A member of the Viper Club forum seems to have received his copy of the November 12 issue of AutoWeek earlier than everyone else. The weekly rag's cover car is the new Dodge Viper ACR (American Club Racer), which will officially be introduced at the LA Auto Show on November 13. The article inside gives us the first details on the ACR, which is the first Viper since 1999 to have this package as an option. Weight saving was a huge priority on this latest version, with lightweight wheels, street-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, and two-piece Stoptech brakes that combined save 40 pounds. There is also a "hard core" package that deletes the audio system, underhood sound deadening material, trunk carpet, and the tire inflator. The door speakers are replaced with carbon fiber panels, and a lap timer can also be mounted where the stereo system used to be. In all, the "hard core" package drops another 40 pounds. In addition to going on a diet, the ACR package also includes adjustable KW Suspensions race coilovers, a new front roll bar, a removable 3-inch front splitter, and a massive carbon fiber adjustable rear wing that can be set to seven different positions. According to Chrysler, the ACR generates 1,000 pounds of downforce at 150 mph and can generate 1.5g while cornering. And best of all... it will be priced at under $100,000.
Thanks for the tip, Alvaro!
[Source: AutoWeek via ViperClub.org]
James Garner recovering from mild stroke
VIDEO: God's ringtone is a V10-powered Audi R8
IIHS releases official results on the smart fortwo
Tragedy at LeMons: Send love and a little bit more
Officially Official: New Ferrari California exposed!
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang
Future Classic: 1984 Chrysler Minivans
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
Project Track Slut, Part One: Pick a weapon on the cheap
_thumbnail.jpg "Lamborghini Reventon unboxed in Las Vegas")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mursin @ Nov 8th 2007 1:42PM
With the ACR package and that paint job that Viper looks like one bad ass mutha******
Farris @ Nov 8th 2007 3:29PM
*falsetto*
Shut yo' mouth!
naggs @ Nov 8th 2007 1:49PM
i heard there was going to be a new viper coming down the line but wow
street legal racecar, i wonder how streetable it is?
MemphisNET @ Nov 8th 2007 1:52PM
Its legal - as in has all the safety, lights and horns - but thats about it.
That IS one bad-a$$ mutha. I can't even fathom driving this beast. I mean, there's no way you'd want it on your daily commute (i dont think anyone would want ANY viper as their daily commute) but some fun on the track, car shows and the odd sunday drive - crazy! Love it.
Joe K. @ Nov 8th 2007 4:17PM
I had the chance to commute one week in an GTS coupe (black with silver fangs) and that car was so crazy quick the NJ traffic was frightening. The gas pedal is more of an on/off switch and the clutch is far less than kind. I loved driving the car, but seriously the Viper is a Beast. I can't imagine how disgustingly quick this will be...
Dan @ Nov 8th 2007 1:52PM
I'm happy that more and more manufacturers are starting to acknowledge the obvious. No AWD, active differential or anything of this sort will make higher than 1G cornerning possible (and 1.1G is not the kind of progress I'm looking for).
Height adjustable suspension with one of the settings as low as 2.5 inches of ground clearance, plus the rest of aerodynamic package seen today in GT1 class (front splitter, flat bottom, rear diffuser) will make 2G cornering a reality for mass-produced sports cars.
GM should focus on this for their next Corvette, not on useless DOHC engines, rear mid-engine configuration or any other pointless engineering exercise.
TriShield @ Nov 8th 2007 2:00PM
That looks absolutely staggering.
I'm looking forward to SRT making a new Challenger ACR, T/A and other variants.
James @ Nov 8th 2007 2:29PM
WANT!!!!!!!!
I wonder how Chrysler/Dodge can make such a badass car, yet the rest of the lineup is utter garbage? This thing looks awesome!
Matt @ Nov 8th 2007 2:46PM
No kidding, right?!
Frank Filipponio @ Nov 8th 2007 2:51PM
Makes that C6RS look ridiculously overpriced.
Nick @ Nov 8th 2007 2:57PM
Howso? The C6RS has a complete interior, including sound deadening, stereo, heater, stereo, and air conditioning. It also weighs ~400 pounds less, while producing the same amount of power out of a conservatively tuned engine (to retain everyday driveability. Not to mention it's completely rebodied, whereas this just has a wing and a splitter tacked onto the regular Viper.
Hardly comparable.
Nick @ Nov 8th 2007 2:53PM
I laughed at the "huge priority" weight savings being a scant 80 pounds. Even with that, the thing still weighs a hefty 3,365 pounds...Hardly "street legal race car" stuff. Strap a gigantic wing, splitter, and some Pilot Sport Cup tires (essentially street-legal slicks) onto a Z06, and kiss this thing goodbye. Oh, and you wouldn't have to throw half the car away in the process. Hooray from being designed light from the get-go (3,132 pounds).
bert @ Nov 8th 2007 4:45PM
You're a little kid. Go and graduate from school so you can make money and appreciate cars instead of magazine racing them
Nick @ Nov 8th 2007 5:16PM
So stating the facts makes me a "little kid"? Go educate yourself on the subject matter before trying to become an e-tough guy.
To try and dispute that the Viper is a fat-ass even with a "massive" 80 pound weight reduction is just flat out stupid.
This car is nothing special, and the same would easily be accomplished on the Z06. The tires alone would make an -incredible- difference (run-flats vs. street slicks). Finding that having a park bench rear wing and a 3-inch splitter generate downforce is hardly an amazing accomplishment either.
Any way you slice it, those 1,000 pounds of downforce would be more effective on car carrying 200+ fewer pounds.
Thanks for coming out.
weahman11 @ Nov 8th 2007 9:14PM
awsome
Mobius_1 @ Nov 9th 2007 5:42AM
The quintessential American car at its very best
Larry @ Nov 9th 2007 10:59AM
This viper continues to widen the cap between what "real men" drive VS the corvette that has 50 somethings trying to caputure their youth.....