Even More Venom: Dodge Unleashes New 600-Horsepower 2008 Viper SRT10
January 09 2007 - 11:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
* Additional 90 horsepower on tap from new 8.4-liter Viper SRT10
V-10 engine DETROIT, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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(R) Pilot(R) 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. DATASOURCE: Chrysler
Group CONTACT: Kerrey Kerr-Enskat, +1-248-512-0315, or , or Todd
Goyer, +1-248-512-0041, or , both of Chrysler Group Web site:
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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