The Viper's Fangs - Viper Compared to Dream Come True

New Dodge Viper Compared to a Dream Come True

by Tom Keane
Motor Matters

I have never been in a car so sensuously thrilling as the all-new Dodge Viper GTS Coupe. Everything about this car excites me beyond my wildest dream.

The Viper is not an ordinary sports car. Other prestigious sports cars pale by comparison; collectively, all the other cars are nothing more than also-rans. For example, the bench mark used to evaluate a car's ability is the time it takes to accelerate from 0-to-60 mph. Most fast cars do it in about six seconds, the real fast ones hover around five seconds. The Viper is closer to four seconds.

But the real measure for high-powered performance is the 0-to-100-to-0 time, a standard that is ignored by most manufacturers because the results are embarrassing. Real power cars, such as the Ferrari, reach 100 mph and brake to a stop in about 15 seconds, yet the 1992 Viper RT/10 roadster beat that mark by about a second, and I expect the Viper Coupe will set new records. Yet this Viper is one-quarter the price of a Ferrari. Including taxes and shipping, the 1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe costs $73,030. Only 1,750 will be assembled this year.

One reason the coupe has more muscle than the roadster is engine improvement. It still has an 8-liter, V-10 engine, but it now produces 450 horsepower compared to 415 hp for the roadster, and the torque has been increased to 490 pound-foot.

I felt the wallop of 490 lb.-ft. of torque while driving the legendary 14 mile Nurburgring race course near Frankfurt, Germany. This hilly track has 176 wiggly, wrenching turns and braking is a key factor in negotiating them. With the Viper's massive brakes, all that is required is mere tap on the brake pedal just before hitting the curve, and then the torque kicks in making it accelerate like a rocket. On a short straightaway on this course, I reached a thrilling 154 mph in a matter of a few seconds. To the best of my knowledge, this is the most powerful production car on the road.

The Autobahn was another area where my wildest dreams came true. Imagine driving at 140 mph and not feeling road vibration. At that speed, you'd expect the interior noise level to be much too loud to enjoy the music from the CD player, but the interior is surprisingly quiet.

The seats in the coupe are very comfortable, and in the interest of keeping weight at a minumum, they are mechanically operated. The interior is attractive, and the new instrument panel is down-to-earth in appearance. Behind the scene are dual airbags and side impact protection.

Dodge is proud of their Viper team that took the Viper RT/10 a step beyond the ``wind in your hair'' roadster design by adding a hard top, providing decent storage space, making it easier to get in and out of, and designing a comfortable interior. The team also came up with innovative ideas that other manufacturers will probably try to duplicate.

For example, instead of the driver having to move the seat to accommodate the foot pedals, in the Viper you set the seat to a desired position, then by turning one knob, adjust the foot pedals -- brake, clutch, gas -- to accommodate your size. Another innovation: door handles that operate electrically without need for mechanical connections.

This beauty now has aluminum suspension components for improved ride and better handling. Michelin redesigned the tires to allow the Viper to be pushed to greater outer limits. Yet, in spite of the addition of more comforts, a hard top, and air conditioner, the coupe weighs 70 pounds less than the roadster.

Rerouting the exhaust pipes to achieve more horsepower also produced an unexpected bonus. Unlike its predecessor, the coupe now sounds like a powerful sports car.

Want a better picture of this Viper? Close your eyes and visualizing the most exciting car you can imagine. What you see will be very close to the real thing.

SPECIFICATIONS

1996 DODGE VIPER GTS COUPE
VEHICLE TYPE................. 2-passenger, RWD sports coupe
BASE PRICE................... $66,000 (as tested: $73,030)
ENGINE TYPE.................. V-10, OHV w/SMPI
DISPLACEMENT................. 8-liter
HORSEPOWER (net)............. 450 at 5300 rpm
TORQUE (lb-ft)............... 490 at 3700 rpm
TRANSMISSION................. 6-speed manual
WHEELBASE.................... 96 in. 2444 mm
TREAD (front/rear)........... 60 / 61 in. 1514 /1538 mm
OVERALL LENGTH............... 177 in. 4488 mm
OVERALL WIDTH................ 76 in. 1924 mm
HEIGHT....................... 47 in. 1194 mm
TURNING CIRCLE (curb-to-curb) 40 ft. 12.34 m
CURB WEIGHT.................. 3,383 lbs. 1535 kg
FUEL CAPACITY................ 19 gals. 72 L
EPA MILEAGE RATING........... 13 city, 24 highway
ASSEMBLY PLANT............... Detroit, Mich
STRONG FEATURES ............. Engine, brakes
WEAK FEATURE ................ Nothing

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