Dodge Viper
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The Dodge Viper is still around today, but it arrived in 1992 as an icon and one of the coolest autos of the decade. The Viper is a supercar designed for incredible thrills with a heavy dose of styling. At its inception, the Dodge Viper was a modern version of classic American muscle cars.
The Viper’s conception began in 1987, and it made its first appearance in 1989. However, it didn’t actually hit the market until the 1992 model year. This meant the team of Dodge engineers had plenty of time to perfect the design before launching it.
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Although both the first and second generations of the Viper took place in the ’90s (1992 to 1995 and 1996 to 2002, respectively), it is the first generation that tends to gain the most attention. The engine was the focal point of the Viper, and it had first been created as a truck engine based on that off the Chrysler LA. Lamborghini upgraded the cast-iron block V10 with recasting with aluminum alloy to boost power. The first-generation Viper’s engine generated 400 horsepower at 4,600 rpm plus 450 pound-feet at 3,600 rpm. Even with that power, it got 21 mpg combined when driven calmly. As expected from an American performance car, the engine was in front, and it had rear-wheel drive. The only lack was modern driver aids, including antilock brakes and traction control.
The second generation came with a bump to engine power in 1996, along with an enhanced suspension and shortened braking distance. It had 450 horsepower, improved the top speed by 22 mph, and shortened the quarter mile by 0.7 seconds. 1996 also saw the introduction of the Viper GTS, a coupe version with double bubble contours on the roof that are cool, but odd and not for everyone. 1999 saw an American Club Racing model arrive with engine and suspension enhancements for road racing.
