General Introduction

The first released Dodge Vipers were two seaters and they introduced into the market in 1992 in New Mack Assembly before it moved to Conner Avenue Assembly, its current home, in the later months of 1995.
The concept behind Dodge Viper is very similar to an American muscle car, only making the former more contemporary rather than classical. And contrary to popular belief, the Dodge Viper is a far cry from AC Cobra because of it bulkiness and heaviness compared to the lightweight features of the latter vehicle. The first few designs of the Dodge Viper were spearheaded by Caroll Shelby.
Conception
The Dodge Viper was first conceptualized at the Advanced Design Studios of Chrysler during late 1988. In February next year, Bob Lutz, the president of Chrysler, suggested to Tom Gale that the firm should think of creating its own advanced, modern type cobra, after which Lutz was presented with a clay model. The inspiration came from an auto show sponsored by North American International held in 1989. It was then presented to the public, where it received rave reviews. This positive reaction pushed Roy Sjeoberg to start its production.
Through the years, Dodge Viper has continuously impressed its owners and car aficionados.
First-Generation Dodge Vipers
The heart of every Dodge Viper was supposed to be its engine. In fact, the overall design of the car was built around it; thus, one can expect minimal comfort, which included not having even door handles. It was also structured like a truck engine, based on the one found in Chrysler LA. Consequently, a Chrysler Corporation division changed the cast-iron V10 block using aluminum alloy. This major change gave Dodge Vipers significant boost in power. The engine can then produce 400 horsepower or 298 kilowatts. Torque power measures at 3,600 rpm.
The body of a typical Dodge Viper consisted of steel, with panels made of RTM fiberglass. Its engine was mounted on the front and followed the rear-wheel driving. The American-performance car design was technically heavy with a whooping weight of 3,280 pounds, and the models didn’t include antilock brakes or even traction control. With all these inadequacies, there were still people who buy Doge Vipers because of its straight-line performance. It can actually complete a one-fourth mile within 12.9 seconds and can garner 164 miles per hour as its maximum speed.
Present-generation Viper
In 2003, with the help of the SRT (Street and Racing Technology) group of Daimler Chrysler, major renovations were done with the Dodge Viper. First of all, the Viper SRT-10 was overhauled to give it a sharper, more angled body. The capacity of the engine was also increased to 8.3 liters, which then also enhanced the power output to 375 kilowatts (or 505 horsepower), together with additional upgrades. Its chassis was further enhanced too to make it more rigid and weigh less, about 80 pounds lesser than the weight of the previous models.
The Dodge Viper can also compete with other supercars like Porsche and Ferrari with its exceptional cornering.
A model of the Dodge Viper series known as Viper SRT-10 was launched last 2005 in an auto show held in Detroit. It was marketed as a 2006 model. It’s more or less like a convertible Viper only that the styling of its rear and side are intended for competition coupes. It has retained, however, its roof shape dubbed as “double bubble” together with the taillights. The engine of SRT-10 can also produce a torque power of 510 horsepower. Because of the overhaul, the coupe got a stiffer body frame and decreased drag, which overall promote a more optimum high-speed and handling performance.
The Competition
In 2003, Dodge initiated a legal nonstreet Viper SRT-10 coupe competition for all race car drivers. To ensure that the Viper is capable for a rate, the chassis and its power were properly maintained and even further enhanced. The vehicle is also stripped of some parts that may prove not essential for the car race, such as the air conditioning, audio system, instrumentation, and even the body panels found inside the Viper. The car now becomes lightweight, losing approximately 380 pounds, and can run faster than before. The “CompCoupe,” as it’s aptly termed, is also equipped with a cage that is full roll, racing fuel cells, and other needed equipment for racing.