Mclaren Viper

[BMW.WilliamsF1Team]

This is one group of prototypes that all our sources are stumped on. And there wasn't just one powertrain prototype here - there were at least four of these red-hot Vipers with a vinyl-covered camouflage hood and various wires and test gauges - but nothing could hide the huge vents on the hood, and we managed to get excellent views.

Sources are telling us NOT to expect a 2007 Viper - that model-year will be "skipped" and the '08 models will make an early appearance within the first quarter of 2007. And we do know that Dodge wants to expand the horsepower in the Vipers, but the 'what' and 'how' are currently just rumours. One rumour is that McLaren is involved with the Viper project and is tweaking a V10 to put out nearly 650-horsepower!







Next aritcle:



When we told you about the new McLaren-powered Viper in Issue 914, we didn’t have any pictures of the Dodge-y motor. But now we do!

Take a look at the first shots of the McLaren-developed Dodge supercar, which our spy photographers caught as engineers assessed a development model in America. The McViper sounds like a match made in heaven for supercar fans, with its combination of US muscle and British engineering.

Work is clearly at an advanced stage. Inspired by a one-off model from US tuner ASC, the uprated Viper was previewed as the Diamondback concept at the Detroit Motor Show in January. It featured carbon fibre bodywork to reduce weight, as well as a tweaked V10 producing 615bhp.

As our pictures show, engineers are clearly having problems keeping the roadster’s giant powerplant cool - a problem highlighted by the Diamondback concept. Its featherweight bonnet featured numerous air vents to ensure temperatures remain under control, and so does this model. As well as the large centre vent, there are six further holes.

In production trim, the McLaren- tuned Viper is expected to boast an incredible 650bhp. Combined with its lightweight construction, that should be enough to go from 0-60mph in only 3.5 seconds. Although there’s no official word on the project, a spokesman for Dodge’s parent firm Chrysler confirmed that McLaren is a supplier to the existing Viper SRT-10 programme. However, the Street and Racing Tech-nology group’s current offering will be eclipsed by the flagship. The £69,990 SRT-10 has a 500bhp 8.3-litre engine and a six-speed manual gearbox, developed with the aid of McLaren. The Formula One expert could also help with changes to the suspension of the more powerful variant, to cope with the increased performance.

[Samurai75007]

Nice to know.

[amanichen]

Interesting...I wonder if this happened as an extension of the Mercedes-McLaren relationship, seeing as Daimler owns Chrysler who owns dodge.

[Samurai75007]

Originally Posted by amanichen

Interesting...I wonder if this happened as an extension of the Mercedes-McLaren relationship, seeing as Daimler owns Chrysler who owns dodge.

I would think so seeing as its not even been worked on by SRT. Also I would like to see them do something with the Viper SRT-10 Ram.

[G-man422]

This thing is going to be SICK! Are they restyling the new '08 viper, or just a better tweeked engine?

[Peloton25]

It's McLaren Performance Technologies (Formerly ASC McLaren) of Livonia, Michigan not the McLaren that built the F1 or runs the Formula One team.

For starters, the UK McLaren is not an engine builder, and regardless of their ties through DCX/MBZ I highly doubt they'd be called in to help make more power from the Viper V10. The article is misleading because it doesn't clarify which McLaren is involved, but I suspect that the author might not even be aware or have realized there is a difference.

That "McLaren" badge on that rocker cover doesn't look right to me at all - I am thinking Photoshop. That is the old McLaren logo they used on the back of the McLaren F1 road car - there is no way they'd put that on the Viper engine. The current logo looks like this:



I did check out the McLaren Performance Technologies website and they don't really appear to have a logo. I downloaded their catalog hoping to find one there and did not, but I did find this engine shot which looks pretty familiar.



Someone needs to email the author of that article a clue.

= = = = =

Also ASC/McLaren showed this concept at the 2005 North American Intl Auto Show in Detroit:

The centerpiece vehicle at the ASC display this year was the ASC Diamondback Viper, powered by McLaren, showing the production potential of its new patent-pending OmniCarbon process.

Featuring both painted and woven carbon fiber, ASC added a carbon fiber roof, decklid, rockers, fascia inserts, body trim, and a massive OmniCarbon hood with ten individual air intake trumpets similar to race cars from the past, feeding the 615-horsepower McLaren modified engine.

The woven carbon fiber, particularly behind the front wheel openings, along the rocker panels, and at the rear, gives the Diamondback Viper coupe a more streamlined look than the production car, along with the stripe that begins in the center of the hood and proceeds over the roof to the rear spoiler.

According to ASC, the powertrain modifications by McLaren Performance Technologies result in an estimated zero-to-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.

>8^)
ER

[G-man422]

^ thanks for the info. So is this a joke then?

[Peloton25]

No, not a joke - AutoExpress just didn't get their facts straight before printing the article... as usual.

>8^)
ER

[G-man422]

oh, lol, Ok.

[BMW.WilliamsF1Team]

^Thanks for correcting them Erik. I was also thinking that valve cover McLaren logo was p-chopped. It's not even lined up correctly on it, lol!