For the first time, the concept of the future super car, the Dodge Viper, was shown in 1989, and two years later, a production car was shown at the Detroit Auto Show. Two-time Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi took part in the development. With the advent of the second generation in 1996, the buyer could choose between a roadster and a coupe, because initially the Viper was sold only in the body - a roadster. Dodge Viper has a gigantic engine size. During the development process, engineers suggested creating an engine of the same power, but of a smaller volume, but this would not correspond to the already formed image of the car, so the third generation, which appeared in 2001, received an 8.3-liter engine. In this review, we will consider the fourth generation Dodge Viper, the production of which began in 2008. We emphasize that what the Americans call a new model, the Europeans would call restyling. So the differences between the third and fourth generation Viper come down to an improved engine and a slightly modified appearance - more on this in the “appearance and body” and “technical part and characteristics” block. The production of the Dodge Viper is carried out in Detroit, on Conner Avenue. 48 people work on each car for 21 hours, and nine specialists assemble the engine. There are other very fast cars in the world, but the highlight of the Viper becomes clear from the slogan "RAW POWER", which translates as "Raw Power". The buyer receives a very powerful car, in which only ABS can be present from electronic assistance systems! This is exactly the case when engine power can give victory, or destroy. From an incredible powerful rear-wheel drive coupe, you should not expect the same obedience in corners as from.

Other American-made sports cars:

Overview of Viper's appearance

The body of the Dodge Viper is a plastic panel hung on a steel tube frame. Of course, plastic is not as durable as carbon fiber, but at the same time it is cheaper. The drag coefficient of the Dodge Viper coupe is 0.39. The fourth generation Viper can be easily distinguished by additional gills on the hood cover, pay attention to the photo above photo of the first Viper, and the bottom of the fourth. The signature feature of the Viper is the exhaust pipes that come out of the thresholds, but only American women are equipped with this exhaust system. Vipers designed for the European market have four exhaust pipes located under the rear bumper. The entire underbody of the car is covered with flat shields, which, together with the rear diffuser, gives additional downforce to the road surface. Dodge Viper is shod with tires dimension: 275/35 R18 - front and 345/30 R19 - rear.

Salon and equipment

Unlike the third generation, the fourth generation Dodge Viper is equipped with electric windows and mirrors. Even adjustable pedals are included in the additional package! This option is found only on very expensive cars, such as: go, but in general in the Viper's spartan interior - it looks amazing. It is also worth recalling that the pedal assembly in this car is very tight and it is better to choose shoes with not wide soles before the trip. The front panel and door cards of the Viper are made of hard plastic, and the center console is “decorated” with self-tapping screw heads. The manufacturer himself recommends that when starting off, immediately after the first gear, turn on the fourth - this reduces fuel consumption and reduces the likelihood of accidental slip. The handbrake lever is located closer to the passenger, it is not easy for the driver to reach it on the go - this seems to be a hint that the Viper is not designed for “driving sideways” at all. At 140 kilometers per hour, the engine, exhaust system and other mechanisms of the car make noises of 85 decibels. The Viper trunk holds 280 (112 liters for a roadster with the roof folded) liters, it does not have a stowaway or a regular spare tire, because this is not a car for every day.

Technical part and characteristics of the Dodge Viper

Let's come to the most important difference between the fourth generation Dodge Viper and the third. The engine of the third Viper has a volume of 8.3 liters - this is an atmospheric V10 developing power of 506 horsepower and a torque of 711N.M. The V10 8.3 engine allows you to develop one hundred kilometers per hour in 3.9 seconds, the maximum speed of the third generation Dodge Viper is 306 km. The third Dodge Viper is designed for 92nd gasoline. In 2008, they began to install an engine on the car, which was worked on by McLaren and Ricardo specialists. The diameter of each cylinder has been increased by 0.6mm, for a total increase of one hundred cubic centimeters. The motor received a system that changes the intake phase, as well as an electronic throttle. The increased compression ratio also had a positive effect on power, on the fourth Viper the compression ratio is 10.2:1. Hollow valves also played their part in the increase in power under the hood. As a result, the engine power was increased to 600hp (at the output), and the torque to 760N.M. Engines of the third and fourth generation Viper differ from European and Japanese coupes by the presence of only one camshaft, which is located in the collapse of the block, as well as the presence of only two valves on each cylinder, but it should be understood that the throughput of these two valves is greater than the throughput of many sports engines car with four valves per cylinder. With such a motor, the Dodge Viper travels a quarter mile in 11.6s, and to overcome a distance of one mile (1600m) it will take 31.4s, the exit speed is 257km. The fourth generation Viper will need 11.5s to climb 200km, the mark of 300km is reached 46.6s after the start. Not only acceleration, but also deceleration is impressive. To stop from a hundred kilometers per hour, you need a piece of dry asphalt 30.5m long.

