The new SRT Viper fits in very nicely in the great pantheon of non-elitist American performance rides — a lineage that drives directly in the face of Europe’s legendary super car builders.
When you run down the lists of models produced by Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, McLaren and other hyper car makers across the Atlantic, you will easily spot some of the finest consumer automobiles ever built. You will also find many of the most expensive options in history.
You don’t sniff any of the top performers from those makes on any showroom floor south of six figures. They are designed, built and marketed for the froth on the top — and are intended to leap high above the reach of the working man (even the white collar version).
The Red, White and Blue efforts in the thrilling ride department turned up a much different road. From the Mustang and Camaro to the Corvette and Challenger, when a U.S. automaker builds a performance car, a lot of work goes into keeping it within reach of mortal men.
It’s a direct result of the rebellious, egalitarian roots underpinning the country’s history. It’s not considered appealing in the national marketplace to build and sell products just for a select few. Under those rules, an American sports car is by no means cheap, but it’s never intended for sale only to the elite.
With performance that rivals many of those snooty European efforts, the 2014 SRT Viper keeps the quality high and the price comparatively sane (even if it does push that boundary a bit).
About a week before the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show got underway, the SRT (Street and Racing Technology) team gathered automotive journalists out in the high desert of California for a track test of the latest Viper. There were opportunities to test SRT’s pet snake in a short track rally setting to test suspension and steering and on Willow Springs challenging 1.8 mile road course.
I like to use the description of “driver’s car” to describe a vehicle that enhances and feeds off of the sensations of driving — a machine that requires skill to control while providing satisfaction and excitement in return. The 2014 SRT Viper is an ultimate example of such a car because it demands genuine driving skill as a prerequisite for getting behind the wheel.
With a gigantic, 8.4 liter, V10 engine putting out 640 horsepower, the Viper’s eyeball rattling straight-line speed will charge 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. If the driver respects that power and masters the six speed manual transmission, the Viper is a legitimate on track performer and adequate comfort and security for street driving.
However, if that driver gets sloppy for flippant with this snake’s power, he or she will be severely bitten. SRT hasn’t overloaded the driver’s aids, even in its track driving mode, so put a toe down too aggressively, and the Viper is on top of fellow drivers in a blink. Pop that clutch, and she’ll spin. Cut that wheel too aggressively, she’ll fishtail.
All of those challenges are deliberate. Potential Viper drivers don’t want to cruise along in a safe, snug BMW. They want visceral excitement and the ability to prove their driving mettle each time they take the wheel. The SRT engineers know this and built a car that will perform at an elite level with just enough technology to allow the driver to work with — and not be dominated by — the car.
The rough MSRP for the 2014 Viper floats right around $100,000. While very few readers out there should consider that affordable, the Viper represents the halo for SRT development. Find the top tier cars for Porsche, Benz or Ferrari, and the Viper’s asking price will be as much as $300,000 or more in your rearview mirror.
