We’ve been teased, taunted, and tempted with images of the ’13 SRT Viper. The new Chrysler supercar has been subject to endless speculation and a never-ending rumor mill about its engine, its looks, and everything else. Well, the day is finally here, and your ’13 SRT Viper is a little bit classic, a little bit Italian, and crammed with every bell and whistle that can fit around the 640 horsepower, 8.4 liter V10 engine.

Chrysler and Fiat did not stray too far from the legacy of the original Viper, and as you can see in pictures, everything from the doors-back is first-generation Viper GTS.

But the hood and front end are clearly Ferrari-inspired, though the designers definitely worked in that snake-vibe hinted at in the earliest teaser photos.

Suffice to say, if you liked the looks of any prior Viper, the ’13 SRT model is unlikely to turn you away. It looks like a Viper. Chrysler played a safe hand, though they’ve given supercar buyers plenty of reason to consider the ’13 SRT Viper.

Let’s start at the aforementioned 8.4 liter V10 engine. Without assistance from any kind of forced induction, the ’13 SRT Viper cranks out 640 horsepower and 600 ft-lbs of torque. The all-aluminum engine has shaved over 25 lbs. over prior iterations, and the Viper as a whole has dropped 100 pounds off of the ’11 model. That gives it an outstanding power-to-weight ratio of about 4.9 lbs. per horsepower. The ’13 SRT Viper should come in between 3,100 and 3,’0 lbs.

The extra 40 horsepower comes from a new, high-flow and low-weight composite intake manifold. New forged pistons sodium-filled exhaust valves, and an aluminum flywheel all contribute to the Viper’s increased power output. But SRT engineers went a lot farther than just giving the ’13 Viper new looks and more horsepower.

A lot, and we mean a lot of work, went into improving the handling and braking aspects of the ’13 SRT Viper. Starting with the body itself, a new stiffer structure offers 50% more torsional rigidity. Many of these improvements were inspired by on-track experience from the final years of the fourth-generation Viper, including the ACR and ACR-X models.

Among the many other handling improvements is an aluminum X-brace under the hood, as well as an aluminum impact beam at the front that saves weight and improves weight distribution. A driver-selectable two-mode suspension system hooked up to Bilstein DampTronic Select shock absorbers with street and track settings.

The wheels are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Z-rated tires with better performance, and an optional SRT Track Package offers a softer racing compound Pirelli P Zero Corsa tire.

Braking comes from four-piston big Brembo brakes with fixed-aluminum calipers and vented rotors. The SRT Track Package comes with two-piece StopTech rotors to provide what Chrysler calls “benchmark braking.”

Drivers will spend most of their time inside the Viper, rather than admiring the outside. And inside, Chrysler has crafted an upscale interior with all sorts of premium materials. Extra padding has been added for increased comfort, and every surface is covered in leather.

The Sabelt racing seats include increased comfort and higher side bolsters to handle the extreme G’s the ’13 Viper is capable of. Indeed, this Viper is the most spacious model yet, and the seat height can be adjusted

The ’13 SRT Viper gets a full-color, customizable 7-inch instrument cluster with an analog tachometer. A wide range of custom options and information is available, including a digital speedometer.

An 8.4-inch LCD touchscreen accompanies the Uconnect infotainment system, and a Harman Kardon 18-speaker sound system is an available option. The touchscreen system allows the driver to tweak the climate control system, radio, navigation, and phone options.

Our take? The ’13 SRT Viper is the continuation of a great legacy, and SRT has already announced that the ’13 Viper would be competing in the American Le Mans this season with a two-car team.

Chrysler has really put a lot of time and effort into improving the Viper’s track credentials, and they’re also working to include the car in Forza 4 as a downloadable content car.

No word on pricing, and we hope Chrysler has worked to keep this Viper on the “affordable” side of supercars. Let’s just say we don’t expect it to be cheap. So does the new Viper do it for you?