Back in 2005, Texas-based car tuning company Hennesey introduced the Viper. With the help of two turbochargers operating at a maximum pressure of 1.5 bar, the power of the Dodge Viper engine has been increased to 1000 horsepower and torque to 1491N.M. Dodge Viper Hennesey gains a hundred kilometers in 2.9s, and the maximum speed is 410 km. Rumor has it that the owners of such Henneseys won money in races even from the owners of the Bugatti Veyron.

The fourth Dodge Viper is equipped with a Tremtec T-56 mechanical six-speed gearbox. The box is distinguished by long gears.

Let's pay attention to the gear ratios of the Tremtec T-56 box:

1 gear-2.66

2nd gear -1.82

3rd gear -1.30

4th gear -1.0

5th gear -0.74

6th gear -0.5

Main couple - 3.07

At the first speed, the Viper is able to develop 100 kilometers per hour, at the second - 170, at the third -230.

The machine has a good weight distribution, the front axle accounts for 49.4% of the mass, and the rear axle - 50.6%. Such indicators of weight distribution were achieved by shifting the motor behind the front axle and installing a gearbox between the rear wheels - this is not a typo! - The gearbox is not connected directly to the motor, but is located between the rear wheels and is docked with the main pair gearbox.

Let's pay attention to the technical characteristics of the fourth generation Dodge Viper SRT 10:

Specifications:

Engine: V10 petrol

Volume: 8360cc

Power: 600hp

Torque: 760N.M

Number of valves: 20v (two per cylinder)

Performance indicators:

Acceleration 0 -100km: 3.6s

Maximum speed: 325km

Average fuel consumption: 15.7 liters (it is not uncommon to get 35 liters)

Fuel tank capacity: 70L

Dimensions: 4460mm*1910mm*1210mm

Wheelbase: 2510mm

Curb weight: 1565kg

Ground clearance / ground clearance: 130mm

Price

In the US, the price of the Dodge Viper is quite attractive. For a used three-year-old Dodge Viper SRT 10, in the CIS they will ask for around $ 100,000, and in the USA a new one costs so much. The price of the third generation Viper, 2005 - 2006 will be in the region of $50,000.

The fifth generation of the Dodge Viper is equipped with a V10 engine of the same volume - 8.4 liters, but the power has been increased to 649hp and the torque to 810N.M.

2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10

Dodge Viper- a sports car company Dodge (a division of Chrysler Corporation). Two-seat production began in 1992 at the New Mack Assembly plant. In October 1995, production was moved to the Conner Avenue Assembly plant, where it continued until recently.

The car, as well as its many modifications, can often be seen in various TV shows, video games, movies and music videos. Since 2012, the car as a flagship came under the wing of the SRT division, and until the first half of 2014 was designated as the SRT Viper.

The model was officially delivered to Russia in the roadster version in 2006-2007 under the name "Dodge Viper SRT-10 Roadster", 4 copies were sold. The upgraded versions of 2007 (4th generation) were no longer supplied to both Europe and Russia.

HISTORY OF APPEARANCE

The Dodge Viper was conceived as a continuation of the classic American sports car tradition. The legendary AC Cobra was a source of inspiration: with a powerful engine, minimalist design, aggressive style.

The Dodge Viper was born in late 1988 at the Chrysler design studio. The following February, Chrysler president Bob Lutz suggested that Chrysler Design's Tom Gale consider building a modern Cobra.

The first model was presented by Lutz a few months later. In metal, the car appeared as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in 1989.

This concept car was originally named Copperhead(name of rattlesnake in the US) because of its distinctive appearance. The name was subsequently changed to Viper, but all Viper engines have since been known as "Copperhead". The public greeted the concept car with enthusiasm and chief engineer Roy Sjeoberg selected 85 engineers to be part of the "Viper team".

The group approached Chrysler's Lamborghini division with a request to provide several prototype aluminum cylinder blocks based on the V10 engine from Dodge pickups. The bodywork was completed in autumn and the prototype chassis in December. Although a V8 engine was used in testing, the V10 engine was ready in February 1990.

Official approval from Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca was received in May 1990. One year later, Carroll Shelby piloted an experimental version of the car in the Indianapolis 500. Starting in January 1992, deliveries of the car to dealers began.

