2013 Dodge Viper Rolls Out with Help from Ferrari on Interior with Videos

After months of teasing, Chrysler has finally taken the wraps off of the new SRT 2013 Viper, and in a little surprise it will be racing in the American Le Mans Series. SRT is moving the vehicle into the 21st century with cruise control, stability control and traction control. 

The Viper retains the same 8.4l V10 as previous Vipers, but it is 25lbs lighter thanks to a composite intake manifold and aluminum flywheel. Power and torque are now 640hp and 600lb-ft of torque, both of which are 40 units better than the previous generation. The transmission is a six-speed manual with short-throw shifter and a 3.55 final drive ratio.

The new Viper has a massive upgrade in interior quality partially thanks to Ferrari. The seats come to Sabelt who also supply the seats to Ferrari. SRT also worked with Ferrari and Maserati to make the interior material quality better. The instrument cluster comes completely from the new Dodge Dart, but it has been modified with an extensive amount of custom software. For instance, instead of having shift lights, a red viper appears in the center of the instrument cluster when drivers hit the redline. 

SRT is offering two models: the SRT Viper GTS and SRT Viper. The GTS offers more luxury features with full leather for the interior, but the SRT VIper has a stripped out interior and more aggressive exterior. SRT says it is the most roomy interior of any Viper ever. 

SRT admitted that it looked at Italian platforms for the new Viper, but stuck with a modified version of the previous generation. There is an aluminum X brace under the car to tie the suspension to the cowl. While the chassis is based on the one from the GTS-R and Competition Coupe, the chassis has shaved 100lbs off the car. Pirelli has developed a custom compound for the tires that are 355mm wide in the rear. It comes with two-mode, Bilstein adjustable dampers with street and track settings. 

Looks are pure Viper with a large NACA duct up front. SRT says that the engine is pushed back far enough to be considered mid-engined.

As a big surprise, SRT revealed that the Viper will be racing in ALMS joining BMW, Porsche and Corvette in the GT Class. SRT says that the car will begin racing in 2012, but it has not announced which race yet. There will be two cars entered with the drivers being Dominik Farnbacher, Marc Goossens, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Kuno Wittmer. And here is a video of the racing version.