Autoblog

Click above to view Hennessey's Viper ACR upon delivery

Gearheads across the country are crossing off days on the calendar until May 2 when One Lap of America returns. The annual event, for those unfamiliar, takes participants across the country on a Cannonball-style rally competing on racetracks and road courses scattered along the way. Dodge always makes a strong showing at One Lap, and the team at the company's SRT workshop planned on entering two vehicles this year: a Challenger and a Viper. Time and resources being limited however, Dodge SRT turned to noted Viper tuner John Hennessey to help prepare a brand spankin' new Viper ACR – unveiled just this past November in LA – for the event. To that end, Dodge sent the first Viper ACR off the assembly line to Hennessey, who is now undertaking the task of preparing the car for the race next week. With SRT chief Erich Heuschle driving the Challenger, multiple SCCA national champion and SRT engineer Chris Winkler will be piloting the Viper. Considering that, as John H. points out, Hennessey Vipers came in second place the past two years running, the new ACR promises to put up a good snake fight for the honors this time around.

[Source: Viper Alley]

Click image for high-res gallery

Chrysler promised that the new 2008 Viper ACR would be priced at less than $100,000, and they were true to their word (barely) by announcing a $98,110 base price for the race-ready snake. The $12,000+ you spend over the base Viper coupe will get you a carbon fiber front splitter and adjustable rear wing, adjustable coilover suspension, a stiffer front anti-sway bar, lightweight 2-piece Stoptech brakes, and forged wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires.The net result of all this is a 40 lb weight reduction. You can also opt for the hardcore package that takes out the audio system, underhood sound deadening material, trunk carpet, and tire inflator. Doing so drops the weight another 40 lbs. No word as to whether you'll be paying extra or less for that option. The powertrain remains untouched, but the 600 bhp and 560 lb-ft of torque coming from the V10 is more than enough.

[Source: Motor Trend]

click above image for more live shots of the 2008 Dodge Viper ACR

Seeing the 2008 Dodge Viper ACR in person makes you wonder even more how this thing is legal to drive on public streets. The carbon fiber front spoiler and winglets have more of a visual effect up close, and the rear wing would be absolutely ridiculous if it weren't functional... but it is. The asymmetrical paint scheme back up the race car look even more, although it looks a little goofy from straight on. We've added another 18 live shots to the 2008 Viper ACR's gallery for you to closely inspect the car, as well.

click above image for 20 high-res pics of the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR

AutoWeek may have broken the story on the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, but we're now allowed to bring you the full gamut of pics and info straight from the horse's mouth. As Drew mentioned earlier, we haven't had an ACR version of the Viper since 1999, so the return of Dodge's street-legal track car is significant news. The ACR is built around the standard Viper's stout 8.4L aluminum V10 that remains essentially unchanged – not that a 600-hp, 560 lb-ft motor needs much improvement. Instead, Dodge focused on other areas of the car to transform the Viper into a run-what-you-brung bonafide track special racer.

Since Drew hit the high points in our previous post, we won't reiterate them here. If you want more, you can read about every detail that makes this Viper SRT10 ACR special in Dodge's official press release after the jump and check out the gallery of high-res pics below. We'll be at the LA Auto Show next week to bring you live shots of the car after it debuts, as well.

[Source: Dodge]

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]