2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe Preview

With the initial SRT10 concept being a coupe, and Competition Coupes out on the racetrack, GTS fans began petitioning Dodge for a

"The all-new 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe is a natural evolution of the heritage of the Dodge Viper." (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

hardtop they could park in their driveways as soon as photos of the roadster turned up on internet message boards.

"Demand for a Dodge Viper Coupe started the day we introduced the Dodge Viper SRT10 Convertible for 2003," said Dan Knott, Director, Street and Racing Technology (SRT), Chrysler Group. "The all-new 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe is a natural evolution of the heritage of the Dodge Viper, and gives enthusiasts exactly what they're looking for in the ultimate American sports car."

If the new SRT10 Coupe's styling alone doesn't have current GTS owners scrambling to Dodge dealerships in order to place

The new Coupe gets the 500/500/500 treatment, or in other words, 505 cubic inches, 500-horsepower, and 500+ lb-ft of torque. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

their orders, the SRT10 roadster's running gear under the skin certainly will.

Like its softtop stablemate the new Coupe gets the 500/500/500 treatment, or in other words, 505 cubic inches, 500-horsepower, and 500+ lb-ft of torque. In reality the 8.3-liter V10 makes 525 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm to go along with its 500 horsepower, attainable at 5,600 rpm, which incidentally is 400 rpm below its redline.

Getting on the throttle is a revelatory experience when out on the open road. Dodge claimed zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds for the roadster, which is probably conservative. Zero to 100 to zero mph happens in the low 12-second range, according to the SRT crew.