The Viper is Dodge's top-end performance sports car. Though it debuted in 1992 as a production vehicle, the now-exclusive Dodge Viper is today known as a serious and sleek street performance car. For 2008, the two-door Viper receives an enlarged, more powerful engine and newly styled hood vents. The Viper is preferred over many other racing cars because only a few achieve performance while keeping speed close to a street-legal racing car. These include the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, Porsche 911 GT3RS, Chevrolet Corvette ZO6, and Honda S2000CR. Only two of these cost less than the Viper, and all are less than almost 95 horsepower compared to it. The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 is available in a soft-top Roadster and a two-seater Gas Guzzler Tax (GTS) Coupe. Both feature a much larger hood and efficient air induction.

For 2008, the Dodge Viper will use an 8.4-liter aluminum V-10 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. It goes from zero to 60 mph in four seconds. The Viper's 8.4-liter engine breathes through new cylinder heads equipped with CNC-shaped (computer numerically controlled) combustion chambers, larger valves and variable valve timing (VVT). The TR6060 transmission is the latest evolution of the Tremec T56 six-speed manual. It features 10 percent wider gears for higher torque capacity. The new shifter system results in reduced shifter travel. There is also a provision for an external transmission cooler.

The new 2008 Dodge Viper boasts more of what performance aficionados crave: kick-in-the-pants, throw-back-in-the-seat power. The cockpit for both trims retains its characteristic red push-button starter and performance-oriented, highly functional instrument panel with center-mounted tachometer and 220-mph speedometer. It offers five interior colors including black, and four new color combinations in black/red, black/blue, black/slate or black/natural tan. The 2008 Dodge Viper continues to be available in two body styles - Roadster and Coupe. Both feature a dramatic new hood with a larger, more efficient hood scoop for air induction, and larger, functional hood louvers to facilitate a greater cooling effect for the more powerful 8.4-liter, V-10 engine underneath. But there are also several exterior differences between the Coupe and the Roadster. The former has a hard top with a stiffer "double bubble" styling. It also has an additional 6.25 cubic feet of trunk space, offering a total of 14.65 cubic feet. The roof and headliner structure offer more room to accommodate a safety cage, while maintaining as much headroom as possible. Eight exterior colors will be introduced throughout the model year, five of which are all-new: venom red, snake-skin green, viper violet, viper orange and bright blue. Racing stripes continue to be an option with six, dual-painted stripe colors available: white, black, silver, red, blue and graphite.

The Dodge Viper is equipped with front-impact air bags for both driver and passenger, designed to protect the head during head-on collisions. An ignition disable device prevents the engine from starting if the correct, original manufacturer's key is not used. Seatbelt pretensioners automatically tighten seatbelts. Anti-lock brakes automatically sense when a tire has stopped rotating under extreme braking, and adjust brake pressure for the tire to rotate. This feature is expected increases the car's ability to turn while braking.