Dodge is a company that has truly mastered the art of branding and producing vehicles that stand out on both the road and on various racetracks around the world. One of their most famous cars is the Dodge Viper, which debuted in 1991 with two pre-production models and then went on sale the following year, has gained a strong reputation for being the best of both speed and luxury.
Despite the standard Dodge Viper being such a beast, the company introduced the American Club Racing package on the 1999 Viper GTS. As the name suggests, the Viper ACR was faster than the normal Viper and packed more of a punch in terms of power under the hood.
A few of the top rivals of the Dodge Viper ACR are the Ford Mustang GT350R, the Porsche GT3 RS, and the Nissan GTR. We wanted to look into how the top speeds for these rides stack up against the American Club Racing version of the Viper. This is what we found.
What’s Under The Hood Of The Viper ACR?
The Dodge Viper ACR is powered by a specular 8.4-liter V-10 engine with 645 hp at 6,200 rpm. In terms of torque, it achieves 600 lb-ft. Dodge is renowned for the engine set up in this car and it is immediately clear why when you see the specs written out.
When it comes to the top speeds of the Dodge Viper ACR, it stands at an impressive 177 mph. This racecar driver’s fantasy goes 0 to 60 in just 3.5 seconds, according to the site Top Speed.
Now, let’s look at the rivals.
Top Speeds And Engines Used In The Rivals
Let's look at some of the key competitors of the Dodge Viper ACR and how their top speeds compare with that of the ACR.
Mustang Shelby GT350 R
The Mustang Shelby GT350 R is one of the biggest rivals of the Viper ACR. This offering from Ford runs on a 5.2-liter V8 engine that uses premium fuel. It achieves a max 525 hp at 7,500 rpm and 429 lb-ft of torque at 4,750rpm.
The Mustang GT350R goes 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and has a top speed of 173 mph. While this is not as fast as the Viper ACR, it’s still pretty exciting. Also, as many fans of this version of the Mustang will tell you, it’s about the sound it produces. The motor uses a flat-plane crank, which allows for both higher revs and a very distinct sound on the road.
The Porsche GT3 RS
The Porsche 911 GT3 is another of the main rivals of the Viper ACR. This fast car is powered by a 4-liter flat-six engine that has a max 520 hp and a torque of 346 lb-ft. The transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch.
In terms of speeds, it goes 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds and has a max speed of 193 miles per hour. This makes it the fastest so far out of the Viper ACR and the Mustang GT350R, despite not having as big of an engine as those cars.
What about the Nissan GTR?
Another top rival of the Viper ACR is the Nissan GTR. This swift ride features a 3.8-liter DOHC 24- valve twin-turbocharged V6 engine. It achieves a max horsepower of 565 at 6,800 rpm and a torque of 467 lb-ft at 3,300-5,800 rpm.
For people who want to take the GTR up a notch, there is the Nismo version of this car. In terms of horsepower, it gets 600 at 6,800 rpm and has a torque of 481 lb-ft at between 3,600 and 5,600 rpm.
The GTR from Nissan is the fasted of cars we have compared here. For the 0 to 60 test, it clocks in at an amazing 2.9 seconds. It has a top speed of 196 mph. The Nismo version is a little faster at 205 mph.
Despite this car’s high speeds, it’s still a quieter beauty than the Mustang GT350R.
Viper Vs Mustang Vs GTR VS GT3
All three of these cars are fantastic and truly offer top-of-the-line speeds, engine configuring, and enough power to excite any driver. The Viper ACR is a true racing machine with its V10 engine, but this car is still not the fastest of its rivals. What this shows is, while speed is important, it is not everything when it comes to the minor differences between the top speeds for these rides.
For most car enthusiasts, it’s more about the performance and how the car feels when they drive it. Perhaps some people want the sound that comes from the Mustang GT350R and they are willing to sacrifice a few miles per hour if it means people hear them coming from a mile away. On the other hand, even though it’s not as fast, maybe some people would rather have the Viper ACR over the GTR because of its history.
The Viper ACR is one of the most legendary Dodges of all time, and many fans hope the car will make a comeback. The Viper was discontinued in 2017, but there have been recent talks that Dodge may bring it back, but without the V-10 engine.