It was conceived and prototyped as a Magnum 5.9 with two extra cylinders and a longer stroke of 3.88 in (98.6 mm).

[citation needed] The third-generation engine, introduced on the 2003 Viper, had a displacement of 8,285 cc (8.3 L; 505.6 cu in) with a bore x stroke of 102.4 mm × 100.6 mm (4.03 in × 3.96 in), rated at 510 hp (517 PS; 380 kW) at 5600 rpm and 535 lb⋅ft (725 N⋅m) at 4200 rpm of torque after SAE certification in 2006.

[4] For the 2008 Dodge Viper, the engine's output was increased to 600 bhp (608 PS; 447 kW) at 6100 rpm and 560 lb⋅ft (759 N⋅m) at 5000 rpm of torque via a slight displacement increase to 8,382 cc (8.4 L; 511.5 cu in) and the use of variable valve timing, among the first utilized in a pushrod engine.

[7] In addition, the Viper V10 was installed in the Dodge Ram SRT-10, earning the truck the Guinness World Record for fastest production truck (later bettered by the Australian Holden HSV Maloo, which uses the LS2, Corvette engine).

The V10 was also sold to British luxury car manufacturer Bristol Cars: the Bristol Fighter was powered by a modified version of the engine which produced 525 bhp (532 PS; 391 kW), increasing to 550 bhp (558 PS; 410 kW) at high speed due to the ram air effect.