The last Dodge Viper ACR (for American Club Racing) rolled off the assembly line in 2010, boasting the same 600 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque from its V-10 engine as standard Viper models. Weight on ACR models was reduced by up to 90 pounds by gutting the interior, while the suspension and brakes were upgraded for track use.
The car’s functional aero package produced around 1,200 pounds of downforce at 150 miles per hour, and in September of 2011 a Viper ACR turned a lap time of 7:12.13 on Germany’s fabled Nürburgring circuit.
Depending upon your definition of a “production car,” that could make the 2010 Viper ACR the fastest production car around the ‘Ring, though the ultra-low volume Gumpert Apollo Sport, Radical SR8 and Radical SR8 LM have all pasted up quicker laps.
We’ve heard previous rumors that the new SRT Viper would be built in ACR form as well, but now Motor Trend says it has confirmation from a “high-level” source at Chrysler that the ACR is under development and scheduled for a 2014 release.
Word is that the car would come to market sooner, if tire-supplier Michelin would only sell its Pilot Sport Cup product to SRT. The Viper’s Pirelli tires don’t return the same level of performance, so SRT has requested that Pirelli develop a tire specifically for the Viper ACR, and that takes time.
As for why Michelin reportedly won’t sell its Pilot Sport Cup tires to SRT, the answer is simple: they’re delivered on the range-topping Corvette ZR1, and Michelin isn’t going to endanger its relationship with GM.
Like the previous Viper ACR, the new model isn’t expected to produce more horsepower (to the delight of aftermarket suppliers), but it will serve up track-ready brakes, an adjustable (but track-focused) suspension, functional aerodynamics and weight savings via the deletion of luxury items.
Developing tires is tricky business, so it’s hard to say when the new SRT Viper ACR will hit the market in 2014. The same can be said of price, which, we suppose, will be determined by how many trick parts the new Viper ACR uses.
Can the next Viper ACR best its father’s time around the ‘Ring, or will Chevrolet serve up even more performance in its next Corvette ZR1? Regardless of which car pastes up a faster time, the real winners will be those lucky enough to park these supercars in their garage.
