I’ve always been fascinated by snakes. But, there is one serpent that captures my attention more than any other: the 2015 Dodge Viper.
This car has got serious zip and comes with a sticker price that is actually affordable. If you want a car with some a crushing bite – get to your local Dodge Car Dealership and take this serpentine beauty for a spin.
The Hiss of the 2015 Dodge Viper
This year, the stunning Dodge Viper is more powerful, yet less expensive. I don’t get it, but I’m not one to question a killer deal.
Not only is the 2015 Dodge Viper easier on the purse strings, it also boasts improved fuel efficiency. Standard specs are impressive, and include a rearview camera, a twelve-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, side airbags (safety is necessary at these speeds), and fun packages, like the track-inspired Time Attack (TA).
Also, there is a new trim level, a mid-range GT model, which means you’ve now got four trims to choose from, not forgetting the original three: SRT, GTC, and GTS.
What’s under this snake’s skin?
An 8.4-liter V10 engine lies just below the surface, rated at 645 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque, maneuvered by a six-speed manual transmission.
Need to make a getaway?
The 2015 Dodge Viper makes it happen, able to sprint from zero to sixty mph in 3.7 seconds, with top track speeds rated at 206 mph. It’s like a disappearing act.
Now, even with its enhanced fuel efficiency, no one buys a sports car – especially not a pure sports car like this – for its fuel economy. But, just so you know what to expect, the 2015 Dodge Viper is EPA-estimated at 12 city, 21 highway, and 15 mpg combined.
Serpentine Varieties – The 2015 Dodge Viper Trim Levels
So, I’ve got my choice of fangs to choose from and each one is equally tempting.
Starting with the 2015 Dodge Viper SRT, standard equipment includes summer tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels up front and 19-inch wheels in the back, LED daytime running lights and taillights, automatic xenon headlights, cruise control, tilt-only steering wheel wrapped in leather, keyless ignition and entry, power-adjustable pedals, automatic climate control, and automatic-dimming rearview mirror.
In addition to all those bells and whistles, expect technological tweaks like an 8.4-inch touch screen, equipped with Uconnect, voice-controlled navigation, Bluetooth phone and audio capabilities, and the twelve-speaker Harman Kardon sound system I mentioned earlier, which has HD and satellite radio. Extra infotainment options come from the auxiliary input, SD card reader, and USB port.
You can further outfit your 2015 Dodge Viper SRT with the available TA 1.0 and TA 2.0 packages. The first TA – Time Attack 1.0 – gets you a carbon-fiber rear spoiler, black brake calipers, racetrack-ready tuned suspension, and a carbon-fiber front splitter, all ready to strike on Pirelli tires.
Now, the TA 2.0 package takes all the equipment from the TA 1.0, but enhances it with specially designed bodywork, an even bigger rear wing, and a carbon fiber X-brace located in the engine compartment.
So, you’ve got options…and that’s just the first trim level.
Moving up a trim, the brand new, mid-level GT offers a little more in the way of pulse racing, primarily because of its rally-inspired equipment, including Brembo brakes, complete with two-piece slotted rotors and red calipers. Ooh la la…the redder, the better.
Other standard fare comes from the trim-specific hood, five-mode electronic stability control system, driver-selectable suspension dampers, a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, and specially-designed, Viperesque fascias on both the front and back.
Inside the 2015 Dodge Viper GT, the interior is covered in simulated suede, but leather is also available as an option and totally worth it, if you ask me.
The Dodge Viper GTC is similarly-equipped as the Viper GT, but you can further customize it with various options packages, like the TA 1.0 and TA 2.0 packages, which offer enhanced aerodynamics, thanks to the carbon-fiber front and carbon-fiber rear spoilers.
Spice up the inside of the 2015 Dodge Viper GTC by choosing interior improvements like the Ceramic Blue Sport package, or the Laguna Interior package in black or sepia, which provides a simulated suede headline, along with high-end leather, soft-touch surfaces.
If you decide to opt for the 2015 Dodge Viper GTS, you can expect standard features like the total leather interior with accent stitching, a special GTS-exclusive wheel design, a power-adjustable passenger seat to match the power-adjustable driver’s seat, a simulated suede headliner complemented by simulated suede seat inserts, as well as a boosted 18-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system.
With any of these trim levels, you have the option to customize and personalize your 2015 Dodge Viper even more specifically from a variety of wheels, stripes, and exterior colors.
Speaking of exterior colors, the 2015 Dodge Viper is available in: Adrenaline Red, Competition Blue, GTS-R Blue, Gunmetal Pearl, Venom Black, Billet Silver, Viper White, and three new stunning shades called Stryker Orange, Ceramic Blue, and Y’Orange.
Personally, I’m torn between Venom Black and Adrenaline Red. And with all the stripes, you could come up with color combinations all day. Not a bad way to spend a day, if you ask me…
Snake-like, but Safe – The 2015 Dodge Viper’s Got Sense
Obviously with a car this speedy, you’ll want some safety precautions.
Fortunately, the 2015 Dodge Viper has plenty for your protection, including stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, front and side airbags, and a rearview camera, all standard.
In addition, emergency roadside assistance and collision notification are standard via the Uconnect system.
But, if you think you want a little extra with respect to safety on the road, the GT, GTC, and GTS trims have an enhanced electronic stability control system with five modes.
With great power comes great braking action…
According to Edmund’s brake testing, the 2015 Dodge Viper GTS, outfitted with the available lighter wheels and super-sticky tires stopped from sixty miles per hour in 101 feet – practically unheard of for a sports car. Even the standard wheels-tires combo made the stop in 110 feet – still good.
Steering the Snake – How to Drive the 2015 Dodge Viper
Well, I personally wouldn’t know…yet!
But, those who have had the good fortune to snake around either town or track report that it is one hundred percent sports car, which is great if that’s what you’re looking for, but just keep in mind that sports cars are not celebrated for comfort.
The cabin looks very much like this is a car meant to be pushed to its limits. Granted, Dodge did a lovely job with the leather details and the easily-accessible dashboard, complete with a digital instrument cluster that is a cinch to configure to your specifications.
If you’re a tall driver, you’ll likely feel the squeeze behind the wheel, and reclining the seat can challenge your overall visibility. Actually, thanks to the seriously slouched roofline, visibility can be tricky for drivers of just about any shape and size.
Lest you forget that this car is race-ready, there are anchors for six-point racing harnesses situated on the front seats.
Surprisingly, for a sports car, the 2015 Dodge Viper has some serious storage. Well, the cabin’s storage isn’t spectacular, although you do have a bevy of bins to squirrel away your stuff.
However, the trunk is really roomy, and measured at a total of 14.6 cubic feet. (Just FYI, that’s basically twice the amount of trunk space you’d get from the Nissan GT-R, and about the same storage as Chevy’s ‘Vette coupe.)
When it comes to actually driving the 2015 Dodge Viper, you’ll really experience the road because in a sports car this powerful, it’s impossible not to feel everything. While this is a good thing for those who are fans of all that muscle, it’s not ideal for those looking for a commuter car or something sleek and sexy to just steer around city streets.
A great offer from Dodge is the SRT Track Experience driver’s school, which is available to you as part of the price of the Viper. At the SRT Track Experience school, you’ll learn from the experts just how to harness this serpentine’s power so that you can get the most from your ride – with confidence and assurance that you have what it takes to command the Viper. Like a snake charmer…
Although you might argue that you can’t put a price on this kind of power, Dodge did. If you want to “Grab Life” behind the wheel of a 2015 Dodge Viper, you’re looking at a starting MSRP of $86,995.
Strikes me as one serious bargain…
