Preview: 2016 Dodge Viper ACR

Cars, News I By Bradley Iger I May 18, 2015
When we drove the 2014 SRT Viper TA last year we loved the brutality of the Viper’s V10, the tenacious grip that the massive footprint offered, and the car’s ability to lap all day without missing a beat. But we also left wondering whether the TA was a bit of a mixed message in terms of a package – the competition-ready seats and track cailber firmness of the suspension tuning gave the car many of the attributes and sensations of a legitimate track car – both good and bad – but the car also made plenty of concessions to comfort and convenience as well, leaving us to wonder if there wasn’t some performance left on the table for the sake of daily driving sanity.
 
That’s where the Viper ACR comes in. As in past Viper ACR models, the new ACR is about as close as you can get to a road-legal factory production Viper race car and it makes the assumption that prospective buyers have little interest in luxury appointments. Instead, the development efforts behind the Viper ACR are focused specifically on obliterating lap times while not requiring a tow vehicle to get you to the road course.
 
 
Applying development data gleaned from the from the 2012-2014 Viper GTS-R endurance racing program, the Viper ACR promises to set the bar higher than any road-going Mopar has before.
 
“The Viper has always been more of a street-legal race car than a track-capable streetcar, and the new 2016 Dodge Viper ACR is the fastest street-legal Viper track car ever,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dodge and SRT. “Our goal is to arm our enthusiasts with the ultimate Viper track car to dominate road courses around the world.”
 
Considering the previous generation Viper ACR held the record for the fastest road-going production car around the Nurburgring– twice – with a lap time of 7:12:13 around the 12.8 mile course, the new car has quite a reputation to live up to. And given the fact that most recent time was recorded while attempting to best the C6 Corvette ZR1’s 7:19 lap, we have no doubt the battle between the new snake and new Corvette Z06 for road course supremacy is about to hit a fever pitch. “This car is not a 1-3 lap track special. You can run the car at the track all day, and the performance doesn’t fall off,” added Kuniskis, perhaps alluding to the Z06’s supercharged engine.
 
The new Bilstein coilovers offer ten levels of rebound and compression adjustability along with three inches of height adjustment.
 
So what does the new ACR bring to the table? Well, there’s one thing we should get out of the way immediately – it’s not more power. No, the ACR will stick with the standard Viper’s naturally aspirated 8.4-liter V10 which makes 645 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. That might be a disappointment to some, but here’s a couple of things to consider: First, after stints behind the wheel of a Viper TA both on and off track, the last thing on your author’s mind was the notion that the car needed more power. Secondly, the ACR is not about straight line speed – it’s about fast lap times.
 
With that in mind, SRT engineers focused on the elements that make a car that already has a lot of horsepower faster around a track – aerodynamics, suspension tuning, braking and grip.
 
To that end, the ACR features a wild new aerodynamics package that boasts nearly one ton of downforce at 177 miles per hour – that’s over three times the downforce offered in the current Viper TA, and more of any production car ever. It’s achieved by way of a massive dual-element rear wing, rear carbon fiber diffuser, a unique SRT hood with removable louvers, a detachable extension for the front splitter and four dive planes.
 
 
Moving on to the braking system, the 2016 Viper ACR gets some serious stopping power from a new Brembo “Carbon Ceramic Matrix” system, which utilizes 15.4-inch two-piece front rotors (with six piston calipers) and 14.2-inch discs out back that are clamped by four-piston calipers. Along with the most brake pad area ever offered on a Viper, the ACR will feature specially tuned stability control and ABS systems to eek the most out of the new brake package.
 
In terms of handling, the new Viper ACR is reported to offer a race car-like levels of sustainable lateral grip of 1.5 g during cornering.  That’s accomplished by a ten-way adjustable Bilstein coilover suspension offering three inches of height adjustability and a set of Kumho Ecsta V720 high performance tires measuring 295/25/19 front and 355/30/19 rear that have been designed specifically for the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR.
 
