash plaque and engine compartment plaque • Limited Production (only 200 650R Vipers will be offered for sale for the 2008 Viper model year) • Limited Warranty (3 years / 36,000 miles) • Lifetime headers and exhaust warranty for original owner (available from Hennessey / Dodge dealers or when installed at the HPE facility located at Lonestar Motorsports Park in Sealy, Texas) • Professional installation at HPE includes all necessary gaskets and fluids plus before and after chassis dyno testing plus up to 100 miles of road testing (mail order kit also available).

About Hennessey Performance Engineering:
For more than 17 years Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) has specialized in designing, testing, manufacturing and selling high-performance parts and services for Dodge/Chrysler vehicles including the Viper [fill in original Viper model name here] and SRT10, Chrysler 300C SRT8, Dodge Charger/Magnum SRT8, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, as well as other exotic automotive brands such as Bentley, Mercedes AMG and Porsche Turbo. HPE operates at the company's new 30,000 square foot engineering and manufacturing facility located at the company's own Lonestar Motorsports Park located 45 minutes west of Houston, Texas. HPE is the only automotive tuning company in North America that operates its own validation, testing track, and proving grounds.

In every relationship and social circle there are certain arguments that simply need to be had, the further evolution of society as a whole depends on the outcome of these arguments (and often times fist fights) and this is a question to inspire just one of those arguments (and a fist fight if we're lucky). Between the two ubiquitous American sports cars, taking into consideration all things from styling to public image and racing pedigree, which is the people's champion: Viper or Corvette?

The yellow Supra...[a] p***y magnet for sure. I mean, the green and the silver appeal more to men, 'cause a guy knows what he's looking at and will drool over it. But girls see the yellow, and panties start dropping off.

"Rabih Cheaib, 20, who watched the high-speed race and was at the scene shortly after the crash, said he saw the Viper return to the area after the accident. He recognized the driver as Dunedin resident Danny Jacobs, whom he knew through friends."

After years of enjoying the ability to determine what speed I felt was safe, amongst other moderately skilled drivers doing the same, I find this country's utterly senseless draconian enforcement of unreasonably low speed limits incredibly confining. Never one to succumb to claustrophobia, I can only speculate that's what I feel when driving here in the US. The wide-open highways close around me, squeezing my concentration into the roadside ahead; every shrub, building or bridge becomes the lair of Johnny Law, lying in wait to prey upon people careless enough to exercise their freedom.

The Viper wasn't made to be driven slowly. And thanks to its phenomenal grip and composure, anything below 120mph feels slow. Cruising at 65mph turns yesterday's phenomenal supercar into a lumbering box of boredom, bouncing over every bump and rut, the groaning engine betraying its utilitarian heritage. At these kinds of speeds, you yearn for distractions, something you'll find too little of in this car. Lacking both the elegant minimalism of a Lotus Elise or the extravagant wistfulness of a TVR, the Dodge's interior is made worse by the rest of the car's competence. Acres of sweaty black plastic, the kind that adorned early '80s Walkman knockoffs — and that smells faintly of urine — do an exceptionally patchy job of holding in their innards. Look at the gauges from the passenger seat and you can see through a centimeter-wide gap into the wilderness of wires beyond.

People passing outside can't see the interior past the Viper's new sharp creases or old bulbous shapes. The main visual differences for 2008 are the six functional vents in the hood, but people can tell this car is special. Stop at a gas station and people ask you questions, drive through a town and people take pictures, pass someone else in a fast car and they want to race. They lose.

In a just world you could leave all this attention behind. Kids in Blazers swerving beside you to get a better look couldn't keep up. Moms in minivans barring the way - all minivan drivers being by definition female - could be brushed aside. With 600 hp promising 200 mph you'd be nothing but a quickly fleeting mystery in people's minds. This is what the Viper promises and in a perfect world would deliver. But confined by the constraints of reality the promise remains just that. The Viper is an unfullfillable fantasy, elating in the potential lurking deep in its accelerator travel is a reward too often impossible to be truly satisfying.

Part One, Part Two

Flying through the air at more than 20 mph, I didn't have time to think about how landing was going to feel. Subsequently, when my editor called to ask me to drive the Viper, I was in the bathroom armed with tweezers and hydrogen peroxide, slowly removing pieces of road from inside my back. You have plenty of time to reflect on such things when you spin a car at high speed. Once you've pushed the clutch in and put the brakes on full, there's really not much you can do other than think about what you've done. I really need to learn this lesson. I'll be lucky to survive this one unscathed.

