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.

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