Do not be afraid. It might look much the same as the old car, but the 2013 SRT Viper is a much better, less terrifying driving and ownership experience in every way. There isn't one big reason for this, although the new Viper is fitted with electronic stability control for the first time. It's all to do with a list of detail upgrades and refinements that's longer than a whole school's Christmas wish list. Seeing it, sitting in it and now driving it, the quickest way to describe it is that the car now looks, feels and drives like Porsche or maybe even Ferrari has built it. There's that same air of handmade quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Yes, in a Viper. Or rather Vipers. There are now two models in the mini-range: the entry-level SRT, which is shown here, and the more sophisticated GTS. The two cars share the main components, such as the engine and frame, but have some substantial differences. The SRT gets two-mode stability control - fully on or fully off - fixed setting suspension and a high-grade pleather vinyl interior.

The $23k (£14.2k)more expensive GTS is fitted with four-mode stability control, so you can work your way up to crashing; two-mode Bilstein road and track suspension; a choice of gorgeous leather interiors (I can't believe I'm writing this about a Viper); a bigger, badder sound system; and a bale of extra sound-deadening material.

A Track Package is also available on both cars. Apart from shedding another 50lb of weight - Viper Jr is already 140lb lighter than Grandad Viper - this includes a set of only-just-solid Pirelli Corsa competition tyres, two-piece StopTech brake rotors and super-lightweight wheels. An SRT with this pack is the car you are going to see blitzing all the track records later this year. The Viper engineers reckon the new car is around a second faster per mile of racetrack, so expect a Nürburgring lap time - and new production car benchmark - of not much more than seven minutes when it happens.