The team at SRT sent us a 2013 SRT Viper in Bright White to test out at the StreetCarDrags event at Palm Beach International Raceway on April 7th, 2013. The all new SRT Viper is powered by an 8.4L V10 with 640 horsepower and 600 ft-lbs of torque with a 6 speed manual transmission.
Our test car came in with 2,500 miles on the clock and was equipped with a set of Mickey Thompson drag radials to help out with traction at the drag strip. However, the tires were taller than the stock SRT Viper sizes making the SRT Viper’s already long gearing, especially 1st gear even longer which plagued us with a bog after the initial launch that we just couldn’t get away from. We tested launching Viper manually as well as with the all new launch control system. Results between the two launching methods were similar although our best run of the day 11.1 @ 127.4 MPH was using the launch control system. VBOX data shows 0-60 MPH time of 3.1 seconds, 0-100 MPH in 7.1 seconds with a 60-130 MPH time of 8.08 seconds.
To launch the new SRT Viper using launch control we staged the car with the traction control system off and pressed the launch button on the steering wheel. A message in the digital gauge cluster indicates to launch when ready. With the clutch pedal depressed and the car in 1st gear we then applied 100% throttle. The Viper would then rev and hold at 5,5k RPM at which time we released the clutch at a moderate tempo. Having done a burnout beforehand the tires were sticky and the car would come off nicely with no wheel spin. However as you can see in the videos, the long 1st gear would give us a decent bog near the end of the 60′ mark which would really slow us down thereby keeping us just out of the 10′s.
Weather was also not optimal being hot and humid with a Density Altitude (DA) over 1,200 feet. With the right weather and a shorter drag radial or even stock tires (Pilot Cup Sports or similar), we’re confident the new SRT Viper will be into the 10′s.
We didn’t get a chance to get the car on the Dyno, but Edmunds had a pre-production car on the their dyno where it put down 558 HP and 528 ft-lbs of torque at the wheels. Using a 14% driveline loss that puts the SRT Viper at around 648 HP.
Take a look at the pictures, videos, timesilps and vbox data below:
We were at Palm Beach International Raceway and came across this 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S built by Champion Motorsport in Pompano Beach, FL. With a host of bolt on modifications, a set of Mickey Thompson Drag Radials and AWD PDK launch control, this Turbo S set new record for a stock turbo Porsche running 9.8 @ 135 MPH. VBOX data shows this Porsche running 0-60 MPH in just 2.4 seconds, 0-100 MPH in 5.4 seconds and a 60-130 MPH time of 6.4 seconds.
Modifications include a GIAC Tune, Champion Motorsport intercoolers, Werks air box, Werks Y-Pipe with no cats along with a Tubi Race Exhaust. Power to the wheels was just of 600 AWHP with even higher levels of torque. Estimated cost to replicate these performance numbers is just over $10k, plus your 911 Turbo S.
Take a look at the pictures, VBOX data, timeslips and video below.
Here is a great video from RoadTestTV of a 900 horsepower supercharged Corvette Z06 running an 8.56 @ 160 MPH at Palm Beach International Raceway. This superfast Corvette swapped it’s standard 6 speed manual transmission for a PowerGlide transmission allowing for amazing launch off the line.
The new SRT Viper was tested by Motor Trend against the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 in a heads up performance comparison down the 1/4 mile and at Laguna Seca Raceway. Powered by a 640 horsepower 8.4L V10 the SRT Viper ran a 11.4 @ 128.7 MPH, which tied the ZR1. The ZR1 edged out the Viper at Laguna Seca Raceway running 1:33.99 vs the Viper at 1:35.77. For $141,990 as well as all of the hype we expected quite a bit better from the reincarnated Viper. The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with 662 horsepower is just a few clicks slower for under $60,000. We’re hoping to see some better real world numbers for the SRT Viper soon.
With a 5.8L Supercharged V8 pumping out 662 horsepower via only two wheels and a manual transmission, the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 can be quite a handful to get off the line with a good launch. Here is a video demonstration of the launch control feature which allows the driver to select the appropriate launch RPM between 2,500 and 5,200 RPMs. After the launch RPM is selected the driver puts the car in 1st gear, keeps the clutch pedal in and floors the gas pedal. After the RPMs reach the selected amount the clutch is quickly released and the GT500′s electronics do the rest of the work attempting to modulate the power to keep wheel spin to a minimum.
We’ve got some real numbers for the all new 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 powered by a 5.8L Supercharged V8 rated a 662 horsepower. 5.0 Mustang and Super Fords put one on a DynoJet where it put down 609 horsepower and 609 ft-lbs of torque at the rear wheels. There were also some drag strip runs done where the new GT500 was running 11.6 @ 125 MPH, which is much quicker and faster than any of it’s nearest competitors, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Dodge Challenger SRT8 492. Take a look at the dyno graph and video below.
We attended the StreetCarDrags private rental on May 6th 2012 where we this 2005 Ford GT with a Heffner Pulley and Tune upgrade was racing heads up vs a 2008 Dodge Viper with Belanger headers, exhaust and a Mopar tune. The Ford GT was making 630 horsepower while the Dodge Viper was running 600 horsepower at the wheels. Reaction times and launches were pretty close with the Ford GT edging out the Viper with an 11.4 vs 11.6. Weather was pretty bad with a DA of over 2,000 so we expect both cars to perform much better with decent weather conditions.
Here is a heads up drag race between a Ford GT and a Ferrari F430 at Palm Beach International Raceway. The Ford GT has a pulley and tune upgrade and the Ferrari F430 had exhaust work.
The mod wars are on for the new 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with Redline Motorsports running a 10.3 @ 134 MPH with some minor modifications. Since the motor in the ZL1 has been out in the CTS-V for a while, most of the parts were ready to go. This Camaro ZL1 has basic bolt-ons including headers, tune, cold air intake, camshaft as well as upper and lower pulleys to increase the boost from the stock blower. The car pulled an impressive 1.54 60′ time with an upgraded torque converter and Mickey Thompson Drag Radials. Take a look at the pictures, video and timeslip info below.
The team at SRT sent us a 
We were at Palm Beach International Raceway and came across this 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S built by Champion Motorsport in Pompano Beach, FL. With a host of bolt on modifications, a set of Mickey Thompson Drag Radials and AWD PDK launch control, this Turbo S set new record for a 
The new SRT Viper was tested by Motor Trend against the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 in a heads up performance comparison down the 1/4 mile and at Laguna Seca Raceway. Powered by a 640 horsepower 8.4L V10 the SRT Viper ran a 11.4 @ 128.7 MPH, which tied the ZR1. The ZR1 edged out the Viper at Laguna Seca Raceway running 1:33.99 vs the Viper at 1:35.77. For $141,990 as well as all of the hype we expected quite a bit better from the reincarnated Viper. The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with 662 horsepower is just a few clicks slower for under $60,000. We’re hoping to see some better real world numbers for the SRT Viper soon.
With a 5.8L Supercharged V8 pumping out 662 horsepower via only two wheels and a manual transmission, the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 can be quite a handful to get off the line with a good launch. Here is a video demonstration of the launch control feature which allows the driver to select the appropriate launch RPM between 2,500 and 5,200 RPMs. After the launch RPM is selected the driver puts the car in 1st gear, keeps the clutch pedal in and floors the gas pedal. After the RPMs reach the selected amount the clutch is quickly released and the GT500′s electronics do the rest of the work attempting to modulate the power to keep wheel spin to a minimum.
