(continued)
“It was important to sustain raw Viper emotion in the design,” said Trevor
Creed, Senior Vice President — Design. “We wanted the 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10
Coupe design to include a nod to the original Viper GTS Coupe, but in a
contemporary way.
“The Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe owner is often a racer, and the car has to scream
that, even when it’s idling at the stoplight,” Creed added. “The bottom line is
that the all-new Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe’s design says a lot about its unique
character, and the car’s performance is the payoff.”
In many cases, a convertible is derived from a coupe. After the coupe’s top is
removed, structural reinforcements must be added to regain torsional stiffness
lost with the deletion of the roof structure.
In the case of the 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe, the starting point was the
Dodge Viper SRT10 Convertible, which has a stout structure to begin with. With
the addition of the roof structure, the Viper SRT10 Coupe becomes even more
torsionally rigid than the Convertible.
From an aerodynamic standpoint, the all-new 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe is
designed for increased downforce and high-speed stability, with a sloping
roofline and deck lid spoiler.
In addition to the new canopy and deck lid, the 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe has
a special windshield surround, door side glass, rear fascia, quarter panels and
taillamps. The only bodywork that the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe shares with the
Convertible is front fascia and fenders, hood and doors.
The deck lid for the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe was designed for customer
convenience as well as structural integrity. Its opening is deeply integrated
into the rear fascia, which offers a low lift-over height for stowing cargo.
The 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe design also took some of its cues from Dodge
Viper’s heritage. For example, the Center High-Mounted Stop Light (CHMSL) on the
deck lid, although all-new for 2006, looks similar to the “snake-head” design on
the Viper GTS of 1996-2002.
The 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe will be available initially in Viper Blue with
twin Stone White racing stripes, harkening back to one of the most popular
Vipers ever, the 1996 Dodge Viper GTS.
The Viper SRT10 Interior
The form-follows-function strategy continues inside the all-new 2006 Dodge Viper
SRT10 Coupe.
“For helmet clearance, we brought back the ‘double-bubble’ roofline from the
original Dodge Viper GTS,” said Creed. “In fact, we began the process by
utilizing a mannequin wearing a helmet to determine the height and shape of the
roof.”
Another functional interior feature for owners who will take their 2006 Dodge
Viper SRT10 Coupe racing is the roof and headliner structure that offers room to
accommodate a safety cage, while maintaining as much headroom as possible.
Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe-unique interior pieces also include various weatherstrip
pieces, headliner, carpet and trim panels.
A result of the 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe’s configuration is more usable
trunk space — 4 cubic feet more than the Viper SRT10 Convertible, for a total of
6.25 cubic feet.
Powertrain
Magic numbers for the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe are 500/500/500 — representing 510
horsepower, 525 lb-ft of torque and 505 cubic inches of displacement.
An aluminum-block 8.3-liter (505 cu. in.) V-10 engine powers the 2006 Viper
SRT10 Coupe, generating 510 horsepower and 535 lb-ft of torque. Ninety percent
of the torque is available to the driver across a wide band — the 1,500 - 5,600
rpm range.
Transferring the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe’s power to the rear wheels is a
heavy-duty six-speed manual transmission.
Braking
Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe braking power is defined by Brembo 44/40 dual-opposing
piston calipers in the front and Brembo 42/38 dual-opposing calipers in the
rear, gripping four 14-inch rotors. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) prevents
lockup during hard braking.
This system results in a world-class braking performance of 60-0 mph in less
than 100 feet, and completion of SRT’s signature 0-100-0 mph test in the low 12
seconds.
Ride and Handling
Ride and handling characteristics for the 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe are
derived from a race-bred, four-wheel independent suspension featuring
lightweight, high-performance aluminum control arms and knuckles, damped by
lightweight coil-over shock absorbers. Power is delivered to the pavement via a
Dana 44-4 Hydra-Lok speed-sensing limited-slip differential.
The 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe rides on unique, forged aluminum wheels — 18” x
10” front and 19” x 13” in the rear. Each is clad with a Michelin zero-pressure
run-flat tire, and each tire includes a low-pressure sensor in the valve stem.
Two optional wheels will be available — an “H-spoke” wheel and a five-spoke
wheel.
The all-new 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe will be available in Dodge dealerships
in the fall of 2005.
The Dodge Viper SRT10 is hand-built at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in
Detroit.
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