Dodge Viper Documentary

Shows Why Vehicle is Unique

Dodge has thrown back the cloak of secrecy to reveal what

makes the Viper unique among today's automobiles.

The documentary, “Viper: DNA of a Supercar” provides a rarely

seen look at the human passion and modern technology that

combine to individually produce each of these world-class

vehicles. Each phase of the Viper's design process is outlined

and demonstrated, from the initial sketches to the final tests.

There is a human component included every step of the way,

making the Dodge Viper one of the few custom-built vehicles

produced in the world.

“It’s not widely known what it takes to create this supercar,

including the 140 to 160 hours to hand paint each Viper, so we

produced the film to show what sets the Viper apart from

everything else in its segment,” said Dodge and SRT President

and CEO Tim Kuniskis in explaining why the company

produced the video.

The engineers of the fifth-generation Viper not only wanted to

continue the vehicle's storied legacy, they wanted to make it the

most powerful member in that family's history. To do so meant

improving on an already powerful 8.4-liter V-10 engine. They

completely redesigned the forged pistons to run at higher

temperatures and reduce friction, producing more horsepower.

Additional horsepower was found by changing the camshaft and

air intake manifolds.

Only a small batch of Dodge Vipers are produced daily, due to

the stringent testing guidelines used throughout the process and

the fact that much of the manufacturing is done by hand. This

may seem excessive to some, but to the people responsible for

producing the Dodge Viper, every vehicle that leaves their

facility is a masterpiece of precision.

Each engine is individually tested to ensure performance.

Production is halted once the chassis is assembled so the car's

fluids can be added and it is again tested, running up to 90 mph

to test the powertrain, electrical system and anti-lock braking

system. All six speeds in the manual transmission get a run, and

the final test has the Viper pushed to the red line.

Receiving just as much attention is the interior of the Viper. The

ergonomically designed seats are Italian-inspired and provide

the perfect driving environment. More than 90 percent of the

interior is hand-wrapped in the finest leather available. The

documentary demonstrates how each knot of thread is hand-tied

as the leather is sewn together.

Each Viper's hood, roof and deck lid is assembled by hand and

built from carbon fiber to make the vehicle lighter and faster. In

fact, 48 percent of the Viper's exterior is made from carbon fiber,

which is lighter than steel, but still provides superior stiffness.

These carbon fibers are also produced by hand, as shown in the

video. It takes 480 pieces to model a single hood assembly. The

care is more than worth it, as it helps drop 100 pounds from the

Viper's weight.

The Viper's paint job certainly was not overlooked, with the

entire painstaking process taking up to 150 man-hours or more,

all of which is completed by hand. Again, the final product is

tested before leaving the floor.

"This commitment to keeping the fifth-generation Viper a hand-

built performance icon ensures the Viper’s legacy as a premium

world-class supercar and one of the fastest street-legal cars in

the world,” Kuniskis added.

“Viper: DNA of a Supercar” will be shared with car enthusiasts

and fans through Dodge's social media or can be viewed at

drivesrt.com/2015/viper/documentary.

Twin Motors dealerships has the best selection on new and used

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or RAM vehicles in The Pas, Flin Flon,

Dauphin and Thompson, MB! If you are searching for Chrysler

dealers in Manitoba using the keywords Chrysler dealer Swan

River MB or Chrysler dealer near me, visit us at

Twinmotorsdealer.com today!