So, lets forget about style for a minute and focus instead on substance. The first of which is aluminum. Viper's power train is just about the best use ever found for aluminum. Lightweight, yet durable and easy to cool, aluminum lies at the heart of Viper's remarkable V10 engine.
The block is cast aluminum with cylinder liners of cast iron. You'll also find aluminum as the material of choice for Viper's pistons, cylinder heads, oil pan, intake manifold, water pump and transmission housing.
Where maximum strength is important, you'll find steel. Forged steel for connecting rods and crankshaft and stainless steel for exhaust manifolds. Magnesium is used for the rocker covers.
This artfully crafted mass of metal is designed to do just one thing: generate huge quantities of raw power unmatched by any other American production automobile. This output of 450 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 490 pound-feet torque at 3,700 rpm seems mindnumbing, until you consider that the world-beating Viper GTS-R racing team has been able to extract upwards of 700 horsepower from the 8.0 liter engine.
Sequential multipoint electronic fuel injection feeds the premium unleaded gasoline to each cylinder. Engine cooling is provided by a cooper-core radiator, a dual speed 17-inch electric fan, the aluminum water pump, and a front-mounted air-to-oil cooler.
Continuing the serious sports car theme is the one and only serious sports car transmission, a fully synchronized six-speed manual with a hydraulic, single dry disc, 12.2-inch diameter clutch. If you prefer an automobile, your choice will have to be something less than this world championship sports car.