Hand-built in Detroit at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant; the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR will also be feature personal customization options through the Viper’s 1 of 1 program, allowing customers to have their Viper ACRs built to their specification from a vast array of options. The 2016 Viper ACR will go on sale in the third quarter of 2015. Check out the video below to see the new ACR in motion and scope press release beneath that for additional details as well. 
 

 
The next chapter in the history of Dodge and SRT’s ultimate American hand-built, street-legal race car begins with the return of the new 2016 Dodge Viper American Club Racer (ACR)
§ The new Viper ACR honors its long-standing legacy as the ultimate street-legal race car through significant aerodynamic and suspension upgrades, new Carbon Ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers and high-performance tires specifically designed for ACR
§ New ACR Extreme Aero Package delivers nearly 1 ton of peak downforce at top speed through massive adjustable dual-element carbon fiber rear wing, rear carbon fiber diffuser, unique SRT hood with removable louvers, detachable extension for the front splitter and additional dive planes
§ Delivers ultimate in stopping performance with unprecedented brake fade resistance through ACR-exclusive Carbon Ceramic Matrix 15-inch two-piece rotors and six-piston front calipers from Brembo®
§ Unique race-tuned suspension features 10-setting, double-adjustable, coil-over Bilstein racing shocks and unique race alignment delivering up to 3 inches of suspension height adjustment for fine tuning corner weight
§ The latest race tire compound technology with massive Kumho® Ecsta V720 high-performance tires (295/25/19 front, 355/30/19 rear), designed specifically for the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR, delivers laps times that are 1.5 seconds faster than off-road only race tires
§ Combination of suspension, aero treatment and ACR-specific tires delivers sustainable 1.5 g cornering during  high-speed turns
§ Lightweight carpet, minimal three speaker audio, manual seats and Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes offset added performance elements while maintaining optimal 50/50 weight distribution
§ Powered by iconic, hand-built 8.4-liter V-10 engine rated at 645 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any naturally aspirated sports-car engine in the world
§ Unique Alcantara hand-crafted interior features iconic ‘ACR’ dash badge and accent stitching
§ Offering ‘1 of 1’ customization option for the ultimate personalized Viper ACR
§ Production of the hand-built 2016 Dodge Viper ACR begins in Detroit in the third quarter of 2015
May 9, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – The next chapter in the history of the ultimate street-legal, track-focused, hand-built American supercar begins with the return of the new 2016 Dodge Viper ACR.
 
Certified for public roads and engineered to wring every last hundredth of a second out of road course lap times, the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR combines the latest in aerodynamic, braking and tire technology – a recipe designed to carry on the ACR’s lap-time busting reputation that has made it a legend on race tracks around the world.
 
“The Viper has always been more of a street-legal race car than a track-capable streetcar, and the new 2016 Dodge Viper ACR is the fastest street-legal Viper track car ever,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and Chief Executive Officer – Dodge Brand and SRT Brand, FCA – North America. “Our goal is to arm our enthusiasts with the ultimate Viper track car to dominate road courses around the world.”
The SRT engineering team that developed the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR is well-stocked with members who race their own cars, as well as learning from the factory-based racing Viper GTS-R that competed in the American Le Mans Series and IMSA United SportsCar Championship from 2012-2014, capturing the GTLM class driver and team championships in 2014. For the new Viper ACR, the team focused its efforts on three areas: aerodynamics, chassis and tires to maximize grip, producing never-seen-before handling capabilities and unprecedented lap times.
 
Ultimate aerodynamic performance
The 2016 Dodge Viper ACR with the available Extreme Aero package produces the highest aerodynamic downforce of any production car. During on-track testing, development engineers have experienced nearly 1 ton of downforce at top speed of 177 mph.
 
The Extreme Aero Package includes a huge (1,876-mm wide) adjustable dual-element rear wing, rear carbon fiber diffuser, unique SRT hood with removable louvers, detachable extension for the front splitter and four dive planes. The Extreme Aero rear wing, specifically designed for air flow around the Viper’s body, stands taller, sits further rearward and features unique end-plates and gurney lip to produce maximum downforce while minimizing straight line drag. The Extreme Aero package delivers more than three times the downforce of the Viper TA (Time Attack) 2.0 package.
 
