Dodge Viper

The Dodge Viper is one of the first V10-powered cars in the world, made by the Dodge division of Chrysler. Production of the two seat sports car began at New Mack Assembly in 1991 and moved to its current home at Conner Avenue Assembly in October 1995. The car, and numerous variations, has made many appearances in TV shows, video games, movies, and music videos^{[citation needed]}. Although Chrysler considered ending production because of financial problems,^[1][2] chief executive Sergio Marchionne announced and showed on September 14, 2010 a redesign of the Viper for 2012.^[3]
The Viper was conceived as a historical take on the classic American sports car. The iconic AC Cobra was a source of inspiration, and the final version of the Viper bears this out with its powerful engine, minimalist straightforward design, muscular and aggressive styling, and high performances. Some saw claims to kinship with the Cobra as a marketing exercise, ignoring that Carroll Shelby was heavily involved in the initial design of the Viper, and subsequent design of the Viper GTS coupe. Notably, the later (1996 through 2002) Viper GTS coupe took a few design cues from the Pete Brock designed Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. Though the proportions seem similar at first glance, the designs are quite unique. Carroll Shelby was key in the development of the RT/10 as well as having a hand in the development of the GTS (Viper Coupe) model.
The Viper was initially conceived in late 1988 at Chrysler's Advanced Design Studios. The following February, Chrysler president Bob Lutz suggested to Tom Gale at Chrysler Design that the company should consider producing a modern Cobra, and a clay model was presented to Lutz a few months later. Produced in sheet metal by Metalcrafters,^[4] the car appeared as a concept at the North American International Auto Show in 1989. Public reaction was so enthusiastic, that chief engineer Roy Sjoberg was directed to develop it as a standard production vehicle.
Sjoberg selected 85 engineers to be "Team Viper," with development beginning in March 1989. The team asked the then-Chrysler subsidiary Lamborghini to cast some prototype aluminum blocks based on Dodge's V10 truck engine^{[citation needed]} for sports car use in May. The production body was completed in the fall, with a chassis prototype running in December. Though a V8 was first used in the test mule, the V10, which the production car was meant to use, was ready in February 1990.
Official approval from Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca came in May 1990. One year later, Carroll Shelby piloted a pre-production car as the pace vehicle in the Indianapolis 500 race. In November 1991, the car was released to reviewers with first retail shipments beginning in January 1992.
SRT-10 serves as the next chapter for the Viper. The very first Viper was previewed at the North American International Auto show in 1989. The concept had a simple design that was reminiscent of the Ford Cobra: gobs of power up front, two seats with power delivery to two huge rear wheels. With a massive overall response, Dodge was motivated to put the design into production by 1992. In 1996 the GTS coupe version followed.
In 2003, an all-new Viper is being offered by DaimlerChrysler.
Building on the last platform, the new SRT-10 improves every facet of the race-bred version that came before it. Whats new? As you would expect, more power, less weight, bigger brakes and more interior comfort. What didn't show up was cup holders or cruise control!
The all aluminum V10 engine has a slight increase in capacity to 505 cu. in. This pushes the power output to 500 horsepower and 525 lb.ft. of torque. DaimlerChrysler states that the engine architecture remains much the same as the previous Viper. Minor improvements include a refined cyinder head, valvetrain and a larger cooling system.
DamlierChysler have taken 100 pounds off the car by updating several components: the now-standard run-flat tires eliminated the need for the spare tire, a new magnesium dash replaces the old one and the fenders are now resin injection molded (RIM).