Back in 1992 Dodge launched the first generation Viper, a halo model that, aside from a brief interruption, has loyally served as the automaker's halo model ever since. Sadly, it's time is about to run out; in 2017 production will cease for good. That's it. The Viper won't have a comeback this time. Should we be sad? Absolutely, but fortunately we managed to get our hands on this 2016 Viper ACR. It's our way of saying goodbye and we want to share it with everyone.

Power, of course, comes courtesy of an 8.4-liter V10 with 645 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque, which is routed directly to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual. There never has been an automatic offered. But what makes the Viper ACR different from the "standard" Viper?

First off, ACR stands for American Club Racing. So yeah, the Viper ACR is literally a street legal race car. Our tester was also equipped with the $6,900 Extreme Aero Package, Red Driver Paint Striper ($4,500), and, among other goodies, a $2,800 carbon fiber structural X-brace. So far, the 2016 Viper ACR has set 13 production car lap records, including at Laguna Seca and Willow Springs and, hopefully in the near future, Dodge will give it another crack at the Nurburgring, where a 2010 Viper ACR completed the sixth fastest production, street-legal car lap ever. Oh, Dodge Viper. We're really going to miss you. Special thanks to Normandin Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram in San Jose, California for letting us film the car.