This year, it was the 1997 Dodge Viper RT/10 Roadster that got the upgrade, and designers took their cues from the GTS. First and foremost, the standard 8.0-liter, V10 engine in the Roadster was upgraded to meet the 450 hp the GTS is capable of. Air conditioning, power windows, power door locks and a CD player come standard now in the 1997 Dodge Viper Roadster, previously only available (except AC) in the 1996 Dodge Viper GTS. In addition, the 1997 Dodge Viper Roadster comes with a standard hard-top, though most people had been getting one in previous years anyway.

What does this mean for the 1997 Dodge Viper? Well, now all of the comfort and extra power of the GTS can be had with the fun and feel of being in a convertible. The loud side-pipes that the Dodge Viper Roadster had become known for are now gone, replaced by the quieter rear-exhaust system of the GTS, making all 1997 Dodge Vipers more compliant with new noise laws many states have. What began as a car for the power hungry tough guy uninterested in comfort has emerged in 1997 as a sports car that the masses can enjoy, though driving a car this powerful is not a task for a true speed novice.

Owners of the 1997 Dodge Viper are thrilled about the newfound power that they had been asking for since 1992, and about all of the standard options available. The 1997 Dodge Viper is a pamper-mobile compared to previous years, but hasn't lost anything, even gained some power.