My FH5 Log: Horizon Heroes - SRT Viper GTS

The Forza Horizon series is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. From the streets of the US state of Colorado to Mexico, from dusk to dawn, from summer to spring, it's a never-ending odyssey for speedo boys who enjoy the greatest things that made Forza Horizon, well, Forza Horizon. Fast cars, cool music, epic scenery, dramatic stories, fierce rivals, and endless imagination, these things truly shaped the meaning of Forza Horizon to the world and this is how Horizon rolls, spectacularly.

To celebrate ten years of Forza Horizon, let's kick off with the one that started it all; the hero car of the original Forza Horizon known as the Dodge SRT Viper GTS.

Known to be the spin-off of the Forza Motorsport series, Forza Horizon is the first-ever open-world action racing game that uses the same tried-and-tested formula from the Forza Motorsport series in a way never attempted before. In the original Forza Horizon, players start themselves with a VW Corrado and then work their way to unlock new wristbands, and new races, and battle against the top superstars in a one-on-one duel to snag the cars they drove. From racing on sanctioned events to street racing at nighttime, searching for barn finds, smashing bonus boards, exploring the scenery, experiencing rally racing, and completing a thousand challenges, the original Horizon has it all.

The SRT Viper GTS is the hero car of the original Horizon. Unveiled at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the SRT Viper GTS comes with the same 8.4L V10 OHV engine from the previous Dodge Viper SRT-10 but now it churns out 640HP of power and 600lb-ft of torque. It is mated with a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission with a shorter throw shifter, close gear ratio, and shorter final drive ratio of 3.07. With a triple-digit weight loss, the power-to-weight ratio is better than the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and the Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1.

Production ended after the 2017 model year and Dodge offered customers a 1-of-1 customization program that allows them to create a bespoke Viper for themselves.

Now that we get to know about the SRT Viper GTS, the hero of the Horizon Colorado festival, it's time to give the Viper a little exhibition run on Horizon Mexico festival grounds against seasoned drivers, just to find out if it's still the hero we know and loved ten years ago. Roll the tape.

The original Horizon hero still got the moves after ten years.

With the SRT Viper GTS spearheading Forza Horizon's 10th-anniversary celebration, next time, let's get to know the hero of Horizon Europe, the Lamborghini Huracan.

See you again.