Somehow, the car manages to avoid the tire barriers. I don't even stall it.

In the official version, I was going 150 mph down VIR's main straight. In reality, I'm not sure how fast it was. At that point on the track, on my fastest laps, I was hitting 180 mph. Having just returned from lunch, this lap wasn't my fastest, but it wasn't slow either.

Pulling back onto the track - slowly, there could be damage - I'm furious with myself. What an idiotic mistake. My spin wasn't caused by lack of skill or the Viper's overwhelming speed; it was caused by pure stupidity. VIR's main straight is really more of a long, gentle curve to the right. Somehow I'd allowed myself to start daydreaming about three-quarters of the way down it. That's when I drifted toward the edge of the track and clipped the grass, the rest happened too fast to accurately recall.

I'd been having such a good time too. Unlike a lot of its competition, the Viper's made for the track. More comfortable here than any road legal car I've driven since the previous generation 911 GT3 RS - the Viper feels faster and doesn't sacrifice so much comfort. Its half-assed design and basic spec sheet belie its sheer ability. I didn't think I would like this car, I was wrong.

Where a lot of fast cars are tuned for safety, the Viper makes no deliberate concessions to those unskilled enough to exploit it. Throw it into a corner too fast and a computer's not going to save you. Downshift too soon and you're going to spin. Cars haven't relied so much on the driver since the '80s. The Viper takes a significant amount of mental recalibration when you first start driving it. Like it or not, we've become used to inherent understeer and electronic baby sitters. Driving without them is enlightening, all the involvement and excitement that I didn't know I was missing suddenly return. I remember why I like fast cars.

Pulling back into the pits after my spin, I can tell I'm in trouble. All of the smiling faces of the PR people have melted away, leaving instead the engineer in charge of the Viper's development. It's his baby I've almost destroyed and he looks furious. Halfway through telling me what a jackass I am he has to stop and walk away. Still shaken, I'm unable to offer much in the way of an explanation. I'm one of the youngest guys here today and he's convinced I don't know how to drive. I guess I haven't offered much evidence to the contrary.

Luckily, one of his team, the guy in charge of its handling, is standing nearby. "Don't worry, he does that to me too." My burgundy Viper returns from the mechanic's bay, flat-spotted tires replaced. Tomorrow I have to drive it back to New York.

Part One, Part Three

Publicists responsible try to come up with something that somehow signifies the product being launched, something that represents the company's character. At the launch of Triumph's Speed Triple in France, it was an engraved Mag Lite - functional and tough like the bike. For the BMW Z4 M Roadster it was an iPod. At the launch of the 2008 Dodge Viper, it was a pair of Oakley Half Jacket XLJs, whose lenses had been engraved with a Dodge logo. As I unwrapped them in my hotel room in North Carolina, the night before my first turn at the new, 600-hp Viper, I couldn't help but be wary of what the next day would bring.

I've always been more of an Aviator kind of guy. I'd like to think I wear my mirrored Ray Bans in the classic style with a touch of irony, hopefully portraying a sense of mystery. Admittedly what I'm going for is likely lost on other people, who are at best indifferent and at worst think I look like Tom Petty. Oakley wearers don't seem to get the irony thing. Pudgy middle aged men in middle of the range suits, they seemingly want their glasses to say "I might look mild-mannered, but really, I'm Batman." Secretly they hate their lives and long for adventure and freedom. Sadly, their shatter resistant, developed-for-the-military eyewear is the closest they'll ever get.

The Viper doesn't do irony either. In an age where zero-emissions are the new 200mph, it has 600bhp and looks like a giant penis crossed with a mid-'90s Dodge Stratus. If a Prius is an educated citizen-of-the-world dining in Paris, the Viper is a deadbeat dad in flannel trying to finish a 72oz steak so he doesn't have to pay for it.

