First Drive: 2016 Dodge Viper ACR will impress any enthusiast

2016 Dodge Viper ACR (photo: Dodge)

Looking out from behind the alcantara wrapped wheel of the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR - the fastest, most hardcore Viper ever made - strapped into the bucket seat, helmet on, 10 cylinders rumbling, side exhausts burbling, the view out this new ACR's windscreen down Virginia International Raceway's pit lane is a tad daunting. (see photos)

You see, VIR's front straight is a straight for any normal car, but in this 645-horsepower monster that straight becomes a virtually blind, 240 km/hr corner.

Walkaround

Whether the Viper ACR is sitting quietly or bellowing around the circuit, it has the unmistakable presence of a racing car. It's not just similar to a racing car, rather, it looks exactly like something engineered for competition.

The ACR's aerodynamic package includes an ankle-slicing front splitter, a chin-height rear wing, removable front fender vents, and more cooling than any other supercar could ever need. The only things keeping the ACR from being a pure racer are a roll cage and racing seat.

The exotic carbon ceramic brakes are a first for the Viper and kill the proverbial two birds with one stone. First, they radically reduce unsprung weight, enhancing handling, and, second, they provide remarkable fade resistance, far beyond the capabilities of any conventional cast iron brake set up.

Interior

The cockpit of this latest generation Viper is light years ahead of any previous model. Gone are the cheap plastics and basic analogue gauges. Now there's a driver oriented seven-inch TFT instrument cluster and FCA's latest Uconnect infotainment unit.

Listening to the sound system is pointless though, since the amplifier has been removed and the number of speakers culled to just three in the name of weight savings. Furthermore, every lick of sound deadening material has been banished from the car and carpeting reduced the bare essentials.

Alcantara covers much of the interior and it's the right choice for a hyper-focused track day superstar like the ACR. The finish is intentionally and purposefully spartan, and the colour palette restricted to black. The way it should be.

Technology

The Viper remains refreshingly free of modern supercar performance gizmos. Looking for a flappy paddle gearbox or all wheel drive? Go elsewhere. The ACR's drivetrain meanwhile remains unchanged from the standard V10 specification. The 8.4-litre is not even remotely stressed, producing 645 horsepower and 600 pounds-feet of torque, which in context, is modest considering the large displacement. Power gets to the massive rear tires via a 6-speed manual box from Tremec and an uprated differential with fittings for additional cooling.

Perhaps the most interesting tech feature is what you can't see - the countless hours CFD and wind tunnel testing required to optimize the ACR's aero package. Engineers chose to spec dampers from Bilstein for their broad range of track adjustability - you can finely adjust settings for both bump and rebound - as well as their lighter weight.

Performance

Cars like this are designed for one thing and one thing only - to go fast around any given racing circuit. The only way to do that is to ensure every facet of the car works in harmony - steering, braking, suspension, and in this case, aerodynamics, combine to create a car that can roll out of the showroom, straight onto the track, and best cars costing multiples of the ACR's sticker price.

Tires are bespoke, ACR-only, ultra sticky, near slicks from Kumho, and they hang onto asphalt like plaid on a hipster. Their innate mechanical traction is one thing, but when speed is combined with aerodynamic downforce, this Viper grips unlike any road car I've ever driven - tuned Porsche 911 GT2 RSs and GT3 RSs included.

While its performance envelope is massive, the attention to detail that went into its development make this ACR more confidence inspiring than any previous model. It took me a couple of laps to remember what it's like to hustle this long-nosed, low slung, American supercar around VIR, but in no time at all it had me attacking the track's infamous uphill esses, cutting a line faster and faster each lap. This is the sort of track car that will reward you if you're the kind of driver who yearns for constant improvement.

My only complaint stems from the ACR's ridiculously high cornering capabilities. At maximum Gs, the effectiveness of the seat bolsters vanished and I had to use the door and driveshaft tunnel for support. Given its immense cornering ability, you'll want to fit your ACR with a six-point racing harness.

Value

At $128,000 (estimated) for the standard ACR plus an additional $6,600 (estimated) for the Extreme Aero Package, you've got a formidable track car. The Extreme option is the only way to spec your ACR in this humble racer-writer's opinion; that's where you get all the really good aero bits - extended splitter, taller and wider rear wing, deeper rear diffuser, and removable fender vents.

Among other track cars, this ACR is arguably more focused than anything available today. It has a more tightly focused purpose than the Z07-optioned Corvette Z06, which rings in around $103,000. At the other end of the spectrum, it out-muscles and out-aeros Porsche's latest 911 GT3 and costs about $20,000 less.

Conclusion

The Dodge Viper is Detroit's supercar and entirely American in character. It's loud, imposing, and makes no apologies, and in ACR spec, it's going to make its owners the superheroes of their local track days. With boundless acceleration, abundant grip, and authentic race car looks and performance, this is the kind of car that will impress the heck out of any enthusiast.