Spied: 2008 Dodge Viper - 650 horsepower?

The fine folks over at Winding Road seem to have gotten their hands on a few images of the 2008 Dodge Viper. Rumor has it that McLaren is somehow involved, which explains the estimated 600-650 hp rating (obviously a move to out-power the Z06, which embarrassed the Viper a bit.) Apparently there will be no 2007 model; the ‘08 will go on sale the first quarter of ‘07.

From Winding Road:

Behold the first images of a 2008 Dodge Viper development muel. Our source tells us that there wasn’t just one powertrain prototype here - there were at least four of these red-hot Vipers with a vinyl-covered camouflage hood and various wires and test gauges - but nothing could hide the huge vents on the hood.

Sources are telling us NOT to expect a 2007 Viper - that model-year will be “skipped� and the ‘08 models will make an early appearance within the first quarter of 2007. And we do know that Dodge wants to expand the horsepower in the Vipers, but the “what� and “how� are currently just rumors. One rumor floating around is that McLaren is involved and has been breathing on DCX’s V-10 engine to get it somewhere near 600-650 horsepower.

First of all, I am one of Dodges’ biggest fans!!! I think that they should go ahead and put the bigger (650hp) in the new model, this way we could shut up some mouths about the new Z06 & Shelby GT 500. Everytime I go somewhere all I see on T.V. is something about the both of them. I want to see more of the One & Only Great Muscle Car of today, spank the others tail. That’s a pormise that should be made CLEARLY!!! Let them come and feel the sting from the NEW 08′ Viper!!!

this is a lye the new 2008 viper only has 600hp

It’s exciting to see what Mclaren can still do for an American car since it has been providing its expertise for the Mecerdes-Benz SLR. They should also work on the handling characteristics on the Viper, already being a muscle car and then tuned, that huge increase in power has to be controled for its full use or just be a waste gas and tires and frequent crashes.

[…] A while back in June, I showed you the original spy shots and specifications of the 2008 McLaren-Tuned Dodge Viper, and later explained in an update that “the 2007 model year will be skipped, and it will return in 2008; starting production in January 2007. The Viper will have an exterior facelift and contain a McLaren tuned 8.4L V10 shown in the ASC Diamondback Viper. We can expect it to output anywhere from 600 to 650 hp, hopefully more, and run 0-60 in about 3.5 seconds.” […]

hey Joshua A. Dial if Dodge dose put a 650hp engine in the new viper its going to make more of a rivalry between Dodge and Chevy because of the new Corvette ZR1 witch has apx. 650hp in the concept model. So when they do that all you will hear is how The viper is trying to catch the vette but youl problem never hear about that anoing Mustang again…=) lol