America's supercar has returned with the unveiling of the all-new, fifth generation, Viper at the New York Auto Show. The iconic muscle car is lighter, more powerful than before and, thanks to Chrysler Group's close ties with Fiat, also benefits from some of the high quality materials used by Ferrari and Maserati.

For the first time the Viper will not carry the Dodge nameplate, instead it will bear that of SRT (Street, Racing and Technology), Chrysler's high-performance division. Two version of the Viper will be offered: the 'standard' SRT Viper and the SRT Viper GTS, with both being hand-built in Detroit. They pack the same 8.4-litre V10 engine that churns out 640hp and 813Nm of torque, the latter a figure that Chrysler says is the highest offered by any naturally aspirated engine in the world.

To shed weight the Viper was put on a diet of carbon fibre and aluminium, while magnesium was utilised extensively in the body shell, which is said to be 50 per cent stiffer than before.

For the first time the Viper will feature electronic aids such as traction control and a four stage ESP system, but fans thinking that electronics have watered down the Snake need only look to the steering wheel mounted launch control button that Chrysler says will "allow for optimal acceleration from standing starts" or in real terms push the custom Pirelli tyres to their absolute limits.

"The SRT Viper model is meant to offer a perfect blend of extreme performance and a deliberate preservation of what has become the iconic DNA of the Viper," said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO - Street and Racing Technology Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. "We strove to deliver a supercar that continues to bring the driver as close as possible to the machine."

Paul Healy - 5 Apr 2012