It also didn't take long to get comfortable. With power adjustable pedals, tilt steering and multi-adjustable leather seats with preferred suede inserts for grip, manual inflatable lumbar support and wrap-around side bolsters for superb lateral support, the Viper fits like a well worn leather jacket. The carbon-fiber-look leather-wrapped steering wheel is thick and substantive, and joins the foot pedals in perfect placement square in front of the driver, instead of on an awkward left angle as was the case in the old model. A new adjustable dead pedal improves the driving experience too, allowing left foot pressure to lock the buttocks firmly into the lower seat portion, freeing the arms for the all important task of steering.
And steering is something it does extremely well. The new Viper is precise without feeling nervous, partially due to its power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system as well as its wider front track. Its ride is less harsh while the entire package feels more nimble at speed. It's also much kinder to the novice driver, pushing the front wheels outward in mild understeer rather than the tail wagging exploits of the previous generation car. Literally flying through Southern California's coastal mountains the SRT-10 was magnificent, never causing any concern even at questionably sane speeds - hypothetically of course officer. It's unwaveringly stable, clamping its rear end down, holding fast to the pavement even if a corner is misjudged or too much throttle is applied when it really shouldn't have been. Amazingly, Dodge has transformed the wicked tyrant into a more forgiving dictator. It still possesses totalitarian rule, but does so with a much softer touch.
Its new mitigating personality is the direct result of a manufacturing process known as net form and pierce, increasing torsional rigidity by 31% - stiffer even than the old GTS Coupe. Lightweight aluminum control arms and knuckles reduce the overall mass of the completely revised fully-independent suspension. The system also uses aluminum bodied front and rear coil-over shocks with updated tuning and new springs, 6-bolt hubs and tubular stabilizer bars.