2006 Dodge Viper Model Update

Viper Gets New Skin

After a few years' absence, Dodge puts out a hardtop version of its Viper supercar.

Dodge brings back a hardtop version of its brutish Viper supercar for 2006, called the Viper SRT10 Coupe. It starts at $83,145 — $1,250 more than the roadster version — and retains all of its muscle, performance capability and brutish charm, but with added structural rigidity for even better handling and improved aerodynamics.

The Coupe's fixed roof has double bubbles for added headroom and carves a menacing profile. Front fascia, front fenders, hood and doors are shared with the convertible model. Unique rear-end styling features wrap-around tail lamps, a special windshield surround, side glass, rear fascia and quarter panels. The integrated rear deck-lid spoiler works with the streamlined roof to improve downforce for high-speed stability.

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As with the original hardtop Viper, which was called the GTS and debuted back in 1996, the 2006 SRT10 Coupe will initially only be offered in electric blue with twin white racing stripes and a two-tone interior.

The Viper roadster debuted in 1992. It was much cruder and less expensive than the current model, and it's credited with helping to revive a then-ailing Chrysler. Its truck-based V10 engine was a novelty and a rarity among cars at the time. Unrivaled at its price point — except for maybe the top-of-the-line Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 on sale at the time — the original base price of $55,000 brought brutish performance and lightning-quick acceleration, but few creature comforts and questionable fit and finish. The soft-top was a detachable folding piece that was a pain to install, didn't fit well and made the menacing Viper look like it was wearing a bad toupee.

The current-generation Viper debuted as a 2003 model with welcome improvements in ride and handling, fit and finish, added power, fresh styling and many more standard amenities, including a proper folding convertible top. However, its base price jumped dramatically, cracking the $80,000 mark. Compared to a Porsche costing as much, the Viper still seems crude.

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Coupe and convertible Vipers are mechanically identical, with a 500-horsepower, 8.3-liter V10 engine that easily spins the wheels and burns rubber, no matter which of the six forward gears you're in. Under full throttle, the Viper leaps off the line and shoves its passengers deep into their seats (a function of its 525 pound-feet of torque). Dodge says the car hits 60 mph in less than four seconds from a standstill and 100 mph in the low 12-second range. This is the kind of acceleration even the hottest themepark rides can't match.

A heavy-duty Hurst six-speed manual transmission and a robust Dana Hydra-Lok speed-sensing limited-slip differential transfer the engine's explosive power to the pavement. A sophisticated racecar-like four-wheel independent suspension helps keep the car planted through curves, though the car's ride quality continues to be on the harsh side.

Potential buyers should be aware that the Viper is still a lot to handle, especially at high speeds. In a car of such power and speed, the limits of adhesion — that is, when the tires lose their grip — can come on quickly in turns and overwhelm inexperienced drivers who might not be familiar with the idiosyncrasies of 510 horses being channeled through the 19-inch rear wheels' comparably small contact patches (where the rubber meets the road). Fortunately, the car's massive brake rotors (14 inches in diameter) with antilock capability do their part to scrub speed and add a measure of safety to hair-raising rides in this venomous Viper.