| Viper engine | |
| Manufacturer: |  Chrysler |
| Production: | 1992–2010 2012–2017 |
| Configuration: | Naturally-aspirated 90° V10 |
| Block: | Aluminum |
| Head: | Aluminium |
| Valvetrain: | OHV 2 valves per cylinder with VVT (2008+ models) |
| Compression: | 9.6:1, 10.2:1 |
| Fuelsystem: | Multi-port fuel injection |
| Fueltype: | Gasoline |
| Oilsystem: | Wet sump |
| Coolingsystem: | Water cooled |
The Viper engine is a high-performance naturally-aspirated pushrod 2 valve-per-cylinder 90° V10 engine designed by Chrysler but with aluminum block castings designed by Lamborghini for use in the Dodge Viper. Despite its large displacement, it is based on the Chrysler LA V8.[1]
The Viper V10 is based on the Chrysler LA engine family and appeared with the Dodge Viper in 1992. It was conceived and prototyped as a Magnum 5.9 with two extra cylinders and a longer stroke of .
The first-generation Viper V10 engine had a displacement of and produced at 4600 rpm and of torque at 3600 rpm.[2]
The second-generation engine, also displacing 8.0 L, produced at 5200 rpm and of torque at 3700 rpm.[3] 1999 was the last year for forged pistons until the 5th gen engine was released in 2012. There was an emissions transition happening around this time that may have influenced this.
The third-generation engine, introduced on the 2003 Viper, had a displacement of with a bore x stroke of, rated at at 5600 rpm and at 4200 rpm of torque after SAE certification in 2006.[4]
For the 2008 Dodge Viper, the engine's output was increased to at 6100 rpm and at 5000 rpm of torque via a slight displacement increase to and the use of variable valve timing, among the first utilized in a pushrod engine. The bore was now, the same as Chrysler's 6.1 L Hemi engine.[5]
The 2013 SRT Viper kept roughly the same displacement but further boosted power to at 6150 rpm and at 4950 rpm of torque.[6] Since 2015, power was raised up to at 6200 rpm.[7]
In addition, the Viper V10 was installed in the Dodge Ram SRT-10, earning the truck the Guinness World Record for fastest production truck (later bettered by the Australian Holden HSV Maloo, which uses the LS2, Corvette engine). The Dodge Tomahawk concept vehicle also uses this engine. Bitter Cars of Germany produced the Bitter GT1 based on the Lotus Elise GT1 using this engine.
The V10 was also sold to British luxury car manufacturer Bristol Cars: the Bristol Fighter was powered by a modified version of the engine which produced, increasing to at high speed due to the ram air effect.[8] Bristol Cars further produced a Fighter S, in which the engine was tuned to give (at high speed). Bristol had also planned to produce a Fighter T, further modifying the engine with a turbocharger to produce at 5600 rpm.[9] However, Bristol have since stated that no Fighter T models were produced.