The Dodge Viper ACR Rides Again for 2016!
Article Written by: Butch Hora
The 2016 Dodge Viper ACR is at the top of the Viper line and sets itself apart from lesser snakes. The ACR stands for American Club Racer in Dodge race world. It’s not a street car that works on the track, it a legitimate race car that’s barely legal on the road. It has a new 10-way, double-adjustable suspension setup, 15.4-inch carbon ceramic brakes, Kuhmo extreme-performance tires and a huge rear spoiler. The SRT team at Dodge calls that carbon fiber spoiler the X-Wing.
Vipers have earned a reputation of being scary and that they might bite you if you’re not paying attention. Not necessarily so with this Viper, you would have to make several mistakes in a row to get into trouble in the new ACR. The new Kumho Ecsta V720 tires, 295/25-19 front, 355/30-19 rear have more grip than the near-slicks on the last ACR and these only feature a few obligatory tread lines to make them street legal. The standard carbon ceramic matrix brakes, a first for the brand, are extremely impressive.
Its huge naturally aspirated 8.4-liter V10 produces 645 hp at 6,200 rpm and 600 ft-lbs of torque at 5,000 rpm. Remember, when servicing your snake to bring some extra bucks, because it holds 11 quarts of the good synthetic stuff that keeps it lubricated and 4 gallons of coolant to keep it cool. The new ACR also falls under Dodge’s new “1 of 1” program, which means you can specify a particular interior with a certain accent to go with and a specific metallic paint job, as long as no one else has done it first.
The 10-way, aluminum-bodied, bound-and-rebound suspension setup can be tuned differently for different tracks with a few cranks under the hood and in the trunk. The coil overs can also raise the car 3 inches. Camber and corner weight are also tunable, according to Dodge. The ACR is prepped for a six-point racing harness, but it can’t sell the car to the public like that. If you get one upgrade post-sale, make it that. Your knees and elbows will thank you for a lifetime of not having to brace your bodyweight in 1.5 g corners. There is an “Extreme Aero Package” ($6,000), that Dodge says “makes 1,200 pounds of downforce at 150 mph" and even more at higher speeds!
During recent ACR test track laps, it was said that the V10 exhaust pretty much roars all the time. Dodge says that is due to all of the sound deadening material being removed to lessen the vehicle weight and that it was quite noticeable. They also said that acceleration is eye watering everywhere in the naturally aspirated rev range. The pedal box is narrow as well, but if used properly, that you won't have a lot of time to rest your left foot, anyway. Also, if you feel that the clutch is a little too long, or the catch point a little too high, not to worry there is an adjustment. The whole setup can be moved up and down with a button on the steering wheel.
Viper buyers know what they’re getting with the ACR. They’re getting a lap-record breaking, bravery improving, ear-splitting race car that can legally be driven to the track. What is amazing is that even though it’s a full on race car, it still has air conditioning, which is nice comfort on those hot track days.
The 2016 Viper ACR will start at $122,490, including destination and gas-guzzler tax. If you want what is probably the most capable, factory-built track car on the planet, then yes, you do want it. Production starts in the fourth quarter of this year.
