Tag Archives | Viper

…It’s Tuner Tuesday: Formula Drift?

Formula Drift Logo

On Saturday, I had the chance to go and see Formula D’s “The Finals” at Irwindale Speedway (yes, I did get stuck on Interstate 5 on the way down from San Francisco due to that massive accident), and I must say, if you’re at all a fan of the four wheeled machine, make sure you check out one of Formula Drift’s events at a track near you.

Pontiac Solstice

If you’re not familiar with the sport, think of drifting as two automotive ballerinas battling it out in a boxing match. It’s gracefully controlled mayhem, and in my opinion, it’s easily the best form of four-wheeled entertainment on the planet.
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…It’s Tuner Tuesday: Doug Levin’s TT Murcielago?

Doug Levin is normally a Viper guy.

However, when you take a Lamborghini Murcielago, bolt on two hairdryers, and let the drop-top roar with 800 horses, no explanation for the switch is necessary.

Supposedly the world’s first twin turbo ‘lago, this yellow monster screams like a beaten child at full throttle, and probably puts just about anything else on the road to shame.

Four wheel burnouts anyone?

[Via: Jalopnik]

…It’s Tuner Tuesday: Hennessey?

Hennessey Engine

Hennessey is the self-proclaimed “Home of the World’s Quickest, Fastest & Most Powerful Vipers”, and after seeing their latest creation, I have no reason to doubt that claim. The 2007 Venom 1000 Twin Turbo SRT is a force to be reckoned with, featuring 1000 hp and 1100 lb-ft of torque from the 8.4 liter (522 cubic inch) stroker motor.

Hennessey Front

Hennessey Rear

With 0-60 times of 2.9 seconds, 0-100 times of 5.8 seconds, and a top speed of 255 mph, the number of cars that will outperform this beast can be counted on a single finger. Power comes from twin Garrett ball bearing turbos and a host of other engine tweaks including a front mounted air-to-air intercooler. Aesthetic modifications include a VenomAero body kit comprised of a front airdam, rear diffuser and a spoiler.

Hennessey Wheel

Traction (or what’s left of it) is improved with a lowered suspension featuring adjustable coil over shocks, a Brembo upgraded brake system, a differential upgrade, and Hennessey Venom 7R forged aluminum wheels (19×10 in the front, 20×13 in the rear) sporting Michelin Pilot tires.

Hennessey Interior

Inside, you’re treated to Connelly leather seats, 5-point racing harnesses, a DVD navigation system, and custom floor mats. They even throw in a 2 year, 24,000-mile warranty (though it probably doesn’t cover the damage you’ll do when you park it around a tree). Thankfully, to aid in your survival, each purchase comes with a 1-day private track session with famed instructor Brian Smith (who, being a Viper test pilot, might just have the best job in the world). If looks to kill for and performance to die for don’t get your heart pumping, just consider the fact that you’re getting better performance than a Bugatti Veyron for 1/7 the price. At just $225,000, you better hurry your little millionaire ass off though, as they’re only going to let 24 lucky buyers in on the chance to solidify their place in the automotive history books.

Super Car Comparison:

Hennessey Venom Twin Turbo SRT Coupe

  • 1000 hp
  • Top Speed: 255 mph
  • 2006 Production: 24 units
  • Cost: $225,000

Bugatti Veyron

  • 1001 hp
  • Top Speed: 253 mph
  • Worldwide Production: 300 units
  • Cost: $1.7M

Ferrari Enzo

  • 660 hp
  • Top Speed: 225 mph
  • Worldwide Production: 349 units
  • Cost: $1M

Porsche Carrera GT

  • 605 hp
  • Top Speed: 205 mph
  • Worldwide Production: 1200 units
  • Cost: $484,000

Mercedes McLaren SLR

  • 617 hp
  • Top Speed: 208 mph
  • Worldwide Production: 800 units
  • Cost: $570,000

[Hennessey Performance Engineering]

[Via: Serious Wheels]

…It’s Tuner Tuesday: Carroll Shelby?

Supersnake

Supersnake Engine

Carroll Shelby might be the man behind the Cobra (both the modified Mustang versions past and present and the two seat race cars like the one above), the Daytona, the Series 1, and the Viper, but none of those cars are the reason for his being chosen as today’s tuner. No, the real reason Shelby was and is a tuner that few can match is his personal love for speed. Back in 1966, Carroll built two Supersnake cars, one for him and one for Bill Cosby. Bill later wrecked his, but who could blame him, the car had 800 horsepower in a setup that was already proving difficult to handle with far less horsepower. Carroll didn’t mind that though, he just wanted to go fast. Real fast. To make his Supersnake, Shelby took one of the 19 production Competition Cobras and added two Paxton superchargers to the 427 engine and mated it to a three-speed automatic transmission. It’s a simple formula: Big Engine + Pair of Superchargers = Fast Car, but Shelby did it with style and class like no other. Why build such a beast? In the words of Shelby himself:

    When I built this dual supercharged 427 Cobra in 1966, I wanted it to be the fastest, meanest car on the road. Forty years later, it will still kick the tail of just about anything in the world.

I think he succeeded. The car was put on the Barrett-Jackson auction block this year, and fetched a cool $5,000,000 for Shelby’s charity. Even today, the car is a stunner.

[Carroll Shelby]

[Via: AutoBlog]

…It’s Tuner Tuesday: Mopar?

Mopar Viper

Mopar Viper Back

Mopar (a conjunction of MOtor and PARts) is the Chrysler Group’s parts and services division, and also responsible for occasionally acting as the brand’s aftermarket performance division. Their latest creation, debuted at the Detroit Auto Show, is a Dodge Viper SRT-10 with an attitude. Under the old mantra “there’s no replacement for displacement”, MOPAR found a monstorous 675 horsepower hiding within their 8.4-liter V10 thanks to better cooling, a cold-air intake, and a variety of other tweaks. In addition to the go fast good stuff, they added adjustable suspension, blacked-out alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin rubber, some nice carbon fiber body appendages, and painted the entire thing in anthracite-gray with a bold red stripe running down the passenger’s side. Venom never looked like so much fun.

[Mopar]

[Via: Autoblog]

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