Dodge Viper ACR
What’s this
This beast is the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR. The Viper name should already get your heart rate up, but the ‘ACR’ acronym should have your ticker deep into the red paint if you have any idea what those three letters mean
For those of you who don’t, ACR stands for American Club Racer. This places the already violently uncompromising car’s spec at the very extreme end of the spectrum
Be under no illusion. This isn’t a road car for the track. It’s a racer you can put a plate on and drive home - after you have passed and demoralized every other car on the track
It’s not just a bit faster than your standard trackday entrants, but so much faster it’s almost unfair. Like a parent competing at a kid’s school sports day
What’s new about it
The big headline story on the ACR is the extraordinary aero kit. Select the ‘Extreme Package’ option – which you must if you are thinking of getting one an ACR – and the vast, adjustable rear wing is just the final flourish
The story starts with a massive, detachable front splitter, moves through dive planes and wing vents also removable for ultimate front downforce – and then proceeds with a rear diffuser that startszfrom in front of the rear wheels and extends right to the tip of the rear bumper
The kit creates nearly a tonne of downforce, and so much drag it lowers the top speed from near
200mph to 177mph
200mph to 177mph
So it’s slower than a standard Viper
At the end of a long straight, yes. But put even a slight curve into the road and the ACR will make that up any deficit almost instantly
Why? Because it sticks and grips way better than any other Viper. A lot of this is to do with the special Kumho Ecsta V720 tyres, too. They might have a slight tread pattern, but tyres – specially constructed for the ACR – are as near to a slick as Michelin Cup 2s, just with half the wear rate
They have stiffer sidewalls to deal with all the extra loads. and are a key chapter in the ACR tale
What else is new about the ACR
Plenty. The 15.4-inch carbon ceramic front brakes are so big Dodge had to fit inch-bigger wheels to accommodate them. The manually height- and damping-adjustable motorsport shocks weigh several kilos less than the standard units, and have springs twice as stiff as those on the Viper TA.
And then there’s the interior. Previous ACRs have had fewer appointments than a shower stall, but this one is almost luxurious. You get the full Uconnect screen, air conditioning – which disconnects for six seconds when you hit full throttle, a three-speaker stereo and lightweight carpeting
What about the drivetrain
Other than some new exhaust tips, this has been left untouched. So it’s still pegged at 645bhp and 600lb ft.
Dodge has no plans to offer engine upgrades, but some key suppliers do: there’s a ‘Stage 2’ kit that lifts power to over 800bhp, which should be considered if you want the ultimate Viper, or have a vehement death wish
The gearbox is the same six-speed manual unit found in all Vipers, but does have a slightly lighter, sweeter shift action
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