The Dodge Viper is a supercar launched by Chrysler's Dodge in 1992. At first glance, it looks like a typical muscle car, but it is known as one of the 'Big Three American Supercars' alongside the Ford GT and Chevrolet Corvette due to its exceptional performance and presence.

Engine and Drivetrain

  • FMR (Front-Midship, Rear-Wheel Drive): The engine is located at the front, but power is delivered to the rear wheels.
  • 8.0~8.4 liter V10 naturally aspirated engine: It boasted an engine displacement of over 8 liters from its launch until it was discontinued.
  • Sticking to a 6-speed manual transmission: It exclusively used a 6-speed manual, allowing the driver to experience all the thrills of acceleration and shifting.
  • As a product of Dodge, a leading muscle car brand, the Viper is fundamentally equipped with powerful performance and straight-line acceleration.
  • However, it is not just fast in a straight line; it also possesses high performance worthy of the 'supercar' title, being referred to as an 'American Supercar' alongside the Ford GT and Chevrolet Corvette.

Performance on the Race Track

  • Le Mans 24-hour endurance race: It competed alongside Porsche, Ferrari, and Aston Martin until 2015, even setting class victory records.
  • Nürburgring lap time: Notably, the 5th generation ACR model recorded a time of 7 minutes and 01 seconds, holding the best record among manual transmission vehicles.

Attractions and Features

  • American V10 sound: The roaring exhaust note and massive torque available from low RPMs provide a thrilling experience for the driver.
  • Direct driving feel: With minimal interference from electronic devices or automatic transmissions, it is known as a car that reflects the driver's skill.
  • Rarity: With its intense image and performance, it has a strong following both domestically and internationally, and its rarity has increased due to its recent discontinuation.



Unlike the rugged handling characteristic of American cars, the Dodge Viper has been recognized for its cornering performance at the highest level since its debut. At a time when the Ferrari F50 boasted a cornering speed of 1.03G, the Viper achieved an astonishing figure of 0.96G without even having a spoiler.

This is significantly higher than the 0.86G of the legendary naturally aspirated supercar McLaren F1.

However, due to this high limit, it is notorious for being a challenging car that reveals the driver's abilities during actual driving. It produces abundant power even at low RPMs, and the early models did not even have ABS. Coupled with the somewhat vague and crude steering feedback typical of American cars, it was not easy to gauge the vehicle's limits.

Once the limits are exceeded, the heavy nose from the massive V10 engine often disrupts the vehicle's posture, leading to understeer that could crash into walls or oversteer that could spin out of control.

The ride quality is so rough that one might wonder, "Is this really an American car?" The tightness of the ride transmits the road conditions directly to the driver's back and hips. Because of this, the Viper is known as a high-performance machine that is difficult to handle even for professional racers, but when a skilled driver tames it, it exudes a nimble and powerful presence like its namesake, the black mamba.

Interestingly, the weight distribution of the 5th generation is close to 50:50. Nevertheless, it exhibits unusual behavior compared to typical sports cars, likely due to the large V10 engine causing significant yaw inertia and the lack of electronic control in early models. In conclusion, the Dodge Viper is a car that requires the driver's skill and effort to 'tame' it, as it possesses outstanding performance, truly making it a black mamba in the automotive world.

The Dodge Viper, which stubbornly insisted on a V10 engine and manual transmission, possesses a unique character and charm among American supercars. It is not merely a car that relies on a 'big engine' but is seriously designed to perform on the race track as well.

The Viper has consistently been loved by car enthusiasts seeking unique sensibilities and powerful performance. Although it has a large displacement that burdens fuel efficiency and maintenance costs, once you experience the smooth torque and deep exhaust note unique to this engine, it is hard to forget.