Intro
If you were asked in 2017 which car holds the track record at 13 different raceways, your answer might be the La Ferrari or the Porsche 918 Spyder. Exclusive, almost unobtainable hypercars costing well over one million dollars. The truth is, it was a car that cost a tenth of the price, and it was a Dodge. The 2017 Dodge Viper ACR is Americas answer to the fastest road legal track day car imaginable. The numbers alone are enough to make you choke on your Corvette Z06. 645 hp and 600ft/lb torque from an 8.4l v10, weighing just over 1500kg. Carbon-ceramic breaks. Fully adjustable Bilstein shocks. The extreme aero package, which produces over 1700lbs of downforce!The rear wing looks like it was stolen off a race car. All of that adds up to something that looks, drives and sounds like a professional race car, the only difference, this thing has a licence plate.
Interior
One might approach this car and assume the inside has been stripped down to nothingness in an attempt to save weight. Entering the car is a pleasant surprise, the driver finds all the creature comforts one expects from an elite car made in 2017. Some of the features include power adjustable pedals, 6-way adjustable seating, air conditioning and a 8.4” touch sensitive navigation screen. Leather and alcantara accents are frequently used to give the driver a feeling of comfort. Driven for only 56 miles this car is the ultimate low-mileage example of this model and the interior shows absolutely no signs of wear.
Exterior
Finished in a pristine and classic GTS-R Blue Pearl with Bright White GTS racing stripes this car harkens to the early days of Viper while pushing the brand forward with ferocity. With a loud, wild and never understated body styling the 2017 dodge viper ACR screams speed and down force, inspiring a strong desire to head to the Nürburgring and break lap records. The Extreme Aero Package is dripping with carbon, massive hood scoops and a 72” rear wing. One immediately sees this car and knows it’s something special. Splitters, intakes and aggressive body language set this car head and shoulder above the already wild viper line-up. If theres a car that looks faster standing still, we haven’t seen it
Mechanics
All of the wild exterior charisma is backed up in a serious way under the hood. The massive 8.4L V10 kicks out 645hp and is capable of 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds. Kumho made tires specifically to keep this car stuck to the pavement. In a corner this car will pull 1.5 sustained lateral G’s which is approximately 50 percent more than any other car on the market. Dodge basically built an all out race car then put just enough stuff back in it to make it street legal. In a world of PDK double clutches, flappy paddle F1 gear boxes and intelligent steering systems, the ACR gives the driver a refreshing old-school taste. All of the power and performance is fed to the rear wheels through a 6 speed manual gearbox that is as tight and responsive as anything else on the market today. With only 56 miles (90km) on the odometer the car performs as brand new and has no mechanical issues whatsoever. The ACR also meets Department of Transportation EPA regulations (OBD II).
Summary
Now that Viper has ceased production one can look back on the ACR as a fitting send off to one of the most fearsome American cars ever built. Ending its 25 year production run with this beast, Dodge SRT didn’t want to just challenge the Porsche GT3RS, it wanted to beat it over the head with a finely tuned, aerodynamic hammer and they have done just that. As the exterior suggest, the Viper ACR rewards aggressive driving and is home on the racetrack. If you are searching for that fully weaponized street machine that can easily double as a track day monster, look no further.