Part Two, Part Three

[2008 Dodge Viper Color Combinations]

Pre-Production 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10's are starting to appear. [DragTimes.com]

Related:
What Else Is New? More From The Chrylser Group; Detroit Auto Show Embargo-Uh-Oh! The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10, Courtesy Of Road & Track [internal]

Chrysler Group Broadens Powertrain Offensive

Onslaught of New Initiatives to Result in Significantly Improved Fuel Efficiency

* Mild-hybrid technology to debut in future Chrysler Group vehicle
* Chrysler two-mode hybrid program to expand
* 2009 Jeep® Grand Cherokee BLUETEC: another 50-state clean diesel from Chrysler Group
* Company to explore development of 4-cylinder diesel for North American market, and expansion of 3.0-liter V-6 diesel
* New V-6 family of engines to include Multi-displacement System (MDS), resulting in fuel economy gain of 6 to 8 percent
* Significantly upgraded 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8
* New 4.7-liter V-8 delivers 5-percent fuel economy improvement
* Dual-clutch transmission to result in fuel economy improvement of up to 6 percent
* Common axle program to improve fuel economy, axle efficiency and costs
* Weight reduction, aerodynamic and drivetrain improvements to raise fuel economy 5 percent

Chelsea, Mich, Jun 21, 2007 -

Chrysler Group's Powertrain Offensive took a major leap forward today when Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President - Product Development, announced a barrage of new initiatives targeted solely at improving the fuel efficiency of future Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles.

Among the fuel-efficient initiatives are a commitment to developing mild-hybrid technology and expanding the company's two-mode hybrid program; new six- and eight-cylinder gasoline engines — including cylinder-deactivation in a V-6; dual-clutch transmission technology; a common axle program; weight reduction, aerodynamic and drivetrain initiatives; and another BLUETEC clean-diesel vehicle.

Additionally, the company announced it is exploring the development of a 4-cylinder diesel engine for the North American market, and the expansion of its 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engine.

"Chrysler Group is focused directly on improving fuel efficiency across our vehicle lineup," Klegon said. "We have developed and are implementing a series of major initiatives — including a bigger push in hybrid and clean-diesel technology — to meet the needs of American consumers.

"Many of these fuel-efficiency initiatives will be incorporated simultaneously into a single vehicle family — our new V-6 with Multi-displacement System (MDS) mated to a dual-clutch transmission, for example — ultimately resulting in double-digit-percentage fuel-economy gains."

Mild Hybrid
Within the next few years, Chrysler will offer a mild-hybrid powertrain in a Chrysler Group vehicle.

Mild-hybrid vehicles provide many of the benefits of hybrid technology, with less of the cost/weight penalty that is incurred by installing a full hybrid drivetrain. Mild hybrids allow the vehicle's engine to be turned off at stops. Regenerative braking stores energy that would normally be lost. Accessories can continue to run on electrical power while the engine is off. An electric motor assist results in significant fuel efficiency gains.

Two-mode Hybrid
Chrysler Group announced today that its two-mode hybrid program will expand beyond the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid, which debut next year.

Chrysler Group's two-mode hybrid system leapfrogs current technology by addressing inefficiencies that exist in high-speed driving with traditional hybrid technology. The result will be a 25-percent improvement in fuel efficiency overall — and nearly 40 percent in the city — in the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid.

The new Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango Hybrid vehicles can be powered either by the electric motor or by the 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine with MDS — or a combination of the two. When full power is needed, the system automatically adjusts for passing, driving steep grades or hauling a trailer. The result is trend-setting hybrid technology that provides superior fuel economy, performance and load-carrying capability.

Another BLUETEC 50-state Clean-diesel Vehicle
The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee will join the 2007 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty as Chrysler Group's 50-state, clean-diesel BLUETEC vehicles.

BLUETEC brings together a host of technologies for diesel passenger vehicles, beginning with completely modern, efficient diesel engines and a focus on "denoxing" to reduce nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gases. The result is clean-diesel technology in vehicles that meet 50-state emissions standards for 2010.

Future Diesel Considerations
Chrysler Group announced today that it is exploring additional penetration of its 3.0-liter V-6 common-rail diesel (CRD) engine — currently in the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee — and the possibility of a four-cylinder diesel engine for the North American market.

The company's current diesel lineup includes Dodge Sprinter, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Ram Heavy Duty.

Earlier this year, Chrysler Group announced that an all-new Cummins turbodiesel engine will be available in light-duty pickup trucks after 2009. Along with generous power and low-end torque, the new engine will provide up to 30-percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 20-percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to an equivalent gasoline engine.

