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Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR: the lowdown
As if the regular Dodge Viper, sorry, SRT10, wasn't hard enough, the Street and Racing Technology division at the Chrysler group's Detroit HQ have dreamed up a hardcore street-legal racing version. It's not for the faint-hearted, as you can tell from the angry body addenda and huge spoilers mounted on the already monstrous coupe.

The ACR bit of the name denotes it's an American Club Racer spec car - it's the first use of the badge on a Viper since 1999. So the huge 8.4-litre V10 has had work to its induction system to liberate a heady 600bhp and 560lb ft of twist. And Dodge claims to have stripped out some of the Viper's weight, to boost performance even further.

Delve into the spec and you'll notice some surprising figures. The ACR weighs in at a sturdy 1533kg - a scant 18kg lighter than standard. Hardly seems worth the bother of adding the costly carbonfibre rear wing and front splitter that keep the thing glued to the tarmac.

All is not lost, however. If you tick the necessary boxes, you can do without the stereo, boot carpets and noise insulation, saving a further 18kg. I have another idea: why not go on a diet yourself, it could potentially make a bigger difference.

But let's not quibble about the weight figures. The SRT10 ACR is monstrously fast, and is likely to be an even more hardcore drive, thanks to its grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres, uprated Brembo brakes and fully adjustable dampers and a stiffer front anti-roll bar.

The ACR will play centre stage at next week's Los Angeles Motor Show, but it'll sadly not be sold in the UK. Only Stateside buyers will have that pleasure, at the anticipated cost of $100,000.

Tim Pollard