The Viper may be leaving the Dodge lineup this year, but that isn't to say its bloodline will cease to exist. Carrying on the tradition (until plans for an all-new 2012 model are officially detailed) will be a non-street-legal racer called the 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR-X that combines the ACR's performance with the racecar-like persona of the limited Viper Competition Coupe. It marks the third special edition Viper included in the last 500 unit run for model year 2010.
As you can imagine, everything on the ACR-X is tuned for optimal usability, tunability, and strength while charging hard on track. The well-known 8.4-liter V-10 now makes 640 hp -- or 40 more than a standard model -- thanks to less restrictive SRT-developed headers and exhaust system. Like the ACR, each corner gets a tunable coilover setup that allows teams to uniquely suit the car for each circuit run.
With generous amounts of carbon fiber employed, combined with a gutted interior, weight has been reduced by 160 lbs. compared to the standard coupe. Inside, drivers get a full dosage of Viper Competition Coupe with a factory installed roll cage, fuel cell, harnesses, and lightweight composite seat. High-speed cornering improves courtesy of an extra pair of front canards and of course, the ACR's extra-large -- but highly useful -- carbon fiber adjustable wing.
Although relatively short, development of the ACR-X was thorough. SRT had SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship series driver Kuno Wittmer fine-tune the car, which he says will be stepping stone for grassroots racers to enter into the GT1 level. During his time in the car while at the 2.238-mile Laguna Seca Raceway, he clocked consistent 1:31 sec lap times. That's around 2 seconds faster than the production car best of 1:33.91 set by a streetable ACR last month.
Dodge hopes most, if not all, ACR-Xs will make their way to the track as part of a newly established Dodge Viper Cup series. The series stipulates that every competitor must run an ACR-X and will compete in two races each of the five weekends it runs starting July 9-11 at Virginia International Raceway. Mopar and Dodge Motorsports have pledged to pay more than $200,000 in cash and Mopar vouchers to race winners. The season's top three finishers also get extra cash bonuses. The car is also designed to compete in other series such as the ever popular Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and National Auto Sports Association (NASA).
Getting your hands on one will set you back $110,000, or around $12,000 more than the Viper ACR. Production is to begin next spring, with deliveries just in time for the Viper Cup Series start. If there's a best way for the current-generation Dodge Viper to go out with a bang, racing around one of the country's tracks has got to be it.
Thanks to: Motor Trend