V-6 Engine Family With Cylinder Deactivation
In February, Chrysler Group announced that an all-new family of engines — known as "Phoenix" — will join the Chrysler Group lineup in 2010. Since then, the company has broken ground on new plants in Trenton, Mich., Kenosha, Wis., and Mexico — all of which will produce this family of engines.

The company announced today that this new family of V-6 engines will feature cylinder deactivation (MDS). Specifically, this means the engine will operate efficiently on three cylinders when less power is needed, and in V-6 mode when more power is needed. This optimizes fuel economy when V-6 power is not required — without sacrificing vehicle performance or capability.

The new family of V-6 engines will feature an aluminum die cast block, dual variable valve timing (VVT) and a two-stage oil pump, among other technologies. The end result is an expected across-the-board V-6 fuel efficiency improvement of 6 to 8 percent — in addition to new levels of V-6 power, performance and refinement.

Significantly Upgraded 5.7-liter HEMI V-8
For 2009, Chrysler Group will deliver a significantly upgraded version of its renowned 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, resulting in notable gains in fuel efficiency, refinement, power and torque.

New 4.7-liter V-8
The new 4.7-liter V-8 offers up to 5 percent better fuel economy than the previous 4.7-liter engine.

At the same time, this E85 flex-fuel engine delivers increased performance and improved refinement. These improvements come from the 4.7-lter V-8's two spark plugs per cylinder (the only Chrysler Group engine to do so, other than the 5.7-liter HEMI), increased compression ratio, improved cylinder-head port flow and new combustion system.

In addition to improved fuel economy, the result is a 30-percent increase in horsepower and a 10-percent increase in torque (up to 75 additional horsepower and 35 more lb.-ft. of torque, depending on application) compared with the previous 4.7-liter V-8 engine.

Dual-clutch Transmission Technology
A new dual-clutch transmission — developed in partnership with Getrag — joins the Chrysler Group lineup in significant volumes in 2010 model-year vehicles.

The new dual-clutch transmission is expected to deliver a fuel economy improvement of up to six percent, based on preliminary testing.

The new transmission is equipped with two independent lay-shaft style gear sets with separate clutches, using manual transmission-based components. During shifts, the next gear is anticipated and pre-selected. Then one clutch is opened while the other is closed, allowing shifting without torque interruption. The result is quicker acceleration and refined shift quality.

Common Axle Program
New common axle technology will result in fuel-economy and axle-efficiency gains, while providing weight savings, cost reduction, increased refinement and less complexity. New advanced materials increase overall axle strength and reduce package size.

Already featured in the Chrysler 300C SRT8, this axle will soon move to other Chrysler Group vehicles.

Aerodynamic, weight reduction and drivetrain improvements Chrysler Group announced today that a new set of initiatives are in place to improve fuel efficiency across its vehicle lineup by at least five percent. These initiatives include weight reduction, aerodynamic drag improvements, reduced rolling resistance and brake drag, optimized accessory loads, and minimized drivetrain losses.

666 Plates [English Russia]

Related:
Geneva Showcase: Dodge Demon Concept; Geneva Pre-Show: Dodge's Demon-ic Concept Car; Driving Under the Influence... of Satan! [Internal]

What can two gargantuan turbos do for a Dodge Viper in the zero-to-220 mph department? No need to wonder. Hennessey Performance offers this clip of the company's Viper Competition Coupe tearing off a strip of Texas's space-time continuum in 24 seconds. Excuse the hyperbole, but listening to the Viper's turbo whine-wastegate sonata has been known to cause gross inelegance. – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Take off Your Turbos: New Hennessey Viper at SEMA [internal]

My uncle has been bugging the hell out of me to help him find a red Viper. We end up finding him a nice 04 with only 3K miles on it. Perfect shape and not a scratch or mark on it! He brought it by Friday afternoon to show it off to me. 24 hours later I'm having dinner with my wife and my cell phone keeps ringing. Pissed off, I finally pull it out of my pocket and it's his boss/friend telling me that I needed to rush to the hospital and my uncle just flipped his new Viper. He's going to be fine, but his passenger / brother in law got ejected (for some reason he didn't put his seatbelt on and he's got broken bones all over including his pelvis. Also, there's tire marks all over his jacket as if the car ran over him after he got thrown out). Really odd accident!