The rear carbon fiber diffuser extends forward of the rear axle. It includes six removable strake extensions, designed to rub against the track surface for increased straight-line stability and optimized downforce. Removable hood louvers over the front tires reduce air pressure in front wheel wells to provide additional downforce. The detachable front splitter extension and dive planes work with the rear aero treatment to provide outstanding grip and balanced performance on the track.
 
Ultimate brake performance
Track duty can punish the brakes. The 2016 Dodge Viper ACR features new Brembo® Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes for optimum braking performance with unprecedented brake fade resistance, and greater handling capability through reduced un-sprung weight. The system uses 390-millimeter (15.4-inch) two-piece front rotors and 360-millimeter (14.2-inch) two-piece rear rotors. Front brakes use six-piston Brembo® calipers while the rear brakes use four-piston calipers.
 
The new Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes have the largest brake pad area ever on Viper. The brakes work in conjunction with ABS and ESC specifically tuned for ACR to take into account the extra grip provided by the additional aero and specifically designed Kumho® tires. Detachable front brake ducts provide additional cooling to the brake calipers for optimum track performance.
 
Tire, Chassis Combo Keeps Viper ACR Glued to the Road
The 2016 Dodge Viper ACR is fitted with Kumho® Ecsta V720 high-performance tires designed specifically for the car with unique tread pattern and compounds for front and rear. In testing, the new tires produce laps times that are 1.5 seconds faster than off-road only race tires.
 
Low-profile front tires measure 295/25/19 and are mounted on wider 11-inch wide wheels and when combined with the 355/30/19 rear tires provide the largest combined tire patch available on any production car. On the sidewall of the new tires is a unique raised ACR logo.
 
The Viper ACR’s ABS and five-mode Electronic Stability Control system (Full-on, Sport, Track, Rain, Full-off modes) are specifically tuned for the car to take into account the extra grip offered by the extreme aerodynamic and tire package.
 
Aluminum bodied, double-adjustable coil-over Bilstein race shocks are designed specifically for the Viper ACR and work in conjunction with ride height adjustment for optimal control of weight transfer and handling performance. Each shock provides independent 10-way rebound and compression adjustability. The suspension package also provides more than 3 inches of ride height adjustment.
 
Front springs are rated at 600 lbs./in. and rear springs at 1,300 lbs./in., more than double the suspension stiffness of the Viper TA model. With unique race alignment and 1.4 degrees more negative camber than the entry SRT model, the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR is capable of sustaining more than 1.5 g on high-speed turns due to the combined chassis and aerodynamic improvements.
 
“This car is not a 1-3 lap track special. You can run the car at the track all day, and the performance doesn’t fall off,” added Kuniskis.
 
Awe-inspiring V-10 Powertrain
At the heart of the 2016 Viper ACR is the handcrafted, all-aluminum 8.4-liter V-10 overhead-valve engine, rated at 645 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any naturally aspirated sports-car engine in the world. Unique exhaust tips have been added to the side-mounted exhaust pipes to provide reduced exhaust pressure. All Vipers are engineered to withstand severe track duty in ambient temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit with a professional driver. Power reaches the pavement through the standard Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission.
 
ACR-exclusive Interior Appointments
The instrument panel cluster hood, lower instrument panel and door armrest panels of the race-inspired interior are wrapped in unique Alcantara suede. A new, ACR-exclusive Alcantara wrapped high-grip steering wheel with color racing stripe and unique badging sets the ACR apart from other production models. New high-grip seats also carry the Alcantara inserts, while the unique dash plaque is finished in carbon fiber. Customers can choose between silver or Header Red accent stitching throughout the interior. 
 
‘1 of 1’ Viper Program Offers One-of-a-Kind Street-Legal Race Car
Applying Viper’s exclusive ‘1 of 1’ customization program to Viper ACR allows customers to have more than 25 million build combinations to create their one-of-a-kind Snake from the ground up. With 8,000 exterior color options, 24,000 custom stripe colors, 11 wheel options, 16 interior trims and seven aero packages, three brake packages and four suspension options there are more than 25 million ways for buyers to customize their one-of-a-kind Dodge Viper.
 
