Slideshow: What Makes the Viper ACR so Fast?
Keep it simple, stupid. Building a fast car is all about getting your basics right!
Slabs of Meat
Big wide chunks of rubber at the back and big wide chunks of rubber at the front. Front tires are massively wide 295mm sections that measure 19” in diameter. At the rear is an even wider 355mm wide tire mounted on a wheel of the same size. In almost every instance, a wider tire is the way to go when it comes to performance around a race track.
>>Join the conversation about the Viper ACR right here in the Dodge Forum.
Rubber Compound
Kumho provides the OEM equipment for this vehicle as opposed to the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 found on everything from the Porsche 918 to McLaren P1. The treadwear rating is 20 which is pretty much unheard of. For reference, Global Time Attack’s Advan Neova AD08R control tire comes in at a 180 treadwear rating. Kumho has pretty much found a way to create a DOT legal racing slick with some tread on it. This compound is super glue!
>>Join the conversation about the Viper ACR right here in the Dodge Forum.
All about the Curve Aero
Peak horsepower numbers are sexy. They sell magazines, new models, and frivolous upgrades to the average enthusiast with more money than sense. A look at any dyno graph of a Viper V10 will show you how flat the torque curve is from 2,500 rpm to redline where it might fall off slightly. Combine this with wide tires that are ultra sticky and you can rocket out of slow hairpins where mechanical grip matters most!
>>Join the conversation about the Viper ACR right here in the Dodge Forum.
Aero Flow
But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck in mid to high speed corners. Quite the opposite. The ACR has real downforce that can see 1.5G of lateral force in the right conditions. No moving wings and fancy hydraulics here. Just a simple flat floor leading into a diffuser and a massive rear wing. Front aerodynamics are functional and practical.
>>Join the conversation about the Viper ACR right here in the Dodge Forum.
Weight and Gear Ratios
At 3,374 lbs, this car is very light for the power of the engine as well as the width of the tires. It has tons of mechanical grip and a power to weight ratio that’s nothing short of impressive. However, gear ratios are often ignored and this is where the ACR shines. At Laguna Seca, it is 2 seconds faster than a P1 despite the Mclaren weighing the same and having over 900 horsepower. Top speed of the Viper is 177 mph compared to the hypercars 225 mph. Big advantage for the Viper at the track!
>>Join the conversation about the Viper ACR right here in the Dodge Forum.
What does it mean?
The ACR proves you can go very quickly using simple technology that doesn’t break the bank. It’s great to see American cars taking down more exotic machinery at their own game and dominating in the process. Unfortunately, Viper production has come to a close which means the days of these special editions might be over. Hopefully, the company changes its mind and keeps the snake alive!
>>Join the conversation about the Viper ACR right here in the Dodge Forum.
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