Need help here for anyone with thoughts on what could have happened. My uncle told me he just pulled out of his neighborhood and knew the car was cold so he wasn't getting on it at all. Plus, he lives right where it happened and knows there's a stop sign just up the road. So, speed really didn't have much to do with this. He says he just went into second, barely rolling along at about 30-40 mph and he hears a LOUD bang or pop! His first instinct was that he got rearended somehow, said that's what it felt like. The next thing he knows, the steering is gone and the car veers off the road, across a driveway and then BAM, he's upside down, stuck in the mud!

Imagine being in the dark, buried in mud, upside down with your new VIPER on top of you and you can hear the motor running and the tires still spinning. He pulled out his cell phone and started calling people telling them he was under the car! The people on the scene thought the ejected guy was the driver and the car was empty! He heard them outside and started yelling....HELP ME, I'M UNDER THE CAR! I can't say enough about the factory roll bars that are behind the headrests in these vipers. It stayed in place and kept his head from being smeared flat. (Sounds brutal, I know...but it's true)

ANYONE have thoughts on what the loud bang/pop could have been? Do these VIPERS have driveshafts known to break? The way the car ended up facing and upside down, it's almost like it catapulted and the rear flipped up and over somehow. ANY HELP / THOUGHTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED!

I know there's a few guys in this forum that are Viper owners/ fans that might be able to shed some light on possible known malfunctions with these cars and their suspension / driveshafts breaking???? The loud bang / pop my uncle describes just makes it sound like something broke or let go in the car.
As the pics show, there's no burnout marks on the road and the car ended up only 25 feet from the road.....so it's pretty much impossible that he was going very fast at all.

"HELP ME, I'M UNDER THE CAR!"

[via SVT Performance]

Related:
Stefan, Is That You? More On The Aussie Ferrari Hoonage; Save the Bugattis! First Post-Sale Veyron Crash; Crash Another Day: 007's Cracked-up Aston Martin DBS Clone [internal]

What happens when you take two distinctly American inventions and put them in the hands of a couple of Germans? Crisco-greased, tail-out Brucewurst, that's what. Plus, y'know, Sabine Schmitz, which is pretty much a guaranteed good time. – Davey G. Johnson

via 0-60

Related:
We Will Marry the Van Driver: Sabine Schmitz Rounds the 'Ring in a Ford Transit [Internal]

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 Spinelli

More on the 2008 Viper SRT-10

Press Release:

Even More Venom: Dodge Unleashes New 600-horsepower 2008 Viper SRT10

* Additional 90 horsepower on tap from new 8.4-liter Viper SRT10 V-10 engine
* Dramatic new hood features restyled, functional air extractors
* 0-60 mph in under four seconds, 0-100-0 mph in just over 12 seconds, braking in under 100 feet
* New exterior, interior colors provide customers with increased customization options

Detroit, Jan 9, 2007 - 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-liter aluminum V-10 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 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 customization options, including five new exterior colors, four new interior color 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 V-10 aluminum engine block was revised for a 1-millimeter larger bore, raising the displacement to 8.4 liters from 8.3 liters. 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-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. 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-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.

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
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 aluminum 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 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. The four-groove tread-design tires 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-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. Racing stripes continue to be an option with six dual painted stripe colors 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 colors will be available in 2008: black, and four new color 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 customization.

"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 colors and options to choose from, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 redefines how a customer can personalize their Viper."

2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Safety and Security
The following safety and security technologies are featured on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10:

* 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
* 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. The power-adjust steering column employs a calibrated bending element that deforms during column stroke for optimal energy management
* 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.

Street and Racing Technology
SRT creates some of the Chrysler Group's boldest, most distinctive products by single-mindedly following its core vision: Deliver benchmark performance at the lowest price, and deliver it with absolute integrity and credibility.

Every SRT vehicle showcases five key aspects: Exterior styling that resonates with the brand image; race-inspired interiors; world-class ride and handling characteristics across a dynamic range; benchmark braking; and standout powertrain.

Dodge Barrage Continues
With 1.4 million vehicles sold globally in 2006, Dodge, the Chrysler Group's best-selling brand, continues its product offensive for the 2008 model year with the all-new Dodge Avenger, and the new Dodge Viper SRT10, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Magnum SRT8.

Dodge is the No. 5 nameplate in the U. S. automotive market. Overall, Dodge has a 7 percent market share in the United States. In the minivan market, Dodge has a 19 percent market share; in the truck market, 16 percent; and 4 percent of the car market.