A Dodge Viper "mule" undergoes testing before the snake's planned return in late 2012.
The snake is back. Well, almost. We were pleased to get a teaser shot of the 2013 Dodge Viper, though we’d have been a lot happier if it was the actual next-gen 2-seater, rather than a “mule” using the old model’s body and the ’13 Viper’s mechanicals.
Still, Dodge muscle aficionados will have something to crow about, Chrysler confirming earlier promises to revive the legendary sports car.
The latest corporate missive is short on details, though it does suggest that the maker has given into modern realities and won’t follow the path blazed by the first-generation Viper, which eschewed high-tech niceties, such as anti-lock brakes. One of the few things the Dodge news release reveals is that the 2013 Viper will be getting stability control for the first time.
We’ll have to wait to see just how much more high-tech gadgetry and gimmickry it will feature, but the full array of brake-derived systems is a likely. More advanced chassis controls may also be in the mix considering competitive realities.
The Dodge Viper ACR turns a record-setting lap.
Almost certainly, the new management team, led by CEO Sergio Marchionne, will want to see the next-gen Dodge Viper deliver some actual profits, not just promotional value for the Dodge brand.
And speaking of that, the maker also reports that a Dodge Viper ACR has broken the production car lap record at Miller Motorsports Park , in Tooele, Utah. Driven by racer Kuno Wittmer, it lapped the speedway in just 1:59.995, nearly four seconds faster than the previous 2:03.86 lap record.
The Viper has claimed any number of lap records in recent years, including Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and at the vaunted Nurburgring.