RE: Dodge badge dropped from new Viper
Thursday 15th December 2011

New Viper in winter testingNext year's all-new Viper won't be badged as a Dodge, Chrysler has revealed. Instead, it will become an 'SRT', as Chrysler repositions its performance division as a standalone brand.
Dodge badge dropped from new Viper
'SRT' to replace Dodge brand as Chrysler pushes its performance arm

New Viper in winter testing
There have been plenty of SRT products before, of course, the Chrysler 300C SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 to name but two, but this will be the first time the name will have been used without another Chrysler brand.
The SRT Viper is expected to make its debut at the New York show in spring next year, complete with a 600hp 8.7-litre V10. Chrysler hopes to push its iconic performance car to a much broader audience this time around, and the new SRT branding could well be part of that emphasising the sort of bespoke performance branding that make M Division BMWs or AMG Mercs such sought-after products.
Here's one to confuse you, though: on this side of the Pond the previous Viper was always known as the SRT10. Does this mean the new car would be called SRT SRT if it made it to Europe...?
Discussion
It's actually good getting 600bhp out of an engine that doesnt have forced induction or fancy gadgets and stupendously high RPM's to get there.
It will also have decent torque that'll probably match the bhp.
I'm a BMW man and admire everything they do, but use the V10 as an example - 507bhp from 5.0's
Great. But every one that drove it said it lacked torque and only worked in the highest enchelons of the rev range.
These massive engined cars such as American muscle cars dont have that. Sure, they might not have the blagging rights of 100 bhp per litre or more, but they also go from 1k rpms all the way through to their normal redline of about 6.5k rather than the stupid 8k + you get from Euro models.
It will also have decent torque that'll probably match the bhp.
I'm a BMW man and admire everything they do, but use the V10 as an example - 507bhp from 5.0's
Great. But every one that drove it said it lacked torque and only worked in the highest enchelons of the rev range.
These massive engined cars such as American muscle cars dont have that. Sure, they might not have the blagging rights of 100 bhp per litre or more, but they also go from 1k rpms all the way through to their normal redline of about 6.5k rather than the stupid 8k + you get from Euro models.
rtz62 said:
So many cc's, so few bhp's......
If they made it have 100bhp/L and no driver aids you would end up with a load of 870bhp ditch-bound missiles. The Viper has always been about big torque rather than high revving BHP, iirc it makes 90% of it's peak torque figure at something ridiculous like 2000rpm and has a fairly low redline at 6500rpm. They still have a reputation as a tough car to drive at the limit, but those who appreciate American cars rather than decry them know that they are very fast indeed.FWIW, I think the Viper would be even more fun as a revvier, smaller engine with more focus on a higher redline, less power low down the rev range and more towards the top to give it a highly strung, race car style feel, but that is the exact opposite of what the target market want.
With that said though, between the booming side exit exhausts, the stunning good looks and the absolute charisma of the car, I'd definitely consider one if I had 30K to burn!
PHMatt said:
It's actually good getting 600bhp out of an engine that doesnt have forced induction or fancy gadgets and stupendously high RPM's to get there.
It will also have decent torque that'll probably match the bhp.
I'm a BMW man and admire everything they do, but use the V10 as an example - 507bhp from 5.0's
Great. But every one that drove it said it lacked torque and only worked in the highest enchelons of the rev range.
These massive engined cars such as American muscle cars dont have that. Sure, they might not have the blagging rights of 100 bhp per litre or more, but they also go from 1k rpms all the way through to their normal redline of about 6.5k rather than the stupid 8k + you get from Euro models.
Agree - GRUNT (and a good level of Power) is where its at, rev'ing the nads of an engine is a pain in the ass (why I never liked the Cerbera compared to the RV8 with less power but more grunt at least lower down). You can't beat cubes.It will also have decent torque that'll probably match the bhp.
I'm a BMW man and admire everything they do, but use the V10 as an example - 507bhp from 5.0's
Great. But every one that drove it said it lacked torque and only worked in the highest enchelons of the rev range.
These massive engined cars such as American muscle cars dont have that. Sure, they might not have the blagging rights of 100 bhp per litre or more, but they also go from 1k rpms all the way through to their normal redline of about 6.5k rather than the stupid 8k + you get from Euro models.
Mine a race tuned big one with lots of torque and power and revs is nice too

Stupid idea.
SRT means zilch.
It's also used as a performance tag for any hot Chrysler so there is no "stand-alone" capacity.
It's a bit like Ford deciding they'll call their top model just a VXR8.
Dodge + Viper have always been synonymous, rebadging it will achieve nothing and people will still call it a Dodge Viper.
SRT means zilch.
It's also used as a performance tag for any hot Chrysler so there is no "stand-alone" capacity.
It's a bit like Ford deciding they'll call their top model just a VXR8.
Dodge + Viper have always been synonymous, rebadging it will achieve nothing and people will still call it a Dodge Viper.
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