Dodge Viper GTS 

America’s Legendary Supercar 

If anything at all, the Dodge Viper GTS sits atop the list of the most iconic sports car designs in history of countries of shameless aggression, thunderous V10 motor, and raw, untamed, addictive performance. It is a driver’s car, pure unbridled excitement delivered seat of pants, as it has been cultivated from the launch early in the 1990s. In the model GTS, 1996 drove the Viper to unprecedented heights of performance as well as sophistication but retained all that heart-thumping thrash in place that characterizes the beast. We trace the Dodge Viper GTS origins, design, and the long-term legacy in its performance. 

Origins and History of the Viper 

Launched as a concept in 1989, the Dodge Viper leaped into the arms of the public and promised much to the others, promising raw performance through daring lines and an aggressive shape. Already himself a usurper of legend, was Bob Lutz, joined by Carroll Shelby, who himself was one. So, he created the Viper, a new take on what the Shelby Cobra would morph into: A front-engine, rear-drive roadster, but one produced of lighter material and providing the driver with fewer assists. The first off, the line in 1992 is the RT/10, its offense brutally designed 8.0-liter V10 churning out 400 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft of torque. No frills, bare-bones sports car for raging driving enthusiasts. 

The new brought Dodge: The Viper GTS in 1996. Much more refined, powerful editions of the car, prepositioned to surge Viper’s performance. A new body style, a hardtop coupe, improved aerodynamics and a power increase in the neighborhood of very significant made the GTS an even more formidable competitor on both road and racetrack. Still, though retaining all the trimmings of the base Viper-all vast power and rear-wheel drive-with minimal electronic interference, the GTS did achieve some success in tacking along some newer comforts and refinements to help open up its appeal. 

And then again, at its heart, the Dodge Viper GTS has something no modern car does: a properly wicked 8.0-liter naturally aspirated V10. In standard GTS configuration, the engine was producing 450 horsepower and a far-from-insignificant 490 lb.-ft of torque. Of course, to address any concerns that that simply wasn’t enough, a more fundamental powerplant was also developed in conjunction with Lamborghini, so it is at this level of power that very few cars of the era had. It was touted as some sort of massive V10 torque curve, delivered with instantaneity and relentlessness. Here was a car that drove quite fabulously at any speed. 

 The Viper GTS would accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds and continue onward to an astonishing top speed of 185mph. This placed it squarely into a line with one of the most speed-conscious cars of the 1990s, surrounded by European exotics with the likes of Ferrari F355 and Porsche 911 Turbo nipping at its heels. What sets the Viper apart from so many contemporaries, however, is the visceral experience of driving it: deep power, authentic sound, and a visceral beating heart that raises one’s own passion to fever pitch. And without traction control or stability aids, it’s as much a test of the skill and respect of its driver as the performance levels on offer. Immense performance rewards expert drivers but quickly becomes a handful for the uninitiated. 

 It now handled and braked considerably better than the roadster version that came in as the RT/10. It was now touting an improved suspension configuration, with much bigger tires and, above all, much better aerodynamics to stick to the tarmac, especially at higher speeds. Still, owing to raw power and torque, its handling was more directional, but it was really composed and more predictable than its predecessor, the RT/10. 

Design 

Aggressive and Iconic 

 Of course, no aspect of the Dodge Viper GTS cannot be but emphasized as its styling. It’s very, very long, swooping hood and low-slung stance, featuring muscular fender flares, give it that aggressive, almost animalistic look right from the start and instantly lend it an aspect of edge with the associated speed and power. The GTS coupe wore a fixed roof and added more aero bodywork still sporting that certain “double-bubble” roof which provides more headroom for drivers wearing helmets, thus making it complete with perfectly great cars for track runs. 

 Made no better by fat rear haunches, side-exit exhaust pipes and tire-fluffing behemoths. And to top it all off, cobalt blue paint and white racing stripes finished off the look, styled all the way to the Shelby Cobra Daytona coupe. Every line and curve of the Viper GTS was of purpose: its design performance-from its front splitter to rear spoiler to the aluminum panels from which it was made. 

 Of course, the GTS’s interior was a far more civilized rendition of the original Viper RT/10, to say nothing of air conditioning, power windows, and-a huge improvement-a much better audio system. However, it still retained a relatively Spartan environment in comparison with other sports cars available: bare bones. What was missing, though was the driving performance that was king, and a huge set of analogue gauges asserted themselves in this austere place that also smartly came with extremely bolstered seats to keep the driver glued in place whenever cornering hard. 

Experience 

Brutal and Unforgiving 

 For a car that is hardly by any stretch of the imagination a car for the faint of heart, you will do well to strap yourself to your seat lest end up broken and mangled. Not having the electronic driver aids to assist in saving the modesty of this particular car, you’ll probably give it your full attention through each maneuver. It’s almost as if you’re astride this behemoth, savage beast that will go as slow or fast as it pleases once you finally get all that waddling weight in motion. It is a “brutal” or “unforgiving” car in the words of those far away from roads, worth something only if you know what to do with it. 

 Yes, you can rarely feel it on the road. It’s there, always ready to be used, yet never really noticed. Well, also on low speeds it gives the torque that would not make efforts in acceleration. The steering is very heavy and direct with a pleasing amount of feedback, and wide Tyres provide impressive grip once warmed up. But on the track, the Viper GTS comes alive; it is the very potent brake ability that would allow skilled drivers to take advantage of the prodigious power. 

Legacy and Impact 

The Dodge Viper GTS has the distinction etched into the history of sports cars. But sealing its own fate as one of the best-super loved supercars America has ever built. More particularly, it proved the company behind the Dodge marque could put together an extremely fast sports car and develop it into a competitor on the same level as the best of the Europeans, both on the road and on the track. This variant was treated like the final word in Vipers, and so it became the Viper GTS, a stakeholder in the world of motorsports that actually conquered events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans by taking its class victories and further cementing its position in history. 

Conclusion 

Few sports cars can equal the pure performance and classic design found on the Viper GTS, and with its conclusion of its 2017 model year, it has topped the pinnacle of darling fan appeal amongst enthusiasts and collectors alike. an icon deemed worthy to be proudly celebrated as one of the most thrilling and singular sports cars ever-conceived to provide the experience of but very few new cars can surpass when it comes to driving itself. 

 It is a driver’s car, rewarding not just talent but deference too as one glance around it doesn’t let anyone close up because of its monstrous V10 motor, aggressive design, and sparsely furnished interior. It has been decades since it was initially manufactured, yet the Viper GTS still remains something quintessentially American, besides being an automotive passion for many.