Hand-built in Detroit at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant; the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR goes on sale in third quarter 2015.
 
ACR History
The original Dodge Viper ACR was produced for the 1999 model year and was based off of the second generation coupe. This model had suspension and engine enhancements focused on maximizing performance in road racing and autocross environments. Horsepower was bumped from 450 to 460 hp via a unique air filter and smooth air intake hoses. Curb weight was reduced by more than 50 pounds by stripping the audio system and removing other non-essential items such as the fog lamps. The new stiffer, adjustable suspension removed another 14 pounds. This model also had an "ACR" badge and 20-spoke BBS wheels.
 
The second version of the Viper ACR was based off of the fourth generation coupe and was built during the 2008-2010 model years.
 
The 2008/2009 Viper ACR maintained the standard Viper’s 600 hp and 560 lbs.-ft. of torque, while adding aerodynamic, brake and suspension upgrades to the already potent supercar. One development goal was 1,000 pounds of downforce at 150 mph with optimum aero balance – a target achieved through CFD and wind-tunnel testing. Unique coil-over shocks allowed height changes and were step adjustable for compression and rebound.
 
Spring and anti-roll-bar rates were increased and the ACR was fitted with forged aluminum wheels and track-ready race tires. The new wheels and tires combined with a new two-piece brake rotor system shaved approximately 40 pounds from a base Viper. An additional 40 pound savings (for a total of 80) was possible when ordering the Hard Core Package which removed the audio system, trunk carpet and sound insulation. The 2008 Viper ACR proved its ultimate performance formula by setting a new track record at the famous 12.9-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany with an elapsed time of 7:22.1.
 
For the 2010 model year, the Viper ACR was upgraded further with a redesigned rear wing gurney and end plates to further optimize aerodynamics and improve rear yaw downforce. In addition, a shorter fifth gear ratio improved high-speed acceleration and produced higher straightaway speeds. This improvement was a direct result of SRT’s experience at the Nürburgring Nordschleife where the team found that a revised gear ratio would have resulted in a higher speed capability and potentially a shorter elapsed time. In late September 2011, Dodge returned to the famed circuit and recaptured the production car lap record with a time of 7:12.13.
 
In late 2009, Dodge announced the non-street legal Viper ACR-X, targeted at the grassroots racer.
 
Combining the best performance attributes of the record-setting, street-legal Dodge Viper ACR and the safety equipment of championship-winning Viper Competition Coupe, Dodge produced the non-street legal racer that made its on-track debut in the summer of 2010 as part of Dodge Viper Cup spec racing series.
 
The 2010 Dodge Viper ACR-X was also powered by a 8.4-liter V10, equipped with factory-installed headers, forged pistons and a low-restriction exhaust system that produced 640 horsepower (40 more than production model).
 
The suspension also was tuned and upgraded specifically for on-track usage, while the weight was lightened by a full 160 pounds (versus the standard production Viper) to take on even the most challenging road course. Additional aerodynamic upgrades improved downforce, while enhancing stability and significantly improving grip in high-speed cornering.
 
Similar to the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, the Viper ACR-X contained factory-installed safety equipment such as a factory-designed roll cage, fuel cell and race seat.
 
About Dodge Brand
The Dodge brand is America’s mainstream performance brand. With the purification of the brand and consolidation with SRT, Dodge is getting back to its performance roots with every single model it offers. The Dodge and SRT brands offer a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out within their own segments. Dodge is the “mainstream performance” brand and SRT is positioned as the “ultimate performance” halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.

From muscle cars to compact cars, minivans, crossovers and full-size SUVs, the Dodge brand’s full lineup of 2015 models deliver best-in-class horsepower, class-exclusive technology, unmatched capability and a slew of cool features, such as LED headlamps, Dodge signature racetrack tail lamps, dual exhaust, 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment centers and 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable gauge clusters, to name a few. For the 2015 model year, customers will be able to drive the new 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger, as well as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat. The Dodge brand lineup also includes the 2015 Dodge Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan and Journey, including the new Crossroad model, and its flagship, the Dodge Viper.

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