SECOND GENERATION

Despite the similar appearance, the car differs quite a lot from the first generation. Changes: redesigned lighter (up to 290 kg) engine with more power (450 hp) and maximum torque of 664 Nm, lower vehicle weight, almost completely redesigned chassis, which is 27 kg lighter and 25% stiffer, achieved through careful computer analysis, modified suspension, improved tires, shortened braking distance.

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) was not originally installed in the basic version - only as an additional option, although braking performance improved slightly with it.

Two front airbags were added in 1996 on the Viper GTS and in 1997 on the R/T10, following a government decision.

In 1996, a coupe modification appeared, the model was called the Viper GTS. A characteristic feature is a roof called "double bubble" raised above each seat to allow the use of helmets. The role of an additional brake light is performed by the rear emblem with a viper's head.

The Viper GTS was often seen competing in various competitions and, like its predecessor (the first generation Viper), it was selected as the pace car of the 1996 Indianapolis 500.

Minor evolutionary changes, including new 18″ wheels, were introduced for 1999 models. Subsequent versions introduced lightweight pistons and changed the exhaust system (the side exhaust pipes in the sills were moved back).

In 1999, a leather interior was introduced as an option. ABS was introduced as standard only in 2001. In 2002, 360 commemorative copies of the "Final Editions" were issued. These models were painted red with white stripes.

In contact with

In fact, many members of our team are quite familiar with American supercars in the face of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Dodge Viper SRT10 - such a comparison of cars would not be so interesting. But to push the American ideology of sports cars against the European one on a test drive is an old and cherished dream. It was only with the birth of TOPRUSCAR that it was finally able to come true. Moreover, a rare limited edition Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 will defend the interests of the Old World.

As some marketers immodestly declare, the Porsche 911 is a supercar of such a successful design that it has been produced from 1963 to the present day with virtually no changes. We didn't find any major differences either, but only when compared to the regular GT3 RS. To be honest, during the test drives we studied Ereska up and down, and the main intrigue was how a car with a more powerful and voluminous four-liter engine would behave. After all, the large-capacity RS 4.0 was produced exclusively for homologation purposes for the racing Porsche 911 GT3 R in a limited edition of 600 cars. Therefore, it is unlikely that the Germans changed anything in the chassis or set it up - what if we manage to find some jambs during the comparative test.

The history of the Corvette is exactly ten years older than the Porshevskaya - since 1953. The American has a rather serious design: a V8 engine in the front, a gearbox in the rear and interlocked with the main pair for better weight distribution. Three times more expensive twelve-cylinder coupes Aston Martin DBS and Ferrari F12 are built on this principle. Well, the Dodge Viper is a piece of brute and raw power, the main advantage of which is a huge V10 engine with a volume of 8.4 liters, more than a Bugatti Veyron with sixteen cylinders.

So, "six", "eight", "ten" - who is in aces? If we talk about interiors, then even in such a spartan variation as the GT3, the nine hundred and eleventh inspires more respect than the interiors of New World cars. Suede steering wheel, racing seats with carbon fiber frame, finishing materials of the highest quality - all this is assembled with true German accuracy. Corvette pleased only with the quality of leather trim from the Munich company Draexlmaier - the supplier of the court of His Majesty Maybach. And the Dodge Viper does not even have this, however, when you remember the two-fold difference in price between the rivals of the test drive, everything falls into place.

At first, everyone wanted to jump behind the wheel of American cars: after all, the technique is rarer, it doesn’t happen every day - the guys probably missed it. As before, the Chevrolet Corvette surprised with seats: a dense back with fairly developed lateral support rollers, and a flat pillow. As a result, on steep turns, sometimes you have to rest your knees on either the door or the center console. And we also like various kinds of tricky things - they simply must be in such cars. For example, Chevrolet doors have an electromechanical lock, there are no usual handles, instead of them there are rubberized buttons, if it breaks, get into the trunk and pull the cable. A simple-looking on-board computer is trained to give tire pressure, temperature and oil pressure. An ordinary driver is unlikely to come in handy, but it's nice. Add here the start of the engine with two clicks of one button, the indication of lateral overloads by the projector on the windshield, and for a snack - engine shutdown only when the reverse gear is engaged. Communication with this car is a whole ritual.

