Like it or not, the next generation of Viper will have a switchable traction control. If nothing else for the liability factor. Assuming you have a 600+ HP vehicle, it will be extraordinarily easy to break loose. And I don't see them building Vipers with Kumhos as factory rubber.
The thing that sells Vipers is horsepower and exotic looks. The latest version (SRT-10) gained in one area and dropped a little in another (and before I get any crap for that comment, note that I didn't say it looked any worse - just less "exotic"). You have a handful of track rats that want the Viper to remain "pure" with no electronic assistance whatsoever. They eschew ABS or anything else that removes the driver even a little bit.
And therein lies the rub: The Viper is built for the public roads and not sold as a track car (witness the convertible). The folks that want to race them have, for the most part, stuck with their Gen II's (or even gone back to one) or gotten a Comp Coupe. I have yet to hear of anybody ordering the new Coupe for racing purposes. The vast majority (95%+) that buy the Viper today buy it for street use only. And very few have the skills exemplified by Chuck, Janni, and some of the others here. Result? More accidents, lawsuits, and deaths. Enough so to warrant switchable traction control as a realistic option.
Now, there
is a solution for those that don't want these things. Let's call it something like, oh, an American Club Racer edition - or "ACR" for short. You may remember that Dodge built us some of those in the past and sold a fairly limited number of them. They were the most "pure" of Vipers ever built: No air conditioning, no radios, no driving lights. Five point harnesses, better suspension, lighter wheels, and more horsepower. Ironically very few were ordered that way, with the vast majority electing to add back in the stereo and air conditioning. Indeed, in four years time they only built 38 ACR's without the "comfort group" - out of the total of 819 built.
As for me, I am no hero and certainly can't claim the driving skills of some of you. While I have probably made 250+ passes in various Vipers down the 1/4 mile, done a few road course events, and ahem, maybe raced somebody outside those venues never to exceed the speed limit - I know that unless the roads are perfect, I will invariably break loose when I least want to do so. When a 356 HP Porsche beats me with AWD and TC on dirty, um, tracks, then I won't be shy about hitting the "on" button in some situations. Especially if I am pushing 600 or more horsepower.
So the question is one of safety and building one "for the masses", even if those masses are less than 3000 per year. And build an ACR version with no electronic aids for those that want them. Just make sure that A/C is an option.
