Relief arrives for legions of weekend-warrior Viper owners who have been reluctant to install ugly roll cages in SRT10 roadsters just to pass tech inspection on race weekends. This coupe's steel roll hoop in the B-pillar satisfies amateur racing regs and contributes to a 30-percent improvement in torsional rigidity. The SMC roof panel retains the old Viper GTS's double-bubble roof shape to provide ample room for helmeted heads to move around. The hatch shape and rear ducktail spoiler help improve the roadster's 0.40 drag coefficient and add downforce -- handy for those probing the 200-mph top speed. Engine performance is unchanged, which begs the question: Can this Viper outrun the new Corvette Z06? Chevy boasts a superior power-to-weight ratio, gearing that's about 13 percent shorter, and slipperier bodywork, but the Viper has wider tires and less frontal area, so it may put the power down better and hit a similar top speed. Stay tuned for one helluva battle royale.
