2016 Dodge Viper ACR Steps Out With 600 Pound-Feet Of Neck-Snapping Torque And A Whole Lot Of Badass

Have you wanted a Dodge Viper, but have held back simply because it's not designed for track use? I feel you. Fortunately, Dodge does, too, as its brand-new 2016 ACR model proves. Dodge says that this 'American Club Racer' model is the fastest-ever street-legal track Viper ever, and if the mere thought of driving this beaut around a bendy track doesn't trigger some excitement, I'm not sure what will.

Under the ACR's hood is an 8.4-liter V-10 all-aluminum overhead-valve engine that pushes 645 horsepower and tremendous 600 pound-feet of torque, something Dodge claims is the highest of any naturally aspirated sports car engine. Have a need for speed? The Viper ACR delivers, with a top speed of 177 MPH.

With such performance comes the need of some serious aerodynamic work, and for that, Dodge will offer an "Extreme Aero" package. The company says that during its testing, it measured 1 ton of downforce while the car was at its top speed.

There are myriad of things that makes this aero package so "extreme". It includes a tall 1,876mm wide dual-element rear wing, a rear carbon fiber diffuser with six removable strake extensions, a detachable extension for the front splitter and four dive planes, and an SRT hood with removable louvers. For effective track control, the tires are equipped with ACR-exclusive Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes from Brembo, while the suspension uses 10-setting, double-adjustable, coil-over shocks from Bilstein.

Dodge says that production of its 2016 Viper ACR will begin in Q3, and customers interested can take advantage of its "1 of 1" program to make their Viper truly unique. Not surprisingly, we'll have to wait for pricing information.