The Dodge Viper Returns!

SRT Motorsports Vipers Shed Skin for Classic Look

New Livery for Dodge Viper SRT GTS-Rs Debuts at Watkins Glen International
 

June 19, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports is honoring the Dodge Viper’s racing heritage by molting its ‘skin’ and returning to the Viper’s classic red and white livery, beginning at the upcoming Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen race weekend, June 27-29, at New York’s Watkins Glen International circuit.

The SRT Motorsports Viper entries – the No. 91 and No. 93 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-Rs – will compete in ‘Viper Red’ and ‘Race White’ for the duration of the 2014 IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season. The classic colors are the same worn by Dodge Viper entries that took the overall victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2000, a GTS class win in the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans, and American Le Mans Series championships in 1999 and 2000.

“We are honoring the racing history of the Dodge Viper by returning to its classic colors as we are in the midst of celebrating the Dodge brand’s 100th anniversary and 100 years of American performance,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of SRT Motorsports and Senior Vice President of Product Design for Chrysler Group LLC. “The new livery not only brings back this classic look but also enables us to continue to connect our Viper racing program to its spirited racing heritage.”

In addition to the new livery, the team is carrying a special 100th anniversary logo on both IMSA TUDOR Vipers.

The classic-colored Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R will first take to the track on Friday, June 27, for the initial practice for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen race weekend. The third endurance race of the 2014 IMSA TUDOR season, part of the North American Endurance Cup (NAEC), will take place at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, June 29, starting at 11:15 a.m. EDT.

The Future of Dodge

Today Chrysler announced that Dodge is becoming the performance brand it should of been from the Start. SRT will no longer be a standalone brand and become apart of Dodge once more, this means the SRT Viper is once again the Dodge Viper. To even farther Dodge as a performance brand they are getting rid of the Grand Caravan and the Avenger has already ceased production. They less sporty cars like the Dart and Journey will be getting a overhaul and a SRT form. The Dart SRT will be getting all wheel drive and a new standard engine. The Journey will be completely redesigned in early 2017 and the new sportier model will also receive a SRT trim. The Charger and Challenger are due for a complete redesign in 2018, and will be receiving the 6.2 supercharged engine here in the near future.

The Future of SRT

Today Chrysler announced that SRT will once again become part of Dodge, this is to make Dodge the performance brand within Chrysler. A few media outlets such as Jalopnik reported that Chrysler was killing SRT and it was to be no more, this is not the case Ralph Gilles tweeted that "SRT is not dead at all... infact it will get the resources it deserves." With SRT now being a Dodge trim only it removes the SRT 300 and Grand Cherokee from the mix, we are not sure if those brands will continue to have those engine options and just be labeled something else. We would hate the see the SRT 300 and Grand Cherokee disappear and it almost makes no sense to do so, the Grand Cherokee is a solid seller for SRT. Other important news the Viper will come back to Dodge and will get a refresh for 2016, and we will see two more vehicles wear the SRT badge the Dodge Dart and the refreshed Dodge Journey. We also have proof of the rumored 6.2 Supercharged engine, no stats but Chrysler has provided us with the image below. 

*Update* Detroit news claims that the Chrysler 300 SRT will cease production but the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT will remain.

Time Attack Group on Anodized Carbon Special Edition Viper

SRT Brand Debuts New Time Attack Group on Anodized Carbon Special Edition Viper

• Ultra-exclusive combination joins the Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package Viper GTS with the road course-ready Time Attack Group performance handling upgrades
• Of 50 Anodized Carbon Special Edition GTS models, only 10 will be built with Time Attack

April 16, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Shown for the first time today at the New York International Auto Show, the Chrysler Group’s SRT (Street and Racing Technology) brand is enhancing the ultra-exclusive, Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package by combining it with the new Time Attack Group road-racing spec-package.

A total of only 50 SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition vehicles will be produced, with only 10 (Nos. 41-50) carrying the new Time Attack Group package. A numbered dash plaque identifying each of the SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Edition vehicles also is part of the package.

“We’ve received an overwhelming response to the unique Metallic Matte exterior color since first showing the Anodized Carbon Special Edition Viper late last year,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – SRT Brand and Motorsports. “So we’re adding even more exclusivity with 10 distinctive SRT Vipers that combine our special exterior color with the new Time Attack Group of performance parts to offer our customers mind-boggling limits on their favorite road courses."

The new Time Attack Group takes all of the functional chassis and aero parts from the Viper TA Special Edition and makes them available on the GTS price class. It includes a carbon fiber rear deck lid spoiler and two-piece front corner splitters to combine for a total of 339 pounds of down force at 150 mph.  Also included are two-mode Bilstein dampers specifically tuned for optimal on-track performance and identifiable by their unique orange springs. Street and Race Mode suspension settings offer firmer damping than the Viper GTS. Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, matte black lightweight forged-aluminum Sidewinder wheels and solid sway bars lead to even more capable handling. Track-duty two-piece Brembo brake rotors, adapted from the 2010 Viper ACR-X race car, add to an increased thermal capacity for additional resistance to brake fade.

As the first and only production application on a Chrysler Group vehicle, the Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package features Metallic Matte Black and satin surface finishes. Satin Black Vapor marks the exhaust bezels, fuel-filler door, and carbon brake ducts and a rear applique (below the liftgate) provide contrast to the Metallic Matte Black body.

An Alcantara-swathed interior with orange stitching adorns the SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition. An Alcantara headliner, Alcantara-wrapped knee blockers and door bolsters provide interior surface texture contrast, while gunmetal bezels, orange vent accents, and carbon-fiber trim further accent the interior. The Nappa leather and Alcantara-wrapped sport seats feature orange stitching.

About SRT Viper TA (Time Attack)
The street-legal SRT Viper TA is specifically built for the performance enthusiast driver who likes to exercise their machines at the more than 150 road-race courses around North America. Introduced in 2013, the Viper TA Special Edition spec package offers track enthusiasts a turn-key track set-up.

Based on the SRT model, the lightest Viper in the lineup, the TA Special Edition Package builds upon the vehicle’s ultra-low center of gravity, 50/50 weight distribution and largest contact patch in the production car world. The Viper TA uses chassis parts developed specifically by the SRT chassis dynamics team to attain the most out of the race-car-like chassis and create the most confidence inspiring Viper ever. SRT developed new spring rates, dampers, sway bars and brake components, combined as a system with the Viper’s available Advanced Aerodynamics Package, to create one of the most track-capable production cars in the world.

About Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package
Only 50 SRT Viper GTS models are being produced with the Anodized Carbon Special Edition package.

Part of the special edition package is the new Metallic Matte exterior color that is being used for the first time by the Chrysler Group to add to the exclusivity of the SRT Viper. The new Metallic Matte exterior body color brings the Viper GTS a one-of-a-kind, luxurious look by providing even greater accentuation to the vehicle’s form. The metallic finish adds depth while the dark matte color amplifies the Viper’s sinister quality.

Unique exterior accents include: Black Vapor Chrome five-spoke “Rattler” wheels, a Gloss Black GTS badge, Satin Black exhaust bezel, an Anodized Carbon fuel-filler door, orange brake calipers, carbon fiber brake ducts and a rear applique.

Luxurious interior accents include Alcantara wrapped headliner, door bolsters and knee blockers; orange accent stitching on the Nappa leather wrapped door trim, center console and instrument panel and on the Nappa leather and Alcantara seats. Orange accents also are added to the door panel and instrument panel. Carbon fiber accents are added throughout the center stack, door panels and steering wheel, and an exclusive carbon GTS badge adorns the dashboard.