2009 Dodge Viper

600 Horsepower
Many race-car drivers have never sampled as much horsepower as offered by the 2009 Viper SRT10. Any attempt to describe the sensation a driver feels the first time the gas pedal is held all the way to the floor will almost certainly fall far short of the exhilarating reality.

Improved Road Manners
Enhanced ride comfort, reduced effort needed to push the clutch and a shorter movement of the shift lever make the 2009 Viper SRT10 much more enjoyable on the highway.

SRT overdid its self-proclaimed race-inspired image with the 2009 SRT10's large, center-mounted tachometer. The much-smaller speedometer is difficult to read, and the oil-pressure, oil-temperature and water-temperature gauges are hidden behind the steering wheel. Seats are designed like those in a race car, to hold occupants snugly during aggressive maneuvers, but will be a tight fit for many. The Coupe's trunk room falls far short of the Corvette's and the Roadster has even less space.

The 2009 SRT10's angular front end is highlighted by a large, functional air-intake scoop. Also on the hood are a half-dozen vents that let air out of the engine compartment to reduce aerodynamic lift at high speed and help keep the V-10 cool. From the doors forward, the Coupe and Roadster are nearly identical (except for the Coupe's roof), and the Coupe's revised deck-lid spoiler enhances high-speed stability.

To increase horsepower from the 510 of the previous Viper to the 600 of the 2009 SRT10 demanded a long list of improvements. These include increased engine speed, higher compression ratio, freer-breathing cylinder heads with larger valves and a more-open intake manifold. Electronically controlled variable exhaust-valve timing adds power and also helps the engine meet stricter emissions requirements. Separate ignition coils are connected directly to each spark plug, rather than relying on a single coil. To maintain oil pressure during hard cornering, the SRT10 employs an oil pickup that swings to stay with the oil. The V10 is mated to a racing-style twin-disc clutch, which helps reduce pedal effort and enhances performance by reducing inertia compared to the previous single-disc arrangement. A new speed-sensing limited-slip differential helps put all that power to the ground.

8.4-liter V10
600 horsepower at 6100 rpm
560 lb.-ft. of torque at 5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A