A test drive of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 immediately demonstrates that the main thing in it is its love of speed: it dropped to city kilometers per hour, and the clutch pedal seems rough and fuzzy, the steering wheel is unnecessarily heavy, and the short-stroke shift mechanism is loose. I would like to apologize to the sports car: Well, be patient a little more, we’ll get out of the traffic jam, then ... And, indeed, the higher the speed, the faster you throw the clutch pedal and drive in gears, the more harmonious the car becomes. There is a distinct reactive force on the steering wheel, the behavior of the chassis is academically correct, and the indication of lateral overloads is completely breathtaking - 1.2g at 180 km / h in a gentle turn.

Dodge Viper is different. I must say that we have not been embarrassed for a long time by simple tubular frames instead of composite monocoques, double wishbones instead of multi-links and lower motors against modern multi-valve designs. All this, when properly configured, works just as well. Therefore, we approached the test drive of the Dodge Viper SRT10, the production of which was discontinued in 2010 (the odometer of this instance is about 3 thousand km.), We approached with respect, although without any discounts. The main feeling that visited us, which is very nice - Viper was made by enthusiasts, maybe even fanatics. It seems to me that if I ask the creators a question about the slightly offset steering wheel, landing with a small turn to the left and a tight pedal assembly, they will be offended. What steering wheel, what seat, what kind of pedals? The guys struggled with the layout, curb weight, center of gravity, and then equipped the resulting structure with a driver's seat and did a good job of it. By and large, my nit-picking is nothing compared to the mood that this supercar gives. Why not redo it all over again? Moreover, for all its simplicity, compared to the high-tech Corvette, the Viper has only slightly more weight and an additional 88 horsepower in its arsenal.

During a test drive on the race track, the general puppy delight knew no bounds. Grandpa Viper was no slower than the Chevy and showed similar times. However, there are nuances here. Firstly, the track was fast enough, and Dodge's high power-to-weight ratio played into his favor. And secondly, the mighty “ten” and the Dodge Viper gearbox, although they are shifted as much as possible in the direction of the base of the car, nevertheless, endow the front end with a remarkable load, and this is an additional understeer. Behind is the opposite. Without proper load, the wide 345-mm tires hold back the huge engine torque to the last, and then abruptly break into slip, and just as sharply restore contact with the track - it was not in vain that the Chevrolet Corvette designers placed the gearbox on the rear axle.

Of course, we do not classify the Dodge Viper as a dangerous car, just high-speed driving on it requires stable skills in driving powerful rear-wheel drive vehicles. So, in general, it should be exactly a hundred times better than equipping a powerful sports car with intrusive electronics, which, with each press on the gas pedal, will convulsively choke the engine and bite the brakes. Having become acquainted with the character of Dodge, all members of our team invariably left this coupe satisfied, with a smile and burning eyes.

When it was the turn to test drive the Porsche GT3 RS 4.0, the laid-back atmosphere was suddenly replaced by a businesslike approach - the moment of truth is somewhere nearby. I wanted to ask: “Don’t you give fireproof overalls in addition to racing helmets? Give me the one with the Nordschleife symbol.” We admit right away that we drove the GT3, as they say, both in the tail and in the mane (of course, with the permission of the owner), but we could not get any noticeable advantage. The difference, if present, was at the level of measurement error. The relatively uncomplicated track was to blame for everything. If the track had been slower, with a lot of sharp turns, then the “ereska” would invariably come first, the Corvette would come second, and the charismatic Viper would close the trio. Most importantly, we again did not find anything to complain about. The same slight understeer at the entrance to the turn, control of heavy stern, with the ability to turn to the desired degree at any time and one hundred percent feeling of the car on the steering wheel.

Recently, by the way, we heard such an opinion that, they say, you can set up Porsche-style steering on any car. Say, automakers do not do this on purpose, so as not to lose the comfort of movement, which buyers so crave. You believe? We are not. In general, with regard to the chassis of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS on a test drive, we got the impression that it would easily digest without any alterations even 550 forces, or even all 600. Huge potential was initially incorporated into the design.

What is the conclusion after all this? An engineer sees an engineer from afar. American designers know their subject just as well as European ones (German in this case), and we dare to suggest Japanese colleagues. And thanks to a slightly different approach to the fulfillment of the task, we have the opportunity to receive such worthy, but at the same time different in character, sports cars.

Dodge Viper SRT10 is the best adrenaline generator in this test drive. The wild roar of the engine, crazy dynamics and handling "with pepper" make it the best weekend sports car when you need to blow off steam. However, there are enthusiasts who are ready to move on such cars daily. Leonid Golovanov, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of AutoReview, drives an extreme Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX and does not buzz, and if he does buzz, then exclusively with the turbine of the 4G63 engine of his Lancer.

