Inside the new Viper, the view back from the dash. Image: SRT
On Wednesday, April 4, SRT will officially reveal the new 2013 Viper. It’s teased a few images along the way, but none that answer this key question: what will the new Viper actually look like? Hot Wheels has an idea, and the buff books (printed magazines, for those outside the industry) have already received images and specifications. Sadly, the rest of us will have to wait until Wednesday at noon to get the full story on the new Viper.
Judging from the latest teaser image, the 2013 Viper will have an interior that matches the car’s capabilities. Unlike the Corvette, which really does have the worst seats in the sports car world, the Viper’s chairs appear to be well suited to high performance driving. Those meaty hip and side bolsters mean you won’t be sliding around the cabin, trying desperately to brace yourself against door and center stack with your knees, no matter how much speed you carry into a corner.
It’s a pretty safe bet that the new Viper will have a larger and more powerful V-10, too. Thanks to government regulations, it will also come with things like electronic stability control, in order to tame the car for the unwashed masses with the price of admission. While the new Viper will likely be a bit kinder and gentler, we certainly don’t expect it to be de-fanged. We’ll know for certain on Wednesday.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
