The mystery of the Dodge Viper LA Auto Show world premiere has been solved, with the automaker announcing it will debut a revised version of its ACR model. With just a few minor tweaks, the 2010 ACR also lays claim to the production car lap record at Laguna Seca Raceway.

In 2008 pro-driver Randy Pobst set the record with the ACR running a 1:35.117, which stood until August 6 of this year when it was trumped by the Viper-based Devon GTX with a 1:35.075 time. As of today, the new 2010 ACR has reclaimed the record with a new lap record of 1:33.915.

The car was driven by SRT engineer Chris Winkler who said that, “It was definitely exciting but a somewhat uneventful lap overall from behind the steering wheel. The Dodge Viper ACR has amazing power and handles like a dream, so following my first practice here last month, I came away pretty confident that we’d be able to set a new record.”

That’s right, Winkler set the record having only ever having driven on the track once before.

Additions to the 2010 model include a shorter fifth-gear ratio of 0.80 from 0.74, as well as a short throw shifter, and a new rear wing design. The car now also gains 4 mph on the top with a new top speed of 184 mph. The shorter fifth-gear came as the direct result of testing on the Nürburgring when the ACR set the (then) production car lap record in 2008.

“I’m still amazed with what the Dodge Viper can do on and off the race track,” said Dodge brand CEO Ralph Gilles. “After our record-setting lap at the Nürburgring circuit, we’re excited to set a second performance benchmark record at another world-famous road course.”

Gilles also gave Viper aficionados hope saying that Dodge is, “investigating what the next-generation Viper is going to be. When we have partners across the ocean who are known as the best sports carmakers in the world, the future opportunities are huge.”

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: 2010 Dodge Viper ACR

Official release and a brief video about the record setting lap after the jump:

German supercar builder Gumpert has just set a new Nürburgring lap record for street-legal production cars with its Apollo Speed model. The car was driven by Florian Gruber to a time of 7:11.57, demolishing the current record of 7:22.1 set by the Dodge Viper ACR.

German car magazine Sport-Auto was there to witness the record setting run and actually says that the previous record was a7:14.89 set by Michael Düchting in a Donkervoort D8 RS06 (essentially a Dutch version of a Lotus 7 or Caterham).

We can’t say we’re surprised by the car’s performance, after all, the Apollo uses a full carbon fiber monocoque, much like a Formula 1 car. It also makes 700hp thanks to a twin-turbocharged Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V8 and uses a genuine racing-style sequential transmission.

Company owner Roland Gumpert is no stranger to fast cars either as he worked at Audi for two decades and led the company’s motorsports division during its rallying heydays.

Technically speaking, the Radical SR8 has run a faster time of 6:55, however, it’s not street legal in many countries (including the U.S.).

Then again, it’s not hard to call into question the Apollo as a production car, considering so few have been built.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

The Nissan GT-R has once again bested it’s own lap time at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, posting a new personal best of 7:26.70.

Unfortunately for Nissan, the new time doesn’t move them up any in the fastest lap rankings, as the Corvette ZR1 still holds a lap time that is three tenth’s of a second faster.

Both the 7:26.7 of the GT-R and 7:26.4 of the ZR1 are distant finishes compared too the Dodge Viper ACR record holder with a 7:22.1.

The 2010 GT-R boasts 5 more horsepower than the previous model, as well as a revised transmission, new tires and a retuned suspension. Apparently those small modifications made a difference. The GT-R first recorded a 7:38 run back in September of 2007, and then shaved nine seconds off that run with a 7:29 in April of ‘08. In April of this year Nissan posted a time of 7:27.56, and declared they were looking for an even better time. Now they have it.

Nissan has yet to post any official numbers for the GT-R SpecV, but with the new GT-R’s lap time it is most likely the even more hard-core version of the GT-R can best the Corvette.

The ACR, however, continues to be unchallenged, due not so much for its incredible 600hp and 560 ft-lbs of torque, but because of it’s race car-like aerodynamics.

Official release after the jump:

Nissan bested its own Nürburgring record today with a 7:27.56 lap in the updated 2010 GT-R. The new time trumps the previous GT-R “personal best” of 7:29. It is, however, still short of the ZR1’s best time of 7:26.4 and the Dodge Viper ACR’s record of 7:22.1.

The new GT-R features 5 more horsepower than the previous model, as well as a revised transmission, new tires and a retuned suspension. Apparently those small modifications made a difference.

Nissan’s top test driver Toshio Suzuki piloted the new GT-R around the Ring and while the company is pleased with the result they aren’t finished yet. Citing less than ideal track conditions (including dust and sand on the track) the Nissan team will attempt a faster time tomorrow and search (somewhat fruitlessly we might add) to set a new overall Nürburgring record.

We’ll be sure to bring you an update tomorrow if there’s a better time.

MJ Acquisitions, which recently purchased most of Saleen Inc., has made it clear that purchasing Viper from Dodge/Chrysler is of interest to the company.

Automotive News reports that MJ Acquisitions co-owner Mike Shields states that, “We’ve considered a purchase of Viper.” Shields and his bothers own several auto-industry related subsidiaries including Cyltec, LLC, Power-Tec Engineering, LLC, Arrow Racing Engines, LLC, and Control-Tec, LLC.

Chrysler has publicly stated its interest in selling off the successful Viper brand, and recently announced that it is currently looking over three proposals – although the company would not say if one of those proposals is from MJ Acquisitions.

In news relating back to Saleen, Shields stated that the continuation of the Racecraft brand and S-Line are not certain.

As for the continued uncertainty of the S7 and S5 Raptor supercars, former Saleen president Chris Theodore is still on the hunt for a buyer.

Read the AutoGuide review of the Viper ACR here:

Dodge Viper ACR

[Source: AutoNews]