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is a precision instrument with noble driving charm. Among uncompromising cars weighing less than 1400 kilograms, this happens far from often. It is difficult to come up with a more suitable candidate for track days.

And the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is the most worthy answer to those who believe that in America they can only make powerful cars for driving in a straight line. Plus, the Corvette is the best Gran Turismo we've tested so far (which, it turns out, is what a flat seat cushion is for). A very decent ride and soundproofing, a super-elastic engine and a more than decent trunk of 634 liters (the Viper and Porsche have 415 and 135 liters, respectively) make the Corvette an ideal vehicle for long-distance trips together on good roads.

Currently, Dodge and Chevrolet are already out of production. However, Viper has already waited for a replacement: a new generation of the legendary coupe is presented at the New York Auto Show. The main meaning of the modernization was reduced to ennobling the interior and updating the body design, no fundamental innovations in the technical stuffing are foreseen. And the new Corvette will appear in late 2012/early 2013. The confrontation continues. How will the future Porsche 911 GT3 991 series respond? We'll definitely check it out.

Company photos: Porsche, Dodge and Chevrolet

This car is impossible to forget. A giant ten-cylinder engine, 500-plus horsepower, a cramped two-seat cockpit, truck ergonomics, and a complete lack of modern security systems, with the possible exception of ABS. With him, any trip, even for a bottle of milk to the nearest supermarket, turns into a real extreme. "Dodge Viper SRT-10" does not understand jokes and does not forgive. I realized this when we first met a couple of years ago. Now one of the wildest and most unbridled supercars in the world has been upgraded.

A visit to the past

OUR second rendezvous was fleeting. Just a few laps on a makeshift ring track. Not like that unforgettable two-day trip on a pre-styling model around Berlin. With leaves blown off trees by the sound of an exhaust, a green hell of winding forest roads and an attempt to reach a maximum speed of 306 km / h on an abandoned runway of a former Soviet air base.

Restyling bypassed the design of the front panel side. As before, the quality of interior trim does not quite match the price of the car.

As before, when starting the engine, you first turn the key, and then press the slippery red button. It seems that “Viper” has not changed its traditions at all. Where are the signs of the declared completely new generation?

Such well-known companies as McLaren and Ricardo were responsible for the modernization of the ten-cylinder engine.

They are! It is enough to release the clutch abruptly so that, under the squeal of burning tires, this monster rushes forward onto the race track. Where is the old failure at low speeds, where is the gearshift mechanism taken, as if from a tractor? They seem to have disappeared. At first, you can decide that the new “Viper” simply increased the working volume of the ten-cylinder engine (and by simple boring) to 8.4 liters. But it's not. The engine is almost completely rebuilt. Consider - a new, more rigid cylinder block, other heads with larger valves, the appearance of a phase change system at the outlet, intake and exhaust systems that are freer in terms of throughput. All this has led not only to the fact that the engine now develops 90 hp. more than the former, giving out six full hundred “horses”. It does this much more freely, panting less at light load and spinning faster at the limit. Even the red zone is increased by an extra 300 rpm. As a result, acceleration improved by about a third of a second, the maximum speed increased by a few extra “km/h”. And for the world of supercars, where a successful battle for a tenth of a second in acceleration is considered an outstanding achievement, this can be considered an excellent result. At the same time, the exhaust system got rid of the crossed pipes that fried the crew. Now they are separated along the sides, and I will not say that because of this, the sound of the engine has become less dramatic.

The transmission is also completely new i. Shifting has become easier and more natural, the clutch no longer resists like a beast when squeezed out. Of course, because instead of one massive disc in the clutch, a lighter and less inertial two-disc system is used. Now you do not fight with the car, but simply switch gears when necessary. Moreover, according to the sensations, the lever moves became not only easier (thanks to reinforced synchronizers for this), but also a third shorter. At the same time, the distances between the gear ratios have become a little wider to better match the new character of the motor. And at the exit of the turn, the upgraded “Viper” repels more vigorously from hot and slippery asphalt thanks to a new, lockable visco-clutch limited-slip differential.

Against all

In addition to the hardtop, the coupe is distinguished by the original design of the rear.

It turns out that this car could still be a little more civilized. But that doesn't mean meek. Nevertheless, even during a short acquaintance with the car on the race track, I appreciated the merits of the upgraded suspension. She received different springs, shock absorbers, an enlarged rear stabilizer, changed wheel alignment - all this led to the fact that the Viper became less goaty when hitting bumps and acquired more neutral and predictable habits in turning x. In addition, the